Valentine - Mechanical, layers of roses 1870 - 1880

This Victorian-era "Valentine - Mechanical, layers of roses" card, dated 1870-1880, showcases a young girl surrounded by roses and a mechanical element. The layered design features a fan of leaves that reveals a central message, "You alone I admire", when the card is opened. The intricate lace border adds to the delicate nature of the piece, which is a typical example of Victorian-era paper ephemera. The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York houses this card, a testament to the enduring beauty of such romantic artifacts.