"On the Trail" old maid vinegar valentine, circa 1890
Scope and Contents
A vinegar valentine making fun of an older unmarried woman seeking a husband, titled "On the Trail." The image, drawn by Charles J. Howard, features a woman with a dagger held between her teeth, a lasso around her wrist, a pistol at her hip, and an envelope of "love powder" in her hand as she follows a set of footprints at night. Tacked up beside her head is a note that reads, "Notice: I am desperate and must have a man. Signed Old Maid." The poem's text reads, "If you'd lassoo a real live man / And dope him, as you only, can, / Then cut his heart and shoot him through, / He might be coaxed to marry you."
Dates
- Creation: circa 1890
Creator
- Howard, Charles J. (Person)
- McLoughlin Bros. (Publisher, Organization)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Contact Special Collections for more information.
Extent
0.167 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from eBay in January 2022.
Processing Information
Processed in January 2024 by Jenelle Clark.
Genre / Form
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA
specialcollections@lists.jhu.edu