Very Rare Large Antique Penny Dreadful / Vinegar Valentine / 1850s - 1890s - Society Idiot

"SOCIETY IDIOT. "

You go in good society,

At least you say you do;

But if you are a specimen,

They're but a sorry crew.

In fancy clothes you love to shine,

With eye—glass, rings, and chains ;

But heads that run so much to nose.

Have little room for brains I

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This is a very rare large antique Penny Dreadful / Vinegar Valentine with 8 lines of verse. Most likely printed in the USA between the 1850s to late 1800s. Sourced from a collection of Vinegar Valentines, all from the same era. The full print is shown in the first photo. Other photo shows details from the print.

Penny Dreadfuls /Vinegar Valentines were a popular phenomenon from the 1840s to the 1940s, although the British Postal Museum has a copy from 1790. Some of the caricatures, including this one, were drawn by the American cartoonist Charles Howard (whose signature appears on the plate) in the 1870s. The rhymes and drawings were not just amusing, but were also downright cruel, very mean-spirited, and insulting.

Single sheet, toned paper with beautiful patina, creases along right edge (see fourth picture). It is very rare to find them in this size and in such good condition, especially since they were usually printed on cheap paper (they used to sell for a penny, hence the name "Penny Dreadful").

The only reference we've seen to a Vinegar Valentine about this size was in the British Postal Museum & Archive Blog, now known as the Postalmuseum.org

Size of sheet: approx. 9 inches x 21.25 inches (23 cm x 54 cm)

This is an original published between the 1850s to late 1800s, not a reproduction! Bananastrudel sells only originals. The Bananastrudel watermark does not appear on the print.

Size of sheet: approx. 9 inches x 21.25 inches (23 cm x 54 cm)

Shipped rolled in a tube.

Note: The politically incorrect material reflects the spirit of the past, and is by no means reflective of our philosophy!