Sending special letters for Valentine's day probably dates from the mid-18th century. We have a number of examples of early Valentines in our collection.

The oldest Valentine in our collection (below left) dates from about 1790. It is known as a Rebus or a 'puzzle purse'. It is a single large sheet of paper folded to a smaller size. The puzzle is to unfold it in the right way to read the verses handwritten on the folds, and see the small illustrations. Even more of a puzzle is to be able to fold it back up again!

One of the verses on the card reads:

My dear the heart which you behold
Will break when you the same unfold
Even so my heart with lovesick pain
Sure wounded is and breaks in twain

Other early Valentine cards feature a design known as the 'flower cage' or 'bird cage' design. The painted surface of the card depicts a flower or a bird. A fine thread in the centre of the image is pulled to show how the paper has been cut into a lattice pattern which forms a 'cage' and reveals a hidden image below.

Illustrations

Rebus card

Flower cage Valentine

Birdcage Valentine