Mid-nineteenth-century pop-up Valentine

Valentine

c. 1850s

Germany

This Victorian valentine made in Germany features several motifs that commonly adorn period valentines: angels, birds, and flowers. In Kate Greenaway's 1884 Language of Flowers, roses stand for love, forget-me-nots mean true love, lilies of the valley stand for return of happiness, and pansies mean thoughts. In this is mechanical valentine the front of the card folds down to reveal details of the flowers and birds.

Related Material

  • With hand showing size of card
  • Victorian Valentines
  • Postal Products

    • Photograph by Michael Marx

    Text Catherine J. Golden

    [You may use this image without prior permission for any scholarly or educational purpose as long as you (1) credit the photographer and (2) link your document to this URL in a web document or cite it in a print one.]