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The Valentines cards below range in date from the late 19th century to the 1960s. The variety of styles go from very romantic to funny and cute. They represent times that was far more publicly innocent, ornate and simple than they seem to be now. Click on the thumbnails below for a larger view of each card.

           

           

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The Valentines cards below range in date from the late 19th century to the 1960s. The variety of styles go from very romantic to funny and cute. They represent times that was far more publicly innocent, ornate and simple than they seem to be now. Click on the thumbnails below for a larger view of each card.

           

           

» Read More

The Valentines cards below range in date from the late 19th century to the 1960s. The variety of styles go from very romantic to funny and cute. They represent times that was far more publicly innocent, ornate and simple than they seem to be now. Click on the thumbnails below for a larger view of each card.

           

           

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somewhere i have never traveled

somewhere i have never travelled, gladly beyond
any experience, your eyes have their silence:
in your most frail gesture are things which enclose me,
or which i cannot touch because they are too near

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Voltaire's passionate love letter to Olympe Dunover written shortly before he escaped from prison.


The Hague 1713

I am a prisoner here in the name of the King; they can take my life, but not the love that I feel for you. Yes, my adorable mistress, to-night I shall see you, and if I had to put my head on the block to do it.

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Jack London's Love Letter to Anna Strunsky expressing his befuddlement at the awakening of his heart


Oakland, April 3, 1901

Dear Anna:

Did I say that the human might be filed in categories? Well, and if I did, let me qualify -- not all humans. You elude me. I cannot place you, cannot grasp you. I may boast that of nine out of ten, under given circumstances, I can forecast their action; that of nine out of ten, by their word or action, I may feel the pulse of their hearts. But of the tenth I despair. It is beyond me. You are that tenth.

Were ever two souls, with dumb lips, more incongruously matched! We may feel in common -- surely, we oftimes do -- and when we do not feel in common, yet do we understand; and yet we have no common tongue. Spoken words do not come to us. We are unintelligible. God must laugh at the mummery.

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Zelda Fitzgerald's Love Letter to Her Husband to Be

Spring 1919

Sweetheart,

Please, please don't be so depressed -- We'll be married soon, and then these lonesome nights will be over forever -- and until we are, I am loving, loving every tiny minute of the day and night -- Maybe you won't understand this, but sometimes when I miss you most, it's hardest to write -- and you always know when I make myself -- Just the ache of it all -- and I can't tell you. If we were together, you'd feel how strong it is -- you're so sweet when you're melancholy. I love your sad tenderness -- when I've hurt you -- That's one of the reasons I could never be sorry for our quarrels -- and they bothered you so -- Those dear, dear little fusses, when I always tried so hard to make you kiss and forget --

Scott -- there's nothing in all the world I want but you -- and your precious love -- All the material things are nothing. I'd just hate to live a sordid, colorless existence -- because you'd soon love me less -- and less -- and I'd do anything -- anything -- to keep your heart for my own -- I don't want to live -- I want to love first, and live incidentally -- Why don't you feel that I'm waiting -- I'll come to you, Lover, when you're ready -- Don't don't ever think of the things you can't give me -- You've trusted me with the dearest heart of all -- and it's so damn much more than anybody else in all the world has ever had --

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Julia Lee-Booker's Terse But Powerful Love Letter to Lieutenant Pat McSwiney

July 24, 1940

I cannot get that beautiful afternoon out of my head, above me where I lay the grass was silhouetted against the blue of the heavens, small clouds were rushing past as the wind drove them on an endless journey. Then close to me was the most lovely of all, your soft hair against my cheek, your kisses so cool and unearthly and my happiness was so great.