From floral bouquets and scented hearts, to casual insults and a pig in human clothes – marvel at the sweet (and sometimes quite mean!) Valentine's cards in the V&A's collection.
Join Curator Zorian Clayton as he shows us a selection of delightful cards from our Prints collection. As cards were a new phenomena in the 19th century, people went wild for the opportunity to show a special someone that they were fond of them.
Ranging from one penny to three guineas (£250 in today's money), take a look at intricate mechanical cards, delicate paper cages, ceramic hearts and ruder 'vinegar valentines' sent between friends – and find out whether the language of love really has changed very much since the Victorian era.
- 00:00 The origins of Valentine's Day
- 02.00 Oldest cards
- 04:13 Novelty designs
- 06:24 Mechanical cards
- 08:50 Vinegar Valentines
- 10:57 The language of flowers (floriography)
- 13:40 Contemporary ceramic and mosaic Valentines
See objects for yourself in their Prints and Drawings Study Room
Find out more in their Print collection
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