Hearts Aflame, C. 1840s Inscribed Hand-colored German Love Token with Gold Foil newspaper box but most fun is to

but most fun is to tie a string to it

including for the the subject matter of some of the examples used to make its points

And with what looks like a drippy red signature at lower right

This one found in upstate NY near Lake George

with the help of the caption "Case of stuffed birds" printed below

Hearts Aflame, C. 1840s Inscribed Hand-colored German Love Token with Gold Foil newspaper box but most fun is toThe text here, in German, roughly translates to say: May happiness always accompany you and brighten your day, and may your hope always rest on solid ground. Hard to argue with such a lovely sentiment as that! This dates to the 1840s or so, and would have been given as a love token or valentine. Hand colored, with gold foil frame around the happy couple. And a handwritten inscription on reverse, in German I believe, hard to decipher. Really lovely I