Happy Valentine’s Day.

Enjoy the beautiful handmade lace valentine above from 1845. And for your reading pleasure, a Valentine’s Day poem from the collection that was written circa 1832 from John Blake to Mary Ann Blake:

“If plough and cart can please your heart

with milking cows and swine

Come hear to me and you shall see

I’ve plenty Valentine

Good corn my fields in plenty yields

My barns are filled with stone

Fine sheep in pens and cocks and hens

And chickens rounds the door

Pudding and Beef Provisions chief

And up the Chimney Bacon

Sweet Valentine if you’ll be mine

You’ll never be mistaken”