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Valentine card and envelope: P.14599-R

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An image of Valentine card
An image of Valentine card
An image of Valentine card
Current Location: In storage

Titles

Valentine card and envelope

Maker(s)

Publisher: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

A three-dimensional collaged valentine contained inside a typewritten envelope addressed to 'DR. J.W.L. GLAISHER, / TRINITY COLLEGE, / CAMBRIDGE'. White wove, embossed paper with shaped edges is overlaid with a 'frame' of silver and white embossed paper with a central oval window which is mounted with paper springs. At the centre of the window is a three-dimensional collage of silk feathers, real moss, linen flowers and a novelty woven basket. A pair of white silk leaves and chromolithographed scrap with flowers and motto is affixed onto the 'frame' at lower centre: 'Pink of / perfection / TALENT'. The interior is blank. An inscription is written in graphite on the verso, presumably from the sender: 'Miss M. Gross / with best wishes / for many / Happy returns / of the Day'. The phrase 'many happy returns of the day' is most likely used here merely as a salutation to mark Valentine's Day rather than as a birthday greeting. Prior to the mid-19th century, the phrase was used at any celebratory or festive event. 'Miss Gross' is unknown, but may have been a friend or acquaintance of Glaisher. There is also the possiblity that the object was sent to Glaisher for his collection from a friend, dealer or acquaintance and that 'Miss M. Gross' was simply the original recipient, entirely unknown to him.

Legal notes

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

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1928) by Glaisher, J. W. L., Dr

School or Style

British

Techniques used in production

Applied textile
Chromolithography
Collage

Identification numbers

Accession number: P.14599-R
Primary reference Number: 215544

Audit data

Created: Tuesday 14 February 2017 Updated: Friday 6 July 2018

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Paintings, Drawings and Prints

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Valentine card and envelope" Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215544 Accessed: 2025-12-08 02:23:34

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/object/215544 |title=Valentine card and envelope |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-08 02:23:34|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Valentine card and envelope</figcaption>
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