Comic Valentine, "The Boarding-House Keeper," circa 1885
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Artifact Overview
From the 1840s into the early 1900s, some people sent inexpensive Valentine's Day greetings that chided, warned, or insulted the recipient. An exaggerated, often garish cartoon and short verse described and dismissed someone's looks, intelligence, personality, or behavior. Within the atmosphere of a festive holiday, under the cover of humor, these "vinegar valentines" were acceptable critiques of behaviors that deviated from social norms.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Comic valentine
Date Made
circa 1885
Creators
Place of Creation
Collection Title
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
86.9.32.33
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Printing (Process)
Color
Multicolored
Dimensions
Height: 9.75 in
Width: 7.25 in
Inscriptions
printed on front:
THE BOARDING-HOUSE KEEPER.
BUYER of second-hand meats, and other kinds of trash,
Why don't you give your boarders some other food that hash?
For what with nauseous viands, and awful cat-tail soup,
They've either got malaria, the whooping-cough or croup.
You can squeeze a nickel until the eagle groans,
But that wont put flesh on your half-starved boarder's bones.
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