The oldest known valentine still in existence today was written in 1415, 77 years before Columbus aimed his boat for China and ran aground off an island in the Caribbean.

Why should this be a surprise? The one thing that links human beings all the way back to the first of our species is our infinite capacity to love.

The 600-year-old valentine above was written by the Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. A French nobleman and poet, Charles was captured by the English at the great and astonishing English victory at the battle of Agincourt. I think it was really nice of the English to deliver the valentine. Or maybe they didn’t, as it now resides in the British Library in London. Did somebody say, “Look, how cool is this? The first ever valentine in the history of the world! And it’s really well-written. Let’s keep it.” Continue reading →