The coquette is surrounded by four men. One has a hunchback, two have large noses, and the final one is balding. The female figure is larger and more brightly colored than the men. She wear a gown and small cap. The shadowy figure of a dog looks on., Text: Lizard-hearted, sly coquette, / Never pleased but with a set / Of winking fools about your feet, / Swearing your sour breath is sweet. / Casting each one off in turn, / Until at last, for all you burn; / In wrinkles in contempt you'll pine, / And like a lone cat longing whine., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The policeman talks to a woman through a window. She wears a low-cut gown, and he holds his hands to his face. Behind him, a boy steals something from a man's pocket. The valentine criticizes him for neglecting his job to pay attention to women., Text: What a happy life the policeman leads; / With his Starry shield before him! / He mutters his love to the passing maids, / While ladies, from windows, adore Him. / The Gallant BRAVE Fellow never suspects / A thief might, near Him, be stealing; / So he chats with HIS DEAR, and bows his respects, / While love the dark-deed is concealing., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a small woman in a blue gown with puffed sleeves. She wears a hat with a large pink feather in it., Text: I am a Heart-breaker, / For men I don't care; / The best one shall never / Catch me in Love's snare., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman stands between two men. She wears a large-skirted gown that reveals her ankles and blocks the men's path. To have "two strings in one's bow" means to have more than one option., Text: Daily you lose your modesty, / And some new freak of fastness try, / Allow me here then to suggest / The vulgar style that suits you best, / Young Ladies think it is the go / To have two strings unto their bow; / But I'll teach you a faster thing, / To have two beaus unto your string!, Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A smirking woman holding a small purse waves a handkerchief over her shoulder. The valentine suggests that a woman who flirts with many men will be a bad wife., Text: You're like a fair young rose bush, / Where each beau plucks a rose, / 'Till nought but thorns are left behind, / To prove the husband's woes., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A man wears a top hat and carries a monocle on a lanyard. He hold the monocle up to a passing woman's skirt and a speech balloon says "Dem fine girl!" The sender finds his pursuit of women empty and pathetic., Text: Poor addle headed empty ass, / Prying about with quizzing glass, / Lisping and drawing out each word, / In manner that is too absurd, / Dodging the footsteps of some fair, / Like some hungry ill bred cur / Following a butcher thro’ the street., "47", Provenance: Helfand, William H..
A poulterer stands in a door in his shop wearing an apron. In one hand he holds a bird a knife in the other. Several dead birds are hanging up, while several live birds are in a cage, and a chest is filled with eggs., Text: The Poulterer surely is the man; / To please the fair if any can, / He tries as far as he is able, / To suit their taste and grace their table. / But tho’ good-will formed all he’s gained, / There’s One whose smile could he obtain, / He’d ever anxious be to prove, / His wish to please as well as Love., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
The valentine shows a large central female figure, the coquette, and two men standing behind her. She smiles and holds her hands out. The valentine condemns female flirtation and suggests that the outcome will not be marriage., Text: Vain, silly coquette, whose only employ / Is fond loving hearts to offend; / Beware, or ere long the enjoyment will cloy, / And you'll die an old maid in the end., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A poulterer stands behind a counter with a fowl in his hand and smiles. The valentine suggests that although he can be ingratiating, he is not trustworthy., Text: Stands the Poulterer pert and sly, / Madam, pray step in and buy; / Ah! Buy indeed, to buy and rue, / Would be to buy a goose like you; / Never, by cock and hen, I swear, / Shall you be mine, unpolished bear., Provenance: Helfand, William H..
A woman in gown with a bustle holds an umbrella and bouquet of flowers. "Three-balls" is slang for a pawnbroker. Bustles became popular after 1869., Text: A Mantilla from your shoulder falls / Just redeemed from the three-balls; / In the street you make a dash, / 'Tis strange how you obtain the cash. / You're too lazy, and fear to work / You dirty, nasty little flirt; / Stay at home-- not gad the street, / And speak to every loafer you meet., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The shop-girl walks holding up her skirt so that it reveals her crinoline. A man watches her and holds his hand to his face., Text: How gracelessly you move along / Like tun-dish upside down! / Pray, stay at home when streets are throng, / Lest some ungallant clown / Might tread upon that wondrous skirt / That sweeps from curb to wall, / And say: 'twas only right a flirt / From pride should have a fall., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
