CHLOE PRESTON - Rare Large Valentine and more

To My Valentine.

4" x 3 1/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Chloe Preston

To My Valentine.

4 1/4" x 2 5/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Chloe Preston

To My Sweetheart.

6 1/4" x 4 1/2"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Chloe Preston
These walking valentines feature chubbie charaters with big eyes and wide faces.  The multiple feet are on round discs that turn.  The figures are very detailed and feature wonderful colors and embossing.

Valentine Greetings.

2 7/8" x 4 7/8"
circa 1920s

Above Identified as by Cloe Preston on p 66 of Brenner's Valentine Treasury

a less typical example of her work

We can't yet be 100% positive, but we are reasonably convinced that this is the work of Chloe Preston (b 1887 - d 1969). While the English artist is best known for her Chunkies and Peek-A-Boo characters, she also created many valentines dating largely to the 1910s or so (WWI era). It is difficult to be very precise when discussing her valentines as they are not signed by her, making identification a challenge.

Her valentine figures tend to have large round eyes with many lashes, like these do. She also did considerable work incorporating red honeycomb or paper-puff on free-standing cards.

This one features a fireman theme, with a house ablaze and girl to be rescued. Crows fly above the red shingled roof.  One of the birds is holding a heart in its beak. The fire fighters wear black helmets with red hearts adorning the front. While one raises a ladder to the window, the other mans a leaky hose. Flowerpots fall from the balcony as an unused blue bucket sits below. It is a very active scene.

Despite the obvious damage (mainly to the upper bit of paper-puff), the beauty of this card remains. The detailing is fabulous, with much care paid not just to the figures, but to their surroundings as well.

The card stands 9 1/2" tall, 7" wide and about 4" deep. Its only marking notes that it was made in Germany. A faucet and note stand in the lower bit of paper-puff. The message on the note reads:

To my Valentine
This little card
I send to you
To tell you I
Continue true.

The flames are die-cut with yellow backing paper, adding a lovely glow to them as light peeks through.

Even if we were to find this was not the work of Ms. Preston, it was clearly created by a talented artist. This has become one of my favorites in my collection - now if only I could get a bit more repair done to that paper-puff.