English Visiting Or Calling Cards

The practice of card leaving originated in 18th century France when it was customary to leave calling, or visiting, cards in the form of a playing card signed on the reverse. However, it was the Victorians who championed the practice as a highly developed form of social etiquette.

Not only were personal cards printed with the individual’s details, but different rules and tactics were also employed to suit changing fashions of card delivery. Mrs Beaton’s Book of Household Management recommends that a visitor, when delivering her card, should stay no longer than 15 to 20 minutes.

It was considered good form to have a lady's visiting card printed in small clear copper-plate type, and if married the card would never use her Christian name. Young ladies generally did not have visiting cards of their own, and their names were often printed on their mother's card. In the later 1800's, ladies and gentlemen usually had separate cards.