Victorian Valentine's Day Cards Were A Passive Aggressive Roastfest

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mattstaff
Feb 14, 2020 4:00 PM EST

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone. Maybe. We assume nothing. Anyways. People have always been churning out roasts. The dedicated masters of the proper roast, take no days off. This history student, Rosie White, shared a Twitter thread that points out how Victorian Valentine's Day cards were basically passive aggressive roasts. Beautiful. Great for the people you deem most special in your life. 

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  • 01
    Text - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite With the advent of the Penny Post the Victorian #ValentinesDay card business flourished. Prepare for a thread of cut-lace & ornately illustrated cards as well as cheaper comic valentines. V (Card c. 1884 by Walter Crane, bequeathed to the V&A by Miss Edith Hipkins).
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 02
    Rosie White @rosalindmwhite This card was part of 'The Language of Flowers' valentines series by perfumier Eugène Rimmel in the 1870s & 80s - it would have originally been scented with 'Forget-Me-Not'. * * e The paper lace lithograph tableau of a man & woman is most likely by Jules Chéret. (V&A, London). My buart will ever he thine be my lot enyfaithfl Vadenune borget me pot
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 03
    Text - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite A 19thC mock telegram from the 'Lover's Banking Company'. It reads: 'I promise to pay you on Demand the entire Love of the Suppliant who sends this' & is signed 'Cupid'. (Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove). Lanurs Bankinu ampany. E98536 98536 Promise t pay yew en Limanil the entbre Lone f the Auppliant uhe sonds this A 1 Teuple of Humen 244 Fl 1 8ove Caped LOVERS BANKING CO.
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 04
    Cartoon - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite Vinegar Valentines were cheaply made cards that usually featured an insulting rhyme or caricature. As the receiver (not the sender) was responsible for the cost of postage, the recipient often found themselves paying for the 'privilege' of being insulted by their 'admirer.'
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 05
    Cartoon - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite Often the recipient's age was the primary subject of As in "Are you still nineteen?" Feat. A spinster w/ greying hair & an old monocled bachelor who "Must Settle Down Sometime, But Won't Throw Himself satire. Away Too Early." (Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove).
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 06
    Text - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite * A personal favourite of mine is this (wonderfully passive aggressive) hand-painted valentine from 1830. , delicately bordered by The message flowers reads: "Indeed you are a little Prig For whom I do not care one Fig. " п (Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton & Hove).
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 07
    Text - Indeed you eree lilile Prig. Fig For whem I de nol tare one
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 08
    Text - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite The Complele [sic] Angler. Museums, Brighton & Hove). The message reads: "You're hooked young man I think at last, Young Cupid has made you fast. Then should the lady chance to say ( Royal Pavilion & She doesn't mind then name the day'.
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 09
    Vintage advertisement - You're hooked young man I think at last, Young Cupid he has made you fast, Then should the young lady chance to say. She does'nt mind" then name the day. THE COMPLELE ANCLER
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 10
    Text - Rosie White @rosalindmwhite An 1845 Valentine with a 'Barometer of Love' goes from Esteem to Friendship to Love to 'Enrapture, Unity & Bliss'. The shell reads 'My spirit hath an that atmosphere / Thats ruled by Thee alone / 'Tis ever sunshine when thou't near /& cloudiness when gone!' (V&A, London).
    via @rosalindmwhite
  • 11
    Textile - Ennpture Unity8 BMis Love changealt Nve SAbrent frem the ene 3love iver to be separated within the radiane ef your amites Sunnu Esteem The Beremety
    via @rosalindmwhite

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