The 'spite Valentine,' which began as a mild joke about four years ago, has now become unpleasantly like an illustrated poison letter
Humorous Valentine cards, according to the stationers, are more popular than ever this year, but many people opening their post on 14 February may find their sense of humour tested severely. The "spite Valentine," which began as a mild joke about four years ago, has now become unpleasantly like an illustrated poison letter.
Physical deformity of any kind seems to be a particular target of the modern Valentine artist. There are endless variations on the joke about the girl who looks pleasant enough from behind but reveals, on turning round, an ugly face. One of these faces, lantern-jawed and coloured a sickly shade of green, is done in the best style of the horror comics. Another popular subject of the humorous cards, scarcely less brutal, is the man who wears padded shoulders, false heels, and a wig during the day but is disclosed on the inner fold of the Valentine as a weakling in his under-wear.
Only a few cards in this particular school are merely bantering ("I've got such a warm little spot for you – Go to blazes"); the majority must have been intended to hurt. The style of the wording suggests an American influence – "Gee Valentine", " Hey Valentine", "To a real he-man", "To a sweater-girl", and so on – but the tone would be disparaging in any tongue.
There is also a growing demand for post-card Valentines, whose inspiration is entirely British, for they differ scarcely at all from the garishly illustrated picture jokes which are sold in profusion at sea-side towns. As Valentines the jokes become more personal, for it is clearly intended that the traditional down-trodden husband or bad-tempered wife represents the person to whom the card is sent.
These are for the most part less offensive than the four-fold humorous cards. In particular they single out for ridicule the gossiping housewife, the flirt, and the football supporter (who shouts very loudly but would make a fool of himself on the field). These are traditional figures, but the Valentine artists know how to move with the times. There is one card for a " Teddy boy" with a disapproving poem underneath.
Nor will the Chancellor of the Exchequer be forgotten on Saint Valentine's Day. A card has been produced showing him clinging to the balloon of rising prices, the target of arrows from a group of women on the ground. According to the Daily Worker, which should know, Mr Macmillan "will get thousands of these Valentines from irate housewives." But in spite of this malicious trend, the old-fashioned romantic Valentines – the pink hearts, bordered with lace – are selling just as well as ever.
Roses are Red: The Guardian on Valentine's Day, a collection of classic archive pieces celebrating 14 February, is available as an e-book
These archive extracts, compiled by the Guardian's research and information department, appear online daily at gu.com/fromthearchive Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.
Humorous Valentine cards, according to the stationers, are more popular than ever this year, but many people opening their post on 14 February may find their sense of humour tested severely. The "spite Valentine," which began as a mild joke about four years ago, has now become unpleasantly like an illustrated poison letter.
Physical deformity of any kind seems to be a particular target of the modern Valentine artist. There are endless variations on the joke about the girl who looks pleasant enough from behind but reveals, on turning round, an ugly face. One of these faces, lantern-jawed and coloured a sickly shade of green, is done in the best style of the horror comics. Another popular subject of the humorous cards, scarcely less brutal, is the man who wears padded shoulders, false heels, and a wig during the day but is disclosed on the inner fold of the Valentine as a weakling in his under-wear.
Only a few cards in this particular school are merely bantering ("I've got such a warm little spot for you – Go to blazes"); the majority must have been intended to hurt. The style of the wording suggests an American influence – "Gee Valentine", " Hey Valentine", "To a real he-man", "To a sweater-girl", and so on – but the tone would be disparaging in any tongue.
There is also a growing demand for post-card Valentines, whose inspiration is entirely British, for they differ scarcely at all from the garishly illustrated picture jokes which are sold in profusion at sea-side towns. As Valentines the jokes become more personal, for it is clearly intended that the traditional down-trodden husband or bad-tempered wife represents the person to whom the card is sent.
These are for the most part less offensive than the four-fold humorous cards. In particular they single out for ridicule the gossiping housewife, the flirt, and the football supporter (who shouts very loudly but would make a fool of himself on the field). These are traditional figures, but the Valentine artists know how to move with the times. There is one card for a " Teddy boy" with a disapproving poem underneath.
Nor will the Chancellor of the Exchequer be forgotten on Saint Valentine's Day. A card has been produced showing him clinging to the balloon of rising prices, the target of arrows from a group of women on the ground. According to the Daily Worker, which should know, Mr Macmillan "will get thousands of these Valentines from irate housewives." But in spite of this malicious trend, the old-fashioned romantic Valentines – the pink hearts, bordered with lace – are selling just as well as ever.
Roses are Red: The Guardian on Valentine's Day, a collection of classic archive pieces celebrating 14 February, is available as an e-book
These archive extracts, compiled by the Guardian's research and information department, appear online daily at gu.com/fromthearchive Reported by guardian.co.uk 2 days ago.