Valentine's Day Chapbook

My dearest friends and neighbours of Amberleigh,

Pray allow me a moment of your time, for I bring tidings of a most diverting amusement. With St. Valentine’s Day soon to grace our village once more; that happy occasion when hearts grow tender and even the most reserved among us dare to speak of affection, I propose a small but charming enterprise to celebrate the season.

As many of you know, the poets and printers of London have lately been quite taken with the fashion for chap books: modest little volumes filled with verses, sentiments, and illustrations, exchanged between friends as tokens of regard. Though a grand Quarto would be most impressive, I fear such a tome would prove unwieldy for the post. Therefore, in the spirit of practicality, we shall instead employ a single sheet of A4 paper, folded neatly into quarters, to create our own miniature books.

Each gentle contributor is invited to embellish their chap book with all manner of Valentine finery — hearts, flowers, cupids, ribbons, or whatever ornaments your muse inspires. Within, you may inscribe verses of love or friendship, quotations of a tender nature, or even your own original lines should inspiration strike. Whether your sentiments are playful, poetic, or profoundly heartfelt, they will be received with delight.

When completed, these little books shall be exchanged amongst us, carrying our good wishes from cottage to cottage like so many winged messengers.

I trust you will join me in this diverting pursuit, and I eagerly await the charming creations that shall surely emerge from the talented hands of Amberleigh’s finest ladies and gentlemen.

With warmest affection and the happiest anticipation,

Miss Alice Powell

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The Particulars of the Swap

We will have one partner, for whom we will craft a “chapbook” by folding a single sheet of paper in half and then in half again to create a little booklet. Your single sheet of paper should not be smaller than 5 inches by 7 inches (12 cm x 18 cm) to give you enough room to create. This little booklet should be decorated with a Valentine’s Day theme and be filled with quotes, observations, poems, images you have created, from magazines or found on line. Make sure every page has something on it whether it is decoration or verse. When you have completed it, send it along with a little note from your character to your partner.

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Chap books were little keepsakes made and exchanged with friends. Traditionally these Chapbooks were made from a Quarto which measured 9 inches by 11 inches (229 cm x 279 cm) but that would be hard to source today so we shall just use a single sheet of paper. Chapbooks were just beginning to be mass produced in our Era but many people still made their own special versions to give as gifts.

Here is a LINK to a little description of chapbooks to give you an idea of what they were like.

If you have any questions please reach out to us or leave a comment below.