The Unrequited Love" or "The Despondent Lover" Valentine Series -- "Why fear to answer yes?

England, 1830. Very good. Light toning, dust soiling.. A rare example of one of the valentines produced for the so-called "Unrequited Love" or "Despondent Lover" valentine set, a highly sentimental series first produced in the 1830s. Most featured despondent lovers, but some featured happy or joyful scenes of love. This example does not feature the Addenbrooke name or 1828 watermark known in other examples, but appears contemporary. This example depicts two lovers sitting on a bench outside a country cottage, with a poem that reads: "Why fear to answer yes? This circling bond a charm, With give existing bliss; Will plighted vows each bosom warm, Doubt not dear maid, no guile with me, But love unto eternity." Wove paper bifolium with embossed decorative border (10" by 8"), with hand colored aquatint in center. "On quarto size paper, each valentine of this series is adorned with a lightly embossed decorative border. The central picture of each shows a delightful aquatint, beautifully colored and finished by hand ... The set numbers fourteen in all, which was recognized as a regular 'valentine dozen'. The original publisher of this interesting series, which came out in the 1830s, is believed to be Addenbrooke" (Staff, "The Valentine and its Origins", p. 62).