1890s

Valentines grew ever more elaborate and were overly decorated with items such as dried and waxed flowers, seaweed, shells, mirrors, ivory, ribbon, beads and fabric. Mechanical, multi-layered and three-dimensional Valentines were growing ever larger and arguably less tasteful in design.

Examples of Valentines from the 19th century can be found in the Library of Birmingham's collection of Victorian and Edwardian scrap books.