Victorian Valentine Greeting Card Girl Boy Lamb Love
Text on Card
A dillar, a Dollar, a Ten O'clock Scholar, Met Mary one day with her lamb; Said he, "I adore thee, entreat and implore thee, Do take me, love, just as I am."
Description
A pastoral Victorian setting provides the backdrop for this charming Valentine, where a young girl in a crimson dress stands while a boy kneels before her, professing his love. A gentle white lamb stands nearby, symbolizing innocence and devotion. The accompanying verse adapts the 'A Diller, A Dollar' nursery rhyme into a romantic declaration. The lithographed design showcases the era's characteristic soft color palette, ornamental borders, and sentimental imagery celebrating young love and pastoral innocence. A red heart emblem in the lower right corner with 'My Valentine' text marks the romantic sentiment. The card exemplifies Victorian greeting card artistry at its finest, combining literary references with sweet pastoral imagery. The composition balances humor and sincerity, appealing to the Victorian appreciation for witty wordplay and emotional expression. No artist signature is clearly visible. This piece captures the essence of Victorian courtship customs, where Valentine cards served as acceptable vehicles for expressing romantic feelings.
Subjects
children, girl, boy, lamb, romance, nursery rhyme, Valentine's Day, pastoral scene
Printing Notes
Gilt decorative border; embossed details on card edges; hand-colored chromolithographic print
