IT was a written gesture designed to get a 19th Century Romeo out of a sticky situation.

But the anonymous letter writer would never have believed that 128 years later his message would still be worth so much.

Janet Ferguson, of Rhuddlyn House, Deane, received a Valentine card three days AFTER St Valentine's Day in 1873.

But to make up for the lateness, the letter writer penned a little poem on the front of the envelope.

And it is that message which looks set to fetch £200 when it goes under the hammer next month.

Miss Ferguson obviously took the card to heart and kept it for safekeeping.

The poem, directed at the postman, read: "Postman postman follow fine, please to take this valentine.

"Give my love and if you please, present this note on bended knees, place your hand upon your heart, make obeisance and depart." The letter is stamped February 17, 1873 and bears a 1d stamp.

It forms Lot 103 in the Great British Stamps and Postal History sale at Spink, in London, on June 7.

Spink's post expert, Richard Watkins, said: "It's an extremely unusual item and will fetch a premium for that reason.

"A collector would be interested in getting hold of something like it since it has a delightful twist. It's not often that people scrawl poems to a postman on Valentine's Day."