February 14, 2024, by Chloe

Victorian Valentines

The link between St. Valentine’s Day and romance has existed at least since the later medieval period – but it was not until the latter half of the nineteenth century that one of its most iconic features emerged in its modern form: the Valentine’s Day card.

Traditionally, Valentine’s Day had been associated with poetry – particularly with verse which addressed the object of the writer’s affection. However, as a result of developments in printing, as well as increasing industrialisation in the UK, by the early 19th century paper Valentine’s cards featuring sentimental (or sometimes humorous) designs and rhymes were being mass produced in factories across the country. The valentine received a further boost in 1840 with the introduction of the national Penny Post, which made the sending of cards more widely accessible.

One particularly popular style was the ‘paper lace’ technique, whereby the raised sections of embossed paper are filed away, leaving a pattern comprised of tiny holes. Following its invention in the 1830s, this style of card became wildly popular – but it may not have been successful in this instance, as the recipient of the valentine pictured above, Charles Brinsley Marlay (1829-1912), remained a bachelor until his death.

The penning of poetic valentines is documented from dawn of the 15th century onwards, and it appears that – despite stiff competition from printed verse – the tradition was still going strong at the close of the 19th century, on the basis of this work, which appears to be unique. Evidence that the poem was written for its subject, Henrietta Eliza, 6th Countess Galway, includes the writer’s unusually specific request that she comes to Venice and (most importantly) the lack of other known surviving copies.

This Valentine’s card features a poem offering the sender’s heart to let in exchange for the love of the card’s recipient. However, this sentimental verse was not composed by the sender. Indeed, by the mid-19th century, it was not unusual for a valentine’s poem to be purchased rather than composed: in 1797, The Young Man’s Valentine Writer, a collection of poems for would-be lovers to use in their cards, was published, providing an alternative for those suffering from writer’s block; and, as the industrial revolution picked up steam, it became common for poems to be simply pre-printed onto cards.

For those who are tempted to look back on the past with rose-tinted glasses, it is worth mentioning that the Victorian Valentine also had a darker side. The introduction of the Penny Post, which as mentioned above, led to the surge in the popularity of Valentine’s Day cards, also allowed the sending of anonymous letters for the first time, leading to a far more toxic trend: the so-called ‘Vinegar Valentine’. These comic (or often downright cruel) cards were sent either to an unwanted admirer, or simply to someone the writer didn’t like – and were designed to insult the recipient.

So, if, like me, you’re planning to spend the evening eating chocolate and watching ‘Titanic’ alone, be content: there are, as it turns out, far worse things in life than not receiving a Valentine.

Fancy finding out more about Victorian Valentines? Check out the display currently on show in our Reading Room – or make a booking to see the originals! To find out more, or to book an appointment today, please contact us at mss-library@nottingham.ac.uk.

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