Barbie Hallmark Sweet, Sentimental & Fair Valentine Dolls Lot of 3 NRFB

*Sweet Valentine*

For hundreds of years, February 14 has been celebrated as St. Valentine's Day, time to send and receive tokens of love. Sweet Valentine is the first in a series of Special Edition BARBIE dolls created to boner thie endearing tradition. The elegant fabione selected for this series were inspired by rare antique illustrations from the Hallmark" Archives and Design Collections.

Sweet Valentine wears a graceful gown from the 1850-the dawn of the Golden Age of Valentines, when the treasured greetings were lavishly adorned with paper lace and delicately tinted by band. The ribbon roses on her gown reflect the importance of the rose as a symbol of love. Roses also appear on the miniature reproduction of the 19th century valentine which is enclosed with this doll. This sweet. sentimental verse is typical of romantic valentines of the time:

Dear girl, would I but once possess thee, And know wert mine, To this fond heart I would press thee, My own dear Valentine.

*Sentimental Valentine*

Imagine...a Valentine's Day in the 1830s... Sentimental Valentine" Barbie doll breathlessly awaits the answer to a romantic message sent to her heart's desire:

Haste, from my lattice, letter fly, Tell the fond youth for him I sigh. Zephyr bring me back the tender kiss, Of constancy of hope-of bliss.

Sentimental Valentine Barbie needn't wonder what her sweetheart's response will be. How could he possibly resist her in her crimson, velvety-rich gown, trimmed with delicate lace? Surely his heart will leap at the sight of his beloved's sweet face and beautiful hair, accented so exquisitely by a "drop-pearl" headpiece.

The romantic verse printed above, along with its accompanying artwork reproduced on this package, was discovered in the Hallmark Archives and Design Collection. The portrait of this young woman in her window inspired the dress and headpiece worn by this doll, the second in a series of Hallmark Special Edition Barbie dolls.

Created to celebrate the centuries-old tradition of exchanging valentines on February 14th, the Be My Valentine Collector Series™ dolls wear gowns modeled after the fashions of the 1830s, which reflect the motif of the elaborate, lace-embellished greetings of this time. The enclosed miniature card is an authentic replica of a valentine from this period, the beginning of the 'Golden Age of Valentines.'

*Fair Valentine*

Dressed in lovely 1830's daytime attire, Fair Valentine™ Barbie® doll strolls through her garden contemplating which blossoms to pick for her dear friends and family. As Barbie gathers scented roses in her lacy apron, she thinks about the romantic Valentine message a young gentleman left on her doorstep earlier this morning:

Thou art lovely and more fair Than all the maidens everywhere.

Unbeknownst to her, Cupid is about to strike, and before Valentine's Day has ended, she will not only give away her flowers, but perhaps her heart as well.

Sweet Valentine, first in a series! #14880, Mattel 1995 - Sentimental Valentine, second in a series! #16536, Mattel 1996 - Fair Valentine, third in a series! #18091, Mattel 1997 - Be My Valentine Collector Series! Hallmark Exclusive! Special Edition! - For the adult collector, age 14 & over.

The boxes have some wear, creasing and scuffing. If this is a multiple quantity inventory listing, the listing photos are representative of the condition of the item, however the condition of each box will vary slightly.