11 Antique Holy Card Ephemera
Today we have a glorious collection of Antique Holy Card Ephemera! I have such a thing for these early, mostly French, religious pieces; they really are so special! I have collected these for several years now and I am always amazed at the detail in these beautifully engraved mini art pieces! We have several beautiful Old French and German Cards, et al. Many are of the Virgin Mary and Jesus. We even have St. Joseph holding Jesus and several unique Sacred Heart illustrations. I especially adore the ones with the Lace Frames! These are exceptional images for your religious or spiritual, collage, or mixed media projects!
Antique Holy Card Ephemera
Above is a beautiful Vintage Holy card featuring the Virgin Mary. It has a prayer from St. Laurence: “It is in thee, o Mary that we find all blessings, and even God Himself.” This card actually had quite a few dark stains on it. I cleaned it up as best I could. It’s not perfect but I think it still is perfectly lovely! Make sure you click on the image to bring up the largest size.
This is a wonderful Antique Lace Holy Card of the Madonna! Shown above is a gorgeous engraving of the Virgin Mary on a throne. Her hands are in prayer position and she has a crown on her head. This one is a German card with a Bible quote from the Book of Luke.
The incredibly beautiful Holy Card above is European (German) and has an exquisite engraving of the Madonna with the Baby Jesus. Mary is holding a globe in her left hand and Jesus in her right arm. I love the gorgeous details on this one. It really takes my breath away!!
This wonderful Antique Image is an old Lace Holy Card! I have collected these beautiful pieces for a while now and I think this one is particularly lovely! It’s a Swiss card and the image shown is Mary with the Baby Jesus. So nice for your Christmas Cards or Projects!
Here is another gorgeous Antique Holy Card, shared by a sweet and generous reader named Kristie! I adore these lace edged cards. I have a number of these in my collection and they are so delicate and lovely! This one shows an amazing Engraving of the Madonna and Child standing on a Crescent shaped Moon. Ave Maris Stella means “the Star of the Sea.” Beautiful!
Vintage Sacred Heart Holy Cards
Above is an amazing French Holy Card that was glued into the front of a circa 1851 religious book. The card shows an incredibly beautiful flaming Sacred Heart pierced by a sword! Gorgeous!!! I also adore the sunburst surrounding the heart and the beautiful Dove flying above.
This is another fabulous Antique French Holy Card!!! It is a unique Sacred Heart illustration showing ‘human heart veins.’ The charms hanging below represent the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church in Latin translated to – Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, The Eucharist (Communion), Extreme Unction (blessings at death), Ordination, and Matrimony. This one was glued into an 1851 book. I adore every speck and splatter on it. I think it’s perfect the way it is!
French & European Holy Card Images
Pictured above is a little piece of a gorgeous Antique French Holy Card from Paris! The card depicts Saint Joseph with the baby Jesus in his arms. It has the beautiful lace edge still intact. Unfortunately the lace is also damaged but this one is in good shape!
Here we have another Holy Card with a wonderful Lace Frame! This card shows a beautiful Engraving of St. Anne with her grandson, Jesus. She is reading to him from a large book. I love the aged and torn edges on this gem.
Featured here is a very old Holy Card that has been in my collection for quite some time. It has a precious image of three children. One is holding a cross on a stack of hay it seems. The other two are on the ground below him. It reads, “Courage my children. I come to suffer, in order to redeem you.”
Here is the latest to this collection. This charming card has a wonderful green ornate frame on it!
I hope you enjoyed this glorious curated collection of Antique Holy Card Ephemera! You might also like our Vintage Madonna and Child Images HERE!
Lisa says
Thank you for featuring these. I hope we see more! About the card with Saint Anne and her grandson. That is actually Our Lady, Mary, and not Jesus. Images like this are often referred to as, The Education of Mary. Also, the dove pictured in holy cards is the Holy Ghost.
I love the age on the one with the Sacred Heart and the seven sacraments. That card looks well-loved. Most, if not all of these cards were undoubtedly blessed by a priest and used in people’s private prayers. The former owners of these cards would be very pleased to see them being used for prayer again.
Thank you again so very much for making these lovely holy cards available to us. And, again, I’d love to see more. Just beautiful.
~ Lisa
graphicsfairy says
I am so happy you enjoyed them Lisa and thank you for your wonderful descriptions!
Irene says
Hi Karen,
Wow! All of these are very, very beautiful. I find myself feeling at peace gazing at these!
The Vintage Holy card featuring the Virgin Mary – you certainly brought it to perfection!!
The Antique Lace Holy Card of the Madonna is just stunning just as the German card with the Madonna holding Baby Jesus!
The Swiss card with Mary holding Baby Jesus is also gorgeous.
I love the Madonna and Child standing on a Crescent-shaped Moon which I would call another favourite of mine.
The beautiful Engraving of St. Anne with her grandson, Jesus is another favourite of mine.
The last Holy Card just ties these all up with the sense of love and security.
Thanks so much for sharing this fabulous collection with us!
Have a wonderful week and keep safe!
graphicsfairy says
Thank you Irene, I always so enjoy your interpretation of the images, so beautifully written and described 🙂
Angela says
love the lacey ones, thank you
graphicsfairy says
I love them too Angela, so glad you like them!
Rose says
Karen,
The cards are just beautiful. I, too, love the lace edged ones. I have a collection of holy cards from my mother in law. Just a note….I believe the one of St Anne is with Mary. Anne was quiet old when Jesus was born. And the 3 children one, could the one with the cross be Jesus? Just a thought.
Thank you for all your images.
graphicsfairy says
I am so glad you enjoy them too Rose, have a wonderful weekend 🙂
traci says
The cards are so beautiful-I would love to have the laced edged originals. Happy to have copies though. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
graphicsfairy says
I would too Traci!! So glad you liked them!!
Greg Mashaba says
Wow Karen! What a beautiful card!!!! With your kind permission I will print this for my mom who is convenor of the St Anne sodality at Our Lady of Loreto Catholic Church in Kempton Park, South Africa. This is the parish which also serves OR Tambo International ( Johannesburg International Airport ). May God bless you abundantly for your good work ; and may St Anne & St Joachim intercede for both your spiritual & temporal needs.
Karen Watson says
Hi Greg, Yes of course! I hope your Mom enjoys this one. Thank you so much for the blessing! Blessings to you too!
CreativSpirit says
This is beautiful, thank you so much.
I love it.
Melissa Kojima says
Oh, I too love the lace frame it’s in. Wonderful image.
MaxineD says
lovely thank you Karen 🙂
Blessings
Maxine
Karen Watson says
Thanks ladies! I’m so pleased that you enjoyed this lovely image!
dianegbean says
I love the lace effect. I remember my French mother having one of these. Gorgeous!
Maureen Hayes says
God bless you for sharing this image and the other religious ones. I have been looking for something just like this and I am so thankful to you.
Marie Lost Bird Studio says
Dear Karen,
thank you so very much.Love it.
Have a wonderful Sunday.
XO Marie
Margie says
What a lovely serene image – would be lovely for a Christmas card.
~*~Patty S says
Oh dear Karen…that is SO very lovely!
Many thanks to you and may your beautiful sharing spirit bring many many blessings to you all ways!
Happy Sunday
oxo