Vintage St. Valentine Greeting Card with Dutch Girl in Red Dress
Text on Card
St. Valentine Greeting If it were mine to choose a place 'Twould surely be my part To take the one beside you— The one that holds your Heart!
Description
At the center of this composition sits a young girl dressed in traditional Dutch costume, complete with a white bonnet and red skirt, positioned thoughtfully between two wooden chairs. Her tender pose—finger raised to chin/mouth—conveys a contemplative mood as she considers matters of the heart. The accompanying verse offers romantic sentiment about choosing a sweetheart, reading: 'If it were mine to choose a place / 'Twould surely be my part / To take the one beside you— / The one that holds your Heart!' This heartfelt message, rendered in elegant script with select words in red, captures the sentimental Victorian sensibility perfectly. This charming Victorian Valentine's greeting card presents the scene with sweetly rendered details that exemplify the era's romantic sensibilities.
Subjects
young girl, Dutch costume, wooden chairs, bonnet, Valentine sentiment
Printing Notes
Gilt or metallic accents likely present on original; embossed details common to period production
