Valentine card: P.14428-R

Titles

Valentine card

Maker(s)

Publisher: Dobbs, Henry

Entities

• Valentine card

Categories

• Print

Description

A large 8vo-size valentine of cream wove paper with an embossed border of leaves and corners featuring putti playing musical instruments or playing with Cupid's bow and with hand-painted edge in pink. The banners below each scene are painted in gold leaf. A central embossed vignette of trees with Cupid, doves and shrine with flaming hearts and Hymen's flaming torch and a handwritten verse in black ink: 'When far away you distant / be [sic] pray look on this / and think of me'. Areas of the embossed designs are hand-painted with gold leaf and a border of hand-drawn leaves in gold with hand-painted red bows surrounds the central embossed scene. A motto is drawn in gold ink below: 'Constancy'. At upper and lower centre are hand-painted designs of red and bllue flowers and leaves with gold detail. Hand-drawn emblems of crossed arrows and hearts are found at upper left and right and lower centre. 'DOBBS' is stamped at lower centre. Inside is another handwritten verse: 'By words I cannot my love / discribe [sic] / Therefore I leave my / actions to express that love / Dear Hester'. The name and address, postmarks and sealing wax are found on the verso. The valentine has been folded several times for delivery: 'Hester Miles / 35 Bucklersbury / Cheapside / City [London]'. The postmark stamped in red ink seems to indicate a date of February 1830. P.14392-R is another valentine of a similar style by Henry Dobbs which is addressed to the same recipient (although apparently to 'Esther' Miles) and postmarked 1829.

Legal notes

Bequeathed by Dr J. W. L. Glaisher, 1928