Inside the Museum of London

As part of our collections online programme bringing greater online access to our collections over the next three years, including the addition of over 90,000 objects. Project Assistant, Ellie, talks us through her work with the Museum’s collection of leap year proposal cards:

                           (To see more of this card visit our collections online page here).

In my previous Valentine’s blog posts I mentioned the London stationer Jonathan King, whose comprehensive card collection was estimated to include at least a million cards.

Leap year legend suggests the 29th is a day when women may propose to men, and London’s valentine makers sold cards for the purpose.

After all, they sold valentine cards for far less romantic reasons.

As you can imagine, King included leap year cards in his collection, and some of these have made it to the museum.

                           (To see more of this card visit our collections online page here).

                          (To see more of this card visit our collections online page here).

King was keen on valentine puns, and when this card was opened the leap-year match revealed the message ‘Ready and willing to strike it with you, dear’.

If these cards weren’t to your tastes then perhaps a marriage-minded frog would prove more suitable. Who could resist?

                          (To see more of this card visit our collections online page here).

The cards reads:

‘An opportunity not to be lost.
I ask you with all love sincere
If this Leap-year
You’ll have me Dear?’

With the frog adding:

‘Leap here!’

Do let us know if these cards inspire you today!