Sometimes the box is more valuable than what's inside.
Written By:
Sandy Erdman | ×
When you think of Valentine’s Day, what comes to mind? For many of us, it's hearts and chocolate. A heart-shaped box of chocolate candy is always a welcome gift on Valentine’s Day.
Did you ever think of them as a collectible other than for sentimental value? Lyn Theurer, of Winona, certainly didn't.
“My collection comes from our 51 years of marriage," she said. "Some are tin candy boxes given to me by my husband over the years, with most from Fanny Farmer.”
In 1868, Richard Cadbury created the first known heart-shaped candy box for Valentine’s Day, but Cadbury didn't patent it, so the rest of the industry started manufacturing similar packaging of their own. It wasn't long before chocolates became the thing for the newly commercialized holiday, according to the Smithsonian magazine.