VERY EARLY HAND-COLOURED FLORAL 'KNOT' POSTALLY USED PRESTAMP VALENTINE; Colourful 14 Feb. 1811 folded EL (toned/dusted address side and reinforced folds; one flap lost) sent from "ROTHERHAM" (boxed mileage on front) to "Camsall near Doncaster" with a complete and beautifully hand-drawn coloured fancy Valentine inside; depicting love-hearts, the 'lovers' knot' and various flowers. Also incorporating poetic verses; “The Rose is red/ the Valentine blue/ the pink is sweet, so are you. Sure as the grapes/ grow on the vine/ so sure are you/ my Valentine”. It was charged "4[d]" postage, but on the reverse it has an unusual "111 111" charge (showing an extra 2d local charge for an illiterate messenger). This is one of only a handful of recorded pre-1815 postally used British Valentines. Cross Reference: YORKSHIRE, VALENTINES/GREETINGS CARDS (Image)

EARLY VICTORIAN VALENTINE CARDS & ENVELOPE: Two 'Paper lace' type Valentines Cards, one dated 14 Feb. 1852, the other of around the same period, and a 'matching' envelope. Both addressed to Alfred Lawless (see relevant lot in the Military Postal History section of this catalogue). Cards are manufactured by embossing on plain cream coloured paper to create a 'filigree/lace effect' design. Most unusual and attractive. (2) Cross Reference: VALENTINES/GREETINGS CARDS (Image)