Valentine 1874

"Valentine" is an 1874 trade card from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The card, printed with a stipple effect, depicts a festive scene of medieval royalty. A king and queen are surrounded by musicians, a knight, and a server carrying a platter of food. The caption, "May good digestion wait on appetite", suggests the card's purpose as a celebratory advertisement for a food product. The card is a charming example of 19th-century graphic art and commercial design.