A woman looks at a cap that she holds. Behind her is another woman who wears a similar cap., Text: Cap-maker, at your task you sit, / Wond'ring what head your cap will fit, / And if the locks that round it twine, / May ornament your Valentine. / Ply your trade with industry, / And 'tis possible there'll be, / Of the men your caps will cover, / Some poor fool to be your lover., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The milliner wears a ball gown and an exaggeratedly large hat., Text: I am a young Milliner, / Setting my cap, / In hopes it may catch me / Some pretty young chap., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The woman wears a bonnet and carries a large hat box. "Cap-a-pie" means "head to foot.", Text: So you've come out armed cap-a-pie, / To try and catch a man, / And this to do you'll spare no beau, / But catch one if you can., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman sews a cap. She has an enlarged nose and a moustache and sits at a table with men's caps on it. The caps' blue color may indicate that they are for Union soldiers., Text: Dainty damsel, time ne'er lingers, / On those very active fingers, / Other females, you make charming! / Make yourself, then, less alarming! / As it is, -- I don't incline, / To pick you for a Valentine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The ugly hatter stands at a table ironing top hats. "Gossamer" refers to the shellacked muslin pieces that shaped silk hats. "Swipes" is slang for copious drinking, and "logwood" is a type of dye. "Judy" is slang for a ridiculous woman, and the sender suggests that the recipient could only marry such a woman., Text: Ah, now I well know what it was that I smelt-- / 'Twas the bottle-nosed, rabbit-mouth'd dealer in felt. / Mother Judy might marry such fellows, but I / Detest such a dabbler in logwood and dye. / Thought your head is so big, 'tis of gossamer rig-- / All bloated and puff'd, like a measly pig. / Beastly swiller of swipes, what a picture is thine! / Bad luck to the girl who is your Valentine!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The hatter has a small body, pointed ears, and enlarged head, which the text mocks. He holds a large hat in front of a box that reads "Gossamers 419." "Gossamer" refers to the shellacked muslin pieces that shaped silk hats. There is an iron on top of it., Text: So proud of your flimsy stuff, / A sun and rain shed; / Go, make one hat big enough / To hide your own head., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman sews a cap. Her face is large, and the shading around her mouth appears to be facial hair. The valentine mocks her for gossiping and trying to appear richer than she is., Text: You nasty thing, think any chap / Would woo the stitcher of a cap? / You walk down town, (and such a caper!) / With dinner tied up in a newspaper? / To make folks believe you've been shopping, / In buying shoes or a pair of stockings, / Your figure's bad and when at your labors, / You talk too much about your neighbors., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
