WILL YOU KEEP YOUR KISSES FOR ME?

For many centuries Valentine's Day was celebrated as a time when tokens of love could be exchanged. But, the tradition became truly popular during the Victorian era when, due to improvements in printing techniques, and the introduction of a postal service, commercially printed cards were sent instead of hand-written sheets of verse. Some of these cards were very elaborate with paper embossed and cut like lace, or decorated with mirrors and feathers. Sometimes locks of hair cut from the head of the sender were also included.

As well as being romantic, many cards had a humorous bent. Others were so cruelly malicious that in the 1850's the following editorial was published in the New York Times -

Our beaux and belles are satisfied with a few miserable lines, neatly written upon fine paper, or else they purchase a printed Valentine with verses ready made, some of which are costly, and many of which are cheap and indecent. In any case, whether decent or indecent, they only please the silly and give the vicious an opportunity to develop their propensities, and place them, anonymously, before the comparatively virtuous. The custom with us has no useful feature, and the sooner it is abolished the better.

Such advice did not prevent this 1900 film that the British Film Institute has now preserved and digitised: The Old Maid's Valentine ...

By contrast, in the 1850's, one particularly attractive young lady by the name of Catherine Worsley (the daughter of Sir William Worsley of Hovingham in England), received many Valentines from her ardent and hopeful lovers. Her collection of 22 illustrated letters, some poems, sonnets and stories can all be viewed today at the North Yorkshire County Records office.

One ardent admirer wrote: 'I'll gratify your slightest wish, whether t'were small or great, say the word at once you're heard, my pretty, pretty Kate.' 

Another said: 'I'm ugly I know, but I'll presently show, that I really am not to be sneezed at.' 

But the man who won Catherine's heart was her cousin, George Allanson Cayley. They married in 1859 after he urged that she, 'keep your kisses all for me.'

Catherine Worsley's valentines were unearthed by Katie Robinson, a Record Assistant at the North Yorkshire County Office who'd been carrying out some research for the BBC TV programme, Who Do You Think You Are?

For related posts please see: How do I Love Thee - the story of Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Browning and A Curious Love Letter from a Gentleman to a Lady.