Initials on Cards

Sometimes if there was a special reason for a visit, the caller would inscribe initials on the card to let the callee know the reason for the visit. The initials stood for the French translations:

• p.f.- congratulations (pour féliciter)
• p.r.- expressing thanks (pour remercier)
• p.c.- condolences (pour condoléance)
• p.f.N.A.- Happy New Year (pour feliciter Nouvel An)
• p.p.c.- leaving town for an extended period (pour prendre congé)
• p.p.- an introduction to a callee you do not know (pour présenter)

 

Folded Corners

Along with initials, often the corners of a card would be folded to signify the caller or the reason for the call.

• Upper Right hand corner folded- card presented in person, not sent by a servant
• Upper Left hand corner folded- the visit was a congratulatory one
• Lower Right hand corner folded- the caller is leaving town for an extended period
• Lower Left hand corner folded- the visit was to give condolences
• Card folded in half- the visitor was calling on the entire household

 

Personal messages

If the caller wished to leave a personal message on their card, they would cross off any title (such as Mr or Mrs) and write the message on the front of the card.