Valentine of the Day: I Thought What Higher Happiness, c. 1840

I wander’d by the green-wood side,

Array’d in all its verdant pride,

And mark’d the gay birds happy hours

Of love amid their fragrant bowers.

I thought what higher happiness

Than theirs our leisure hours might bless,

In those sweet shades, almost divine,

If we were wed, dear Valentine.

Printed and published by J. Wrigley of Manchester, this Valentine card depicting a couple in a flower garden in front of a church dates between 1840 and 1880.  The above verse accompanies the image.

This card was bequeathed to the V&A along with others from the collection of Guy Tristram Little who amassed a fine assortment of lithograph cards which have been hand-colored with watercolor and feature the very-Victorian attributes of paper lace and fabric appliqué.  

Valentine Card
1840-1880
The Victoria & Albert Museum