Love was a fertile subject for Victorian humour. Jokes about romance were a staple feature of comic papers, and jests about botched proposals were particularly popular in the weeks around Valentine’s Day.
Humour was also a big part of nineteenth-century courtship. Matrimonial advertisements – the Victorian equivalent of modern-day dating profiles – often stipulated that prospective partners must be ‘jolly’ and ‘fond of fun’.
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- Vinegar Valentine
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- Tootsie’s Matrimonial Agency
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- Tootsie’s Matrimonial Agency
Other Victorians used humour for cruller purposes by sending ‘Vinegar Valentines’ to people they disliked. These cheaply produced cards featured unflattering caricatures, intended to represent their unfortunate recipients, and insulting verses which pointed out their flaws.
These mock valentines were particularly popular popular in Britain and America from the 1840s. At the height of their success they may have accounted for more than half of all valentines sent.
Spare a thought for those who received these abusive missives in the era before pre-paid postage – they had to pay to receive their insults!
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- Here’s a pretty cool reception, / At least you’ll say there’s no deception, / It says a plain as it can say, / Old fellow you’d best stop away.
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- Proud beauty you’d best lay aside, / Your nonsense and your peacock pride, / Or none will have the pluck to say, / “Fair lady will you name the day.”
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- ‘Tis said you share your love with many, / But I believe you have not any, / At least enough to give away, / You keep it for yourself they say.
(Images from Royal Pavilion & Museums, Brighton & Hove)
A special Vinegar Valentine pop-up exhibition, guest curated by Grace Marks (BA History, Edge Hill University), is currently on display as part of The Atkinson’s We Are Not Amused exhibition.
Create your own Vinegar Valentine to send to that ‘special someone’ and match yourself with a Victorian partner via Tootsie’s Matromonial Agency.
Free Entry. Monday-Saturday. 10am-4pm.
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- Your smile is pleasing enough, / and your teeth sparkle in the sun, / but I hear you keep them in a glass, / when the end of the day is done! – // – Here she stands but to no avail, / She wants to go to the TKMaxx sale, / She must wait, ‘cos he is late, / Little does she know, he’s on another date.
Posted on 14 February 2020 under Exhibition
