Featured What are these called?

Can someone please tell me what these are called? The largest is 4 x 2 1/4 inches. The backs are blank. They don't advertise anything. I'd like to search for and buy more.
Thank you very much.

 

They're antique greeting cards. And they're very sweet.

Debora

 

My mother collected things like this. The printing process is called chromolithography. Calling cards I think.

 

Here's a sampling of other die-cut shapes.

Debora

 

I collect these. So dainty and they don't take up much space Not sure they are calling cards as the only ones I've seen have a name engraved or written on them.
Either greeting cards or to accompany gifts or to stick in albums.

 

If it didn't have your name on it, the lady who was 'at home' would have no way to know who was calling (& whether she wanted to be at home to them or not) when the maid brought in the silver tray with the card(s) on it.

 

The Mystery Caller !!

 

I think you may also have left one off, even if you didn't have time to stay, maybe because you had an appointment to take tea with Mrs. Soandso, just so person would know you were not cutting them. Long ago someone told me - I have no idea whether correct or not - that if one corner of the card was bent up, dogeared, it meant the person was waiting.

 

That is interesting. The proper etiquette is everything. Like the language of flowers. The hidden language of calling cards. So the caller had to cancel tea but dropped around anyway to deliver a card to say they weren't coming but it was nothing personal

 

Welcome, Dutchess. It makes it easier for all members to see photos if you make them full size:

 

SOooo polite .. LOVE IT !!! ... Joy. ...

 

This focuses on valentine cards, but includes a section on chromolithography:

https://cool.conservation-us.org/coolaic/sg/bpg/annual/v11/bp11-30.html

 

My grandmother told me that these cards were often exchanged by high school girls as tokens of friendship.

Debora

 

My first thought had been 'friendship cards', but since Dutchess wants to find more, 'calling cards' seems to be the term to search with.

There are cameos that employ the same imagery:

 

Many manufacturers had cards like these included with their products.
Patd

 

Thank you all for the EXCELLENT information.
Of course, with knowledge comes questions.
Can you tell which are made in the U.S. and which in Germany?
Kathy

 

I guess you can only tell by any information on the card or by the subject and how it is depicted. The German ones were very good. Many of my postcards and greeting cards were printed in Germany. Even Australian ones were sent over for printing. Possibly cheaper as well, even allowing for shipping.

 

@Dutchess @ALittleBit You might find this interesting:

https://hobancards.com/calling-cards-and-visiting-cards-brief-history

 

This is just some unnecessary information, but even as late as the 1960s-70s, U.S. Navy officers' wives had to have calling cards printed to leave at the commanding officer's home when invited for a social visit. My husband was going through flight training in Pensacola and I was "instructed" to get a supply of engraved cards with just my name printed on plain white card stock (the printer even gave me the copper plate so I could have more printed if needed). I only remember using one card, which I left in a little silver tray at the CO's home. I think that custom may have gone by the wayside soon after, or maybe it was a southern tradition. I grew up on a farm in the Midwest and had never heard of calling cards.

 

This is as interesting as it could be. I never heard of it before. I wonder if it was a military hold-over from a previous time.