Shropshire Star

Victorian Valentine's cards show romance from bygone days

It's an unusual way to woo your loved one – with insults and less than flattering comments.

Published

It's an unusual way to woo your loved one – with insults and less than flattering comments.

But it seemed to work for the Victorians.

They not only sent declarations of love to their Valentine but also traditional spiteful and mischievous cards.

  • See more pictures in our gallery to your right

One original card from the 19th Century even reads 'pretend to try to sing not so tuneless I should lose you all the more, but I suppose I must take as you are, broad-nosed, smelly."

Now visitors to the Blists Hill Victorian Town in Telford can read such declarations for themselves for a host of original Valentines cards and postcards have gone on display.

Visitors will also be able to recreate their own version of the cards at workshops this half-term. The museum is running special activities in association with The British Postal Museum & Archive.

The workshops are based on the BPMA's beautiful collection of original Valentine's cards and are taking place in the goods shed.

The BPMA has put together a small display featuring original Victorian Valentine's cards, including traditional "spiteful" cards, which visitors can view this week at Blists Hill Post Office.

The sending of Valentines cards has a long and colourful history.

Until the 1880s Valentines cards were more popular than Christmas cards. Not only were there cards with declarations of love during the Victorian period but spiteful or mischievous cards were also sent.

Before the introduction of the Penny post in 1840, the person receiving the post had to pay the postage which led to the Post Office receiving a number of complaints from people who had to pay the postage for spiteful cards that they received.

Jenny Karlsson, PR & Communications Officer for the BPMA said: "People often think that the sending of Valentine Cards is a modern tradition, created by card manufacturers, however our research shows that they were probably first sent in the mid- eighteenth century.

"The oldest Valentine that we have in our collection is a rebus card from 1790.

"It is a single large sheet of paper, which unfolded in the right way show verses and illustrations.

"It is great to be working with Blists Hill Victorian Town, showcasing some of our wonderful collections including pop-up and lace Valentine's cards as well as some examples of Victorian hate cards which were sent out of spite."

Fun-filled workshops and beautiful card display are included in the museum admission fee.

Open from 10am until 4pm daily, Blists Hill Victorian Town is one of the 10 Ironbridge Gorge Museums.

Entry is £14.95 for adults; £11.95 for the 60 plus and £9.95 for children (up to 18 years and in full time education), under-fives go free.

For further information, contact the Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre on (01952) 433424 or visit the website www.ironbridge.org.uk

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.