Penny Dreadfuls

Penny Dreadfuls, also known as Vinegar Valentines, began to appear in the greeting card market around 1858. These cards were very poorly printed and the most inexpensive type of greeting card on the market at that time.

Penny Dreadfuls were not the kind of card you would typically associate with Valentine's Day. These cards were full of rhyming insults and humorous verses. These greeting cards were almost always sent anonymously.