A man has a snake's tongue and body., Text: Your portrait see without the glass, / A perfect snake within the grass, / A scaly, crawling, slimy thing, / Your forked tongue is deceit's vile sting, / Smile in one's face, bites at one's back, / And leave your poison in your track. / Go and 'mong fellow serpents shine, / A venom-spitting Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A man with a crocdile head holds a handkerchief to his teary eye. Two women are looking at him, one has her hands on her hips. The sender accuses the recipient of being insincere and deceitful., Text: I love a man that is sincere in all he’ll say and do, / But not a sniveling Crocodile, deceitful wretch like you / Who for any paltry end can always whine and cry, / You ugly, paltry, sniveling brute, deceit is in your eye. / You may whine and do your best at which we only laugh, / But let us tell you love’s too old to be thus caught by chaff., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
A woman wears an elaborate crinoline, shawl and wide-brimmed hat. The hat partially conceals a sheep's head. The valentine suggests a person who does not dress age-appropriately is deceitful. Hecate is a Greek goddess assocaited with magic and crossroads, and is often represented as a hag or a crone., Text: There we see an old ewe, yet more like a ram, / Though a fifty-year old, she’s dressed like a lamb, / Both toothless and ugly, and snafty and base, / Yet she tries to look sheepish, and soft in the face. / Dress on, Mother Hecate, your stiff crinoline, / Floats flauntingly free, abroad in the wind, / But the looks that you give, and the fashions you wear, / Bids all of good sense and of manners beware., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
The valentine shows a woman with two faces. One has an overbite and closed mouth, and the other has an open mouth. The side with an open mouth makes a gesture with a fist. The text refers to the figure as a polecat [i.e., a skunk]., Text: Now, mother, Double Face, look here. / Upon your likeness, now, my dear, / Janus himself might claim the prise, / For venom, in those goggle eyes. / Base bred, base born, deceitful creature, / There's villainy in every feature: / Go, Polecat, go, thy sight I hate, / Thy visage sour and addled pate., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The "Old Deceiver" holds books marked "Tracts" and "Bible," suggesting that he is a religious figure. He looks over his shoulder at a group of women. The sender criticizes the recipient for religious hypocrisy., Text: You are an old sinner, / Though different you seem; / Your love is all worldly; / In your eye is the beam., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A Hatter sits at his work bench, blocking a hat. Scissors and a bowl labeled "glue" are on the table in front of him. "Hat factory" and "Spoli your hat while you wait. 50c." are written on the wall behind him. "Tile" is slang for hat. The valentine suggests the hats he makes are of poor quality., Text: When a fellow from you buys a tile / You pretend that you give him the style, / But he quickly finds out when he wears it about / That you’re full of deception and guile. / The shape's out of date, the goods are fifth rate, / And his looks make beholders all smile., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
