Valentine Paper Doll

This amazing valentine was sent by an "Aunt Etta" to her niece 

back in the 1930s. 

When opened, it reveals an itty bitty paper doll   

with even ittier bittier outfits tucked in a tiny envelope. 

Thanks Aunt Etta, whoever you were!

 

Valentine Veggies

I love old postcards, vintage valentines, and anthropomorphic objects, so this fantastic item was a perfect find: a 1900s Raphael Tuck valentine postcard featuring "Mr. Carrot" and "Miss Bean". If you look closely, you'll see that the "fourteen carat gold" engagement ring is, in fact, made of carrot.

Candy Kid Valentine

Here's one of the most unusual valentines in my collection.

Dating from the 1930s, it features an actual candy (Necco wafer-type) in a lithographed wrapper as the head of the figure. It's amazing to me that this survived so long without being eaten by either the original recipient or a little mousie.

Bone Button Valentine

Here's a really unusual valentine I found this year. Dating to the 1920s, it features a bone button made into a little happy face...actually, the more I look at it, the less "happy" it appears, verging instead on "creepy," but still, a unique valentine!

Housekeeping Dolly Valentine

This large mechanical 1930s valentine has some damage, but the scene was so charming, I decided to overlook it. What a great image of a little girl and her dolly, doing the laundry...and I love the anxious expression on the dolly's face: she looks like she just woke up after a bender, thinking, 
"Holy crap! Where are my clothes?"