It was mailed in Boston
We
have no idea who sent it. It’s not signed, not anywhere—and we’ve looked,
believe me! We’ve always assumed it was her future husband, Lucius Henry Sabin,
but we’re not at all sure of that.
The calligraphy is astounding; just look at
that initial capital W:
Within this heart dear
Valentine
Resides a lady fair,
And if you’ll raise its
coverlet
You’ll find that lady there.
And should you wish to know for
whom
That pictured form is meant,
For that fair maiden I reply
To whom these lines are sent.
The man looks a bit like Edgar Allen Poe, I
think. I’ve seen photographs of Lucius, and he doesn’t look a bit like Edgar
Allen, but it may not mean anything. I love the details – the sealed envelope
on the table, the inkwell with quill; the Cupid-looking creature in the
painting behind the red drapery.
And
the border! Gold and red and green; painstaking work here, what with all the
roses and the doves, the human figures and all that.
The heart, poking out of the man’s waistcoat,
is pasted on the back of the page – whoever it was cut out a section of the
man, slipped the heart in, then pasted the whole thing over.
All that work?
Boy, if that ain’t love, baby...
Happy Valentine’s Day to you all – from one
hundred sixty-seven years ago!
Was your great great grandfather known to be a poet? Is there anything else with his handwriting with which to compare the love note? Did he have artistic leanings? If the note wasn't from her future husband, I wonder if she knew who it was from? It does seem, since the sender had a picture of her, it must have been from Lucius. Still, my Dad took a picture of my Mom & she never knew it till he presented it to her as a way to meet her. It would be fun to know for sure if the romantic note came from Lucius, however. Maybe something will turn up with a clue somewhere, some day.
ReplyDeleteHe wasn't a poet -- and his handwriting is pretty scratchy. SHE might have known who sent it, but kept it to herself. I kind of hope it was from some other man...just to spice things up a little!
DeleteDoes the postmark say Feb 20something? So he was late for Valentine's Day? Oh well, that poem and exposed heart were surely worth the wait. Must've been important to have been saved.
ReplyDeleteGood eye, Wendy -- it says Feb 22, which means he was a little off...and you're right: surely worth the wait!
DeleteThat was definitely worth saving. I've never seen one that old before.
ReplyDeleteOldest one I've ever seen, too. I could frame it, I suppose, but then it loses that "unfolding" appeal...
DeleteIncredible poetry -- and artistry with such great attention to detail. A well-preserved piece of history.
ReplyDeleteToday, we usually run out and buy a ready-made card...when I think of all the time he put into that valentine, I just am awed -- it's so wonderful!
DeleteWhat a beautiful piece of ephemera to have amongst you family memorabilia. It casts a lovely romantic note on your gg grandmother's life.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I get totally consumed by who might have sent it to her - and why, if it wasn't Lucius, she didn't marry him!
ReplyDeleteit's absolutely beautiful, and to have a family connection too is priceless.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dara -- and the family connection IS priceless! Would love to have an answer to the mystery of Who Sent Roxanna The Valentine!
ReplyDeleteSomeone was head over heels! At sixteen a girl may not be so easily bowled over by such dedication. She may have had her eye on someone else entirely.
ReplyDeleteAnd that's the fun of it -- we just don't know!
DeleteThat is beautiful. I love the fact that it isn't signed. I thought that was the whole point of a Valentine. A secret admirer. - boundforoz
ReplyDeleteMe, too. When we were young, we NEVER signed our Valentines...except in school, when the teacher forced us to do so. Have always loved the secret admirer concept!
DeleteBeautiful! Let's hope the recipient knew who sent it and wasn't left to wonder, like us.
ReplyDeleteAhh, do we have a Cyrano de Bergerac story here because the handwriting on the front of the envelope does not match the interior. A fella to shy to sign it, perhaps to shy to write it too.
ReplyDelete