Charm Our Eyes! Scarce and Marvelous Riedel, Nuremberg Mechanical Valentine c. 1830s treen letter opener produced by Joseph Ward of

produced by Joseph Ward of Boston

It measures 7 3/4" tall with lid and 5 5/8" in diameter

it appears Ito be covered with a couple of layers of paint--I think first entirely painted red

covering the original tin plate advertising the Ellwood Fence of the American Steel and Wire Co

I love how the line of her nose extends all the way down from her eyes (which seem to see into my soul

Charm Our Eyes! Scarce and Marvelous Riedel, Nuremberg Mechanical Valentine c. 1830s treen letter opener produced by Joseph Ward ofAmazing! I love going to Brimfield, but occasions of finding true treasures digging through boxes in far corners happens less and less and less. But then this, and a second early mechanical valentine also listed today the sorts of lucky finds that keeps me ever hopeful. This is quite a rare one, an early mechanical valentine, published by Riedel in Nuremberg, Germany, for English export, 1830s. I have found one reference to this particular valentine,