Vintage Valentine's Day Cards

Not so long ago,

 Valentine's Day couldn't be properly celebrated

without the exchange of paper valentines, 

each decorated with shiny red hearts, cherubs, paper lace

or sweet verses.

But even those valentines seem slick and commercial when 

compared to the elaborate artistry of Victorian Valentine's Day cards.

Here are a few I like best:

(all images are from Google Images)

This one has it all: a touch of lace, birds, hearts, and flowers:

Not just cherubs, but seraphim and cherubim:

And more little angels:

Plump, apple-cheeked children are a recurring theme:

The flowers in this one are particularly beautiful. 

Peonies are frequently depicted, as are roses and violets,

probably because of their sweet perfumes:

A sweet way to tell someone you're thinking of them.

<>