An elaborate “cobweb” (or “beehive”) valentine with pull-string mechanism, 1840s.

[UK : s.n., 1840s]. Paper bifolium (255 x 205 mm), the front with embossed decorative border and central hand-coloured lithographed design of flowers with a pull-string mechanism lifting up to reveal two birds and the legend ‘Mutual Love’; above and below is a lithographed two-stanza poem: ‘Think not, oh! Think – this trifle vain,/ That brings remembrance back again -/ When, with a feeling fraught and true, I wove a fragrant wreath for you./ For ’tis the joyous time of Spring,/ And blame me not, if thus I bring/ My heart’s own thoughts – where flowers entwine/ Sweet Type of thee – My Valentine.’; extremely well preserved – a miraculous survivor, considering the delicate nature of its construction.

American collector Nancy Rosin has written an insightful article on this particular form of Valentine’s Day card for the Metropolitan Museum of Art.