"An ornate vintage Valentine’s Day card designed by Benjamin Sulman, a lithographic printer and card maker in London, England. The card features an intricate lace-like border with floral and ribbon patterns in gold, cream, and blue. At the centre, an oval-shaped message reads: 'To the one I love. Dearest accept this offering, from a heart that’s truly thine. My fond thoughts are in it woven. Be thou my only Valentine.' Below the card, the Clayton Hall Living History Museum logo and website (ClaytonHall.org) are displayed. The background is a faded, enlarged version of the card’s design."
"A historical fact card from Clayton Hall Living History Museum features a 'Did you know...' section on the history of Valentine's Day cards in Great Britain. The text explains that 185 years ago, the Uniform Penny Post allowed Valentine cards to be mailed for one penny, leading to 400,000 valentines being sent within a year. By 1871, 1.2 million cards were processed by the General Post Office in London. It also notes that Victorian valentines were sent anonymously and often carried no message, as the card itself was meant to convey the sentiment. The background includes a faded black-and-white sketch of a historical scene, and the museum's logo and website (ClaytonHall.org) are displayed at the bottom."
185 years ago, Great Britain introduced the Uniform Penny Post which meant that Valentine cards could be mailed for just one penny.
One year later, 400,000 Valentines were posted throughout England. By 1871, 1.2 million cards were processed by the General Post Office in London.
