There seems to have been a very rigid etiquette about how the calling card was marked. I have forgotten exactly what was meant but corners were turned down to denote various things. Also the calls had to be at the right times and only for certain lengths of time. Usually half an hour was correct.
Of course, this was only for the leisured classes!
Now it seems that etiquette has evolved with sending modern messages. I remember being instructed about the correct way to answer and speak on the phone when I worked in an office, many years ago.

I found a very interesting site regarding this.......

Here is a link that might be useful: Jane Austen's world....the calling card

My sense is that women of the upper classes would have "at home" days, a day when she would remain at home to entertain visitors, particularly other ladies. My grandmother had a social-climbing aunt who was notorious for not being "at home" for members of her own family, yet was known for her hospitality to the wives and daughters of the wealthier families.

I suspect the reason these customs dropped off is that the women were no longer "at home", but rather working in the outside world. Some of these customs seem charming to us, but in reality I bet many women found them stressful, irksome, and boring. I wonder if the reason so many of these social graces were gradually lost is that men were not expected to fulfill them, and women became just too busy. Still, that's no reason why people can't send thank-you cards!

I collect vintage and antique postcards, because I find the artwork often really beautiful. I love the messages written on the back. So often these cards were sent by relatives and friends to convey news or mark a special occasion. Several of the cards in my collection were mailed to young children by female relatives (aunts, cousins, etc.). I am sure these children must have felt very special receiving their own mail. Of course, postage was cheap back then.

The whole visiting card thing seems a mine-field to us, but then everybody seemed to know the rules. The initial leaving of a card, the card from the 'other party', the turning down of corners (can't remember what that signified). Knowing on what days Mrs So-an-So was 'At Home' and understanding that one could not stay for more than so many minutes and probably drink no more than one cup of tea.
My parents married in the early '40's and, as her parents were abroad, an Aunt of my Father took on the 'arrangements' for the day. This included sending out invitations which included the instructions 'carriages at 3pm' and organising the printing of visiting cards, which I know my Mother never used.
I'm sure by WWII the custom had totally died out.
As Tim says, up to the end of the thirties middle class women still had leisure time and at least one servant who would have made the cakes, cut the bread and butter, donned her afternoon uniform to answer the door bell and make the tea.
Read Monica Dickens' amusing book One Pair of Hands to find out about life 'below stairs' when a bored young woman, tired of the 'deb' circuit and with no experience, joins the labour force to work in other people's houses as cook-general, palour maid, house maid etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: One Pair of Hands

When I was growing up in Atlanta, it was the custom to have formally engraved name cards printed.This was done upon reaching ca. age 14 - and on, and as well when the female married and thus changed her maiden name. These were used not as calling cards, but for enclosures when gifts were given, and when meeting a new acquaintance with whom one might hopefully wish to keep in touch. I still have my cards and the brass plate in the event I should wish to have more cards engraved. In these post-modern times, folks usually have their e-mail address added to the name cards.

*sigh*
The South retains the gentler sides of society. :0)
I do envy that grace.

When I graduated from high school ( in the early 60's ....egads) each senior got a box of name cards the same size as a calling card which we traded with each other and kept in a specially designed album for them.
Not sure what that purpose was since we always signed yearbooks as well......if it was for collecting memories of each other.

Yoyo, in the 50s (egads), we used those graduation cards in our invitations we mailed to friends and family to attend the grad (not that we expected a gift, oh, no!)

When we moved to this house four years ago, I ordered a box of flowery cards of that size because we had lived so long at the old address and everyone wanted the new one. I do still have a few in my purse and use them infrequently. My sister, brighter than I, just carries a sheet of those ubiquitous address labels all the charities seem to send with their requests for donations.