May You Be Happy, 19th C. Paper Lace Love Token Under Glass christ arm showing a few old photos

showing a few old photos on the reverse side--one of two men standing on a fence and dated 1919

framed in walnut I believe and with finely carved wooden pins holding the corners together

L just used this box

now with one house on it

From what I can tell it is an extremely rare one

May You Be Happy, 19th C. Paper Lace Love Token Under Glass christ arm showing a few old photosA beautiful example of one of these layered paper lace and embossed die cut valentines, or love tokens, and an early one c. 1860s 70s I believe. I would guess this one was actually given on the occasion of a birth or christening, with the hopes of a happy life being imparted to the child, and, it looks to me, a babtism occurring at top center though it also looks a bit like a baby in a bird cage! Detail photos give the best sense of the layering and