Not every valentine was sweet. For every lace-paper card covered in cupids, flowers, and trembling declarations of affection, there was another kind of Valentine’s Day message waiting in the 19th-century mail: sharp, sarcastic, and sometimes downright cruel.
These were the cards collectors now often call vinegar valentines—cheaply printed insult cards that mocked the recipient’s appearance, habits, job, romantic hopes, or social behavior. They were the opposite of sentimental valentines. Instead of “Be mine,” they said, in effect, “Please go away.”
Today, vinegar valentines are fascinating pieces of paper ephemera because they show us the less polished side of Valentine history. They are funny in a dark way, uncomfortable in places, and deeply revealing about the humor, prejudices, and social tensions of their time.
Continue reading “Vinegar Valentines—The Mean Side of Love”