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Valentine cards, 1850-1900

Embossed and die stamped paper

Old Valentine card with 2 women and a deer
Valentine card with verse on front:
'Oh think of me, As I of thee'

Old Valentine card with a couple in the countryside
Valentine card with verse on front:
'Thou art to me, As a flower to bee'

The paper used in these cards was stamped and then sanded off to create the delicate, lace-like holes in the paper. There is more than one layer of paper on the front, which gives a three dimensional effect to the card. Cards were originally hand made, but during the nineteenth century they were more commercially produced and they were not just sent to one special person but a whole circle of people.

Accession number for both cards 1970.15

Send these images as e-cards

These cards are just two of the romantic images available in our Valentine e-card selection. Why not send one to the one you love?

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