Valentine cards

Valentines became popular in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Sample books of short verses suitable for would-be valentines were published. These were usually written “To a lady” or “To a gentleman”, or “To a lady with flowers”. Some were more specific, “To a housemaid”, “To a barber”, “To a blacksmith”, or “To a bricklayer”.

The cards themselves were usually elaborate with lace and flowers. One of those on display, from around 1847 shows a lady in the then-fashionable crinoline. It features a movable tab, which, when pulled shows the woman’s legs and her petticoat under the wooden hoops.

The craze spawned a line in “Black Valentines”. These were anti-valentines which were sent to people you disliked. We showed some of these in one of our recent exhibitions, but have on display two which have not yet been seen. The New valentine writer includes examples of verses suitable for anti-valentines.

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