19th C. Token of Friendship Theorem: From a True Friend chainstitch These hearts are complete but

These hearts are complete but for the 10

which I think I can likely very carefully remove with tweezers

as if it might go on forever

and another tiny house at bottom right

and I believe may reference Louis XIV

19th C. Token of Friendship Theorem: From a True Friend chainstitch These hearts are complete butIn my book, it's always time for a valentine or token of friendship, and what a lovely one is this, From a True Friend indeed! The text appears to have been block printed, the rest done in watercolor and ink by hand (using hand cut stencils, which is how theorems were made, and, I recently learned, the paint was often blown onto the paper via a glass tube, like a straw; at least so I was told!) A lovely example, and unlike others I've seen mid 19th c.