8vo. [8]pp. Sewn, loosely inserted within original publisher's printed blue paper wrappers, with large woodcut illustration of a lady writing on a slope, in front of cupid holding a torch, to upper wrapper. The same design is repeated, and hand-coloured, to the title. Short splits to spine, else fine.

[With:] The quizzical valentine writer. [London]. Printed and Sold by J.L. Marks, Long Lane, Smithfield, [s.d., 1832-1855]. 8vo. [8]pp. Sewn, loosely inserted within original publisher's printed blue paper wrappers, with large woodcut illustration of a hatted gentleman with an eyeglass to upper wrapper. The same design is repeated, and hand-coloured, to the title. Short splits to spine, neat tape reinforcement to internal gutter fold of wrappers at foot.

An attractive pair of rare mid-nineteenth-century Valentine writers, produced to assist budding writers of romantic verse and ideally suited to the celebration of the Feast of Saint Valentine, on February 14th.

Demand for such cheaply-produced and eminently disposable chapbooks was capitalised on by several publishers of street literature; the titles consequently often bear only passing resemblance to the direction of the text inside. Consequently, not all the 'Lady's' examples are sketched from the female perspective. That said, the 'Quizzical' writer mostly contains responses as well as initial forays, such as the following 'From an Auctioneer':

'Oh! shou'd it be my lot by this
To win my fair divine
I'll advertise my joy-my bliss-
My lovely Valentine

But should I be out-bid in love-
I'm lost then in a dog-
And the most wretched I shall prove
In all Love's Catalogue.

Answer

'Indeed, you've written quite enough
To satiate me for ever;
I'm well convinc'd 'twas all a puff
For therein you are clever.

Another-for I'll not deceive-
This heart of mine has won.
Methinks I see you taking leave-
You're " Going-going-gone!"

This pair were both were printed 'and sold' by caricaturist and printer John Lewis Marks (1796-1855), who operated from a string of London premises before finally settling at Long Lane, Smithfield, between 1832 and 1855.

Both are rare; OCLC locates just four copies of The lady's valentine writer (Duke, Huntington, Michigan, Rochester) and just three examples of The quizzical valentine writer (Duke, Huntington and Michigan. COPAC adds no copies in the UK.