Valentine 1845 - 1875

"Valentine" is a Victorian-era paper valentine created by Esther Howland, considered the "Mother of the American Valentine." The card, featuring a central circular vignette of a young couple, is framed by ornate gilded paper, and features a variety of paper cutting techniques, including "quilling," a process using thin strips of paper to form decorative shapes. The delicate design and use of color is indicative of Howland's artistic style, which contributed to the rise of mass-produced valentines in the 19th century.