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Ouch! Vintage Valentines With Bite

Not all vintage valentines are lovey-dovey — some are downright mean! From the 1840s to 1940s, if you wanted to send an anti-Valentine's Day sentiment, you'd do so with an anonymous vinegar valentine. Annebella Pollen, an expert in these burn-book-worthy cards, explains them as "a cheaply made card, with a printed satirical image that mocks the recipient and has a little doggerel verse underneath, usually four- or six-lined, describing some aspect of their personality and dismissing it." Read the full interview on Collector's Weekly to find out more about this historical hate mail. Check out some of the shockingly nasty vinegar valentines now! And none for Gretchen Wieners, bye.

Yeah, that stings. Like lemon juice in the eye.
Good one.
Even back in the day people were against PDA.
This postcard from the 1910s makes fun of men with domineering wives.
Even bookworms weren't exempt from the mean notes.
This valentine from the late 19th century targets bad singers.
This 1940s card mocks a woman's looks.
This postcard from the 1910s was meant for a disagreeable salesperson.
Vinegar valentines could go quite far, like this one from the 1940s that recommends the recipient kill themselves!
Don't be an eavesdropper!
This one isn't very kind to overweight people.
Chewing gum girl is another target.
Old maids and cats, a stereotype that just won't go away.
Miss Vanity wears paint on her face?
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