Current Location: In storage
Titles
Valentine card and envelope
Maker(s)
Publisher:
Unknown
Entities
Categories
Description
A large, circular cut-paper work valentine folded into eight sections with a scissor-cut border of leaves, burning shrines and birds around the edge and a series of hearts die-cut along each section. The birds and shrines are stencilled in gold paint and each large heart contains a handwritten verse, apparently written by a female hand and dated February 12th, 1845. Each section is numbered in pen and ink: 1st, 2nd, etc.: 'Remember me when lonliness [sic] shall heavy on thy bosom press ...'. The verses include stock valentine-writer fare such as: 'If those lines you / do except [sic] an answer back I do expect / but if those lines / you do disdain / pray send them / back to me again' and 'My pen is had the / ink the same / therefore I cannot / write my name'. A name and address is handwritten on the verso of the valentine: 'Richard Tucker / at Mr Luxtons / Surgeon / Winkleigh'. An envelope fashioned from white wove paper has been folded around the valentine and addressed in the same hand and with the remains of sealing wax visible on the verso: 'Richard Tucker / at Mr Luxtons / Surgeon / Winkleigh / Devon'. Cutwork valentines were popular during the 18th and Regency period and derived from devotional cards (Andachtskarten). Cutwork continued to be a feature of valentines throughout the eary nineteenth century. The graphite under-drawing for the design can be seen on the verso. See Frank Staff, _The Valentine & Its Origins_, p. 43, no. 39 (1803); p. 29, no. 22 (dated 1820s or 1830s); p. 37, no. 33 (c. 1830).
This valentine was bought from Miss J.C. Acton of Brighton in July, 1927 (one of 5 purchased) and was described in detail by Glaisher to Miss Catherine Pasons. See Fitzwilliam Museum Archive, [1137-1985], 7 July, 1927, letter to Miss Catherine Parsons.
Legal notes
Bequeathed by Dr J. W. L. Glaisher, 1928
Mirador deep zoom
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