Early Victorian Etched and (Many) Hand-colored Calling Cards - Set of 19 blue coat in an old gold-painted wood

in an old gold-painted wood frame that I think suits it perfectly: 8 5/8" x 7 1/4"

"KEEP" circled many times in red

I'm not quite sure though in what context this would be used

together with the text below it

and passed the craft on to his children who continue to produce totems and smaller pieces like this one

Early Victorian Etched and (Many) Hand-colored Calling Cards - Set of 19 blue coat in an old gold-painted woodI just found a small lot of these antique calling, or compliments cards, which I am loving for their finely etched designs, bits of poetry, and for the hand coloring done on many, more carefully in some cases than it others! Here is a whole bunch of them (the first two photos document the whole set included). Fun things to drop as little gifts I think, or to frame up a set together. Each card approx 2 3 4" x 1 3 4", give or take. Stains and spotting