A rare and special thing this one, a fortune telling valentine of sorts, which I purchased from a great paper dealer in Pennsylvania, who had kept it in his personal collection for some years. A gorgeous watercolor taken at face value, but under most every leaf and bloom is a hidden message, revealed when one flips that bit up (and so a pretty intricate work of cut paper, too.) I especially love the fact that many of those messages are the opposite of saccharine, bluntly delivering harsh sentiments or diagnoses: "deposed to jealousy," "I would not be you, you are too much of a shrew," "no one will love you I can tell because you love yourself too well" - ouch! And with an apt description (warning!) along the bottom: "Impartially to all who seek, then take a peak behind a leaf...I faults and fortunes show if you your own would  know." Pretty amazing, and marvelously executed.  And with a fancy paper purse bloom at upper left, which I have not opened for fear of not being able to close it properly, but which I'd guess may contain a bevy of fortunes inside! 

7 7/8" x 6 1/8" and in very good condition, mid 19th c. or so, I believe. No missing bits, and color is very strong and rich, but one wants to take some care when folding down the smaller (delicate) bits to reveal their messages.