A man sits at a table eating. His mouth is red and large with visible teeth. A cat with visible rib bones sits by his feet., Text: Detested wretch, thou beast with hungry maw, / Mouth like a grave, and ass's under jaw, / If thou could'st have thy wish at thy command, / There'd be speedy famine in the land. / Look at you're [i.e. your] cat, who anxious waits for food, / Whilst through her skin her bones almost protrude; / Thy Valentine for worlds I would not be, / Lest, Glutton as thou art, you should eat me., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The house-maid blacks a boot in a kitchen, where the tea pot and kettle have faces. "To have one's swing" means "to allow oneself every freedom." The valentine possibly accuses the maid of having more energy for playing with sweethearts than for her work., Text: Dirty, ugly, vulgar, pert, / So begrimed with grease and dirt, / I vow that I should afraid of, / Seeing what that MAID is MADE of / Tho' call'd MAID OF ALL WORK! they / Say you're often MADE OF PLAY. / And when sweethearts you've your swing / The MAID is quite a different thing., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman walks in front a much smaller man, presumably her servant, who holds a bundle. "Upper Ten" is a term for the wealthy elite, or "Upper Ten Thousand." The sender mocks the recipient for not marrying., Text: Though dress'd in ribbons, silks, and laces, / And midst the Upper Ten your place is; / You surely should you silly elf, / Find some poor man to share your pelf., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
A woman holds a broom in one hand and has her other hand in her pocket. She has dirt on her face and drools., Text: I've counted up all of earthly ills; / I threw a box of -- Somebody's -- pills; / But after I'd thought of every thing human, / I found the worst -- a slovenly woman., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a woman pulling a sheet over a bed. She smiles and wears a dress and apron. There is a bucket by her foot. The text quotes an old proverb to suggest a literal meaning for the figurative expression., Text: What pleases you so? you have caught a new beau, / I know by the glance of your eye! / I hope you'll not rue it, but you know it is true, / "As you make your bed so you must lie.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Verse: Death to the Northern Invaders of the South! We will greet you with Bloody Hands to Hospitable Graves.", Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
The machinist holds a hammer and pushes against a brace., Text: In the shop there's none so smart as you / At mending a boiler or making a screw. / Where is your means of supporting a wife, / And supplying her wants throughout her life? / Your wages are small, every one knows / The principal part to the port-house goes! / Faint hope to gain a woman's heart, / By one so well known as thou art., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The valentine shows a man looking through a key hole. The text threatens the recipient with violence if he continues spying on and meddling in his neighbors' matters., Text: Poking in your nose where ere you can, / You are a mischievous meddling stupid man; / Who minds his neighbours business not his own / May one day have a broken head to moan., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Block numbered in two places: 3616, also 1356 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a bearded man reaching out of a spherical structure which appears to rest on rocks or float on waves; he holds a staff in his other hand; a dog sits on top of the structure; the tail of a kite or similar object also blows out of the opening of the sphere.
A woman in ragged clothes frowns and points her finger., Text: If you keep on, you vile old wretch, you, / 'T'is certain that old nick will catch you; / But if he does, how much the winner / Will he be by so great a sinner., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Block numbered in one place: 3550., Image of a man in European dress holding a book in one hand and gesturing with the other; in front of him sits a seated Native American man who holds a small tomahawk in one hand and touches his face or rests his head on his hand; behind him stand three other similarly-dressed men and what appears to be a woman., Illustration appears in Child's world, v. 13 no. 16 (1874), p. 3.
Block numbered in two places: 9396, also 1333 on small adhesive label on back of block., Image of a boy and a smaller girl standing in the bow of a small boat, the front half of which is visible in the image; an empty shore is visible behind the boat; the boy rests one hand on the girl’s shoulder and points into the distance with the other hand; the boy appears to be wearing a Tam o’ Shanter or similar hat., Back of block partially obscured by pasted-down paper.
Image: Depicts the Union flag waving from its pole. The liberty cap is atop the pole. Includes address lines., Verse: Stand by the flag., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector
A woman wears a gown and a green shawl that resembles butterfly wings. She holds a fan and wears a bonnet. The valentine mocks women of fashion as artificial., Text: If you had a husband, giddy one, / He soon would in the gutter lie; / With you for a mate, he'd be undone; / You're but a painted Butterfly., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
The woman wears a gown and holds a fan. Her head is shaped like a cod-fish, and the fins resemble strings on a bonnet. Cod-Fish aristocracy was a derogatory term for New Englanders whose family wealth originated in maritime businesses., Text: You wish to be thought "some" we know, / In truth a very odd wish; / Since people say, not long ago, / Your parents dealt in cod-fish., Provenance: McAllister, John A. (John Allister), 1822-1896, collector.
Block numbered in two places: 7028, also 1798 on small label on back of block., Image of an older man holding a cane, waving or gesturing to a boy who waves with one hand and carries a small pack in his other hand; behind the boy is a carriage or coach, with two men sitting in the driver’s box and another person entering; a man wearing a kepi stands at the side of the coach, holding a bugle at his side; likely a Civil War scene., “N.J. Wemmer & Son [Phila.] 215 Pear St.” – Back of block in two places. I.e. Nelson J. Wemmer.
