Spread the Love
Our smaller valentine dates to the third quarter of the 19th century and features white paper lace intricately cut with an illustration of a man and a woman sitting beside a fountain. They are surrounded by various fauna and two cherubic figures, no doubt attempting to encourage affection between the two sitters. The intricate imagery pops against a background of bright blue and orange wafer paper, adding a cheery burst of color!
For those who opt for a less delicate card, we have our second valentine, dating to the early 20th century. Here we have a die-cut card in two pieces; a heart shaped back features an illustration of a young boy and girl in a sweet pastoral setting, their hands gently resting on one another. A short verse is printed to the upper right of the girl, while a “My Heart’s Girl” is printed in gold.
An embossed, light blue frame is affixed over the card, with a garland of lily-of-the-valley entwined with a golden ribbon. The reverse of the card is inscribed “1902 From Isabel To Stanley”. An ivory satin ribbon is attached to the back of the card so that the recipient can hang it; a fine decoration to celebrate love!
While these two valentines may be quite different, their loving sentiments remain the same.
Happy Valentine’s Day from the FRHS!