The Valentine's Day card is currently being kept at York Museums Gallery and is illustrated with cupids, hearts and lovebirds



A Valentine's Day card unearthed from 1797 shows some things never change after a real life 'Bridget Jones' berates her beau for ghosting her.

The 224-year-old correspondence from a Miss Catherine Mossday asks a mysterious Mr Brown why he has failed to visit her after she "repeatedly requested" his attendance.

The note, which is illustrated with a delicate design and an elegant portrait of a woman, starts: "As I have repeatedly requested you to come, I think you must have some reason for not complying with my requests.

"As I have something particular to say to you I could wish you make it all agreeable to come on Sunday next without fail and in doing you will oblige your well wisher."



It ends with only her name without any traditional sign off such as "love" or "yours".

It's not known where Miss Mossday lived but her unconventional love note was sent to a Mr Brown of Dover Place, Kent Road in London.

Mr Brown could be one of the earliest adopters of the dating trend of 'ghosting'.

'Ghosting' is a recent term which is used when someone ends a relationship by cutting off all communication with the other person without any explanation.

Centuries later it will never be known what became of Miss Mossday and Mr Brown but the tale of their courtship lives on through the comical correspondence.

Despite her terse message Miss Mossday chose a charming card - which remains the oldest pre-printed Valentine's Day card in existence.

The handwritten card was penned only seven years earlier and sold at auction in 2019 for £7,000.

Miss Mossday's is beautifully illustrated with cupids, hearts and lovebirds with an elegant portrait of a woman in the centre.

It was published on January 12, 1797, by John Fairburn of 146, Minories, London, and includes a verse printed around the edge:

Since on this ever Happy day,
All Nature's full of Love and Play
Yet harmless still if my design,
'Tis but to be your Valentine.

The maker also pierced the corners of the card to give it a delicate lace effect.



It's currently being kept at York Museums Gallery, where it would usually be on display for the public to see.

Curator Helen Thornton said: "This wonderful card is one of many Valentine's cards in our collection but it stands out for a number of reasons.

"Firstly is its age - it is believed to be the oldest printed Valentine's card in the world.

"Secondly, it is beautifully made, with intricate designs which were probably hand-coloured after printing.

"But just as interesting is the message inside which gives you an intriguing glimpse into the life of the sender more than 200 years ago."

According to the history books, the practice of sending cards on Valentine's Day was becoming a popular pastime among the wealthy by Georgian times.

However, as Miss Mossday's shows, they weren't simply used as an expression of affection.

The practice properly took off in the Victorian-era when the penny post was launched, which meant it was an affordable thing for the masses to do.

Source: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/woman-slams-man-ghosting-unearthed-23494664

Nice...

I don't know what it is with men and ghosting when you can simply say "I'm not in love with you".

Almost a century ago, I was in love with HER....

Alas, she was the wrong one.

Real value of love back then not now that VAL has turn to sex day

“The course of true love never did run smooth."

William Shakespeare

Chii59:
I don't know what it is with men and ghosting when you can simply say "I'm not in love with you".

if we tell you were not in love with you you will give us drama and more drama we don't like drama or crying... some ladies won't want to accept that fact that we are not in love with them they try to impose it on us and try to force relationship with us the worst ones are the "after you used me you think you can dump me" girls.. I call them girls because no female with a developed brain should say a guy used (had sex) and dumped her that's so fvccking dumb it infuriates me to hear a girl say that... I just sent one of my side chick that I wanted to make number 1 away few minutes ago, she's not ready to be number 1 she doesn't know yet we're not going to see anymore.... ghosting things ..

cute

Lol

What if I told you that there is the one of 1644 currently domiciled in Osun and Enugu Museum?

As I don see am na to reprint am be that.

As I have repeatedly requested you to come, I think you must have some reason for not complying with my requests.

"As I have something particular to say to you I could wish you make it all agreeable to come on Sunday next without fail and in doing you will oblige your well wisher."

Isn't this just so cute?
Women have been falling in love in a sweet way since 1700.
Love is beautiful when you are with the right person.

RenaissanceGuy:
What if I told you that there is the one of 1644 currently domiciled in Osun and Enugu Museum?

Since it's from Africa and except Egypt, then it won't count.
That's how they see us

Damnnn niggarrrr
Isoright

Nice

Valentine this valentine that!
All of you people should get out!

Na wa o, valentine, valentine, valentine, abeg make 12 o clock reach make this thing finish, the only problem now is we will start hearing post valentine news.....

Huh?

Typical Africans. Anywhere oyinbo point to u na go just follow. What da fvck is Valentine? Instead of following white man Africans should learn to follow themselves first. Idiots and monkeys.

;DSee this monkey below talking about phone. If I had another option would I use a phone? But you are telling me you have no option but to order your life, as an African, in line with the holidays created by white man?

Starzo:
Hope u know the phone u used to type this rubbish was not made by a black African man/woman?...una just dey deceive una self

Was hoping to get this information from Macjebs or the Explorers!
Well done @OP!!!!!

Na lie

In the future archeologists will dig up the ground and see one valentine card from king Solomon

Dope

Humn! Love nwantiti kept the card over the years

look at my signature

Wow

[/color]is[color=#990000]is always not that easy dear u sometimes consider her feelings and it might be beta u leave her wondering wat really happened BTW u both

Chii59:
I don't know what it is with men and ghosting when you can simply say "I'm not in love with you".

SoftChordz:
if we tell you were not in love with you you will give us drama and more drama we don't like drama or crying... some ladies won't want to accept that fact that we are not in love with them they try to impose it on us and try to force relationship with us the worst ones are the "after you used me you think you can dump me" girls.. I call them girls because no female with a developed brain should say a guy used (had sex) and dumped her that's so fvccking dumb it infuriates me to hear a girl say that... I just sent one of my side chick that I wanted to make number 1 away few minutes ago, she's not ready to be number 1 she doesn't know yet we're not going to see anymore.... ghosting things ..

See epistle and chronicle

www.nairaland.com/attachments/13143361_untitledfgr_jpegcd37c46c4dbd50995186d63fb9c55143

Chii59:
I don't know what it is with men and ghosting when you can simply say "I'm not in love with you".

Na una Toto smell cause am