Peacocks and their feathers were a big theme in Victorian trade (advertising) cards, so I thought I’d share some today! They are 
beautiful birds, even if they can be annoying to live near – very noisy!
She is a peacock in everything but beauty. Oscar Wilde
Some are jealous and fond of ornament, as the peacock. Aristotle
At twenty a man is a peacock, at thirty a lion, at forty a camel, at fifty a serpent, at sixty a dog, at seventy an ape, at eighty a nothing at all. Baltasar Gracian
“Dream tonight of peacock tails, / Diamond fields and spouter whales. /
Ills are many, blessings few, / But dreams tonight will shelter you.” Thomas Pynchon
Ills are many, blessings few, / But dreams tonight will shelter you.” Thomas Pynchon
Fly pride, says the peacock. William Shakespeare
She was a gordian shape of dazzling hue, Vermilion-spotted, golden, green, and blue; Striped like a zebra, freckled like a
pard, Eyed like a peacock, and all crimson barr’d. John Keats
pard, Eyed like a peacock, and all crimson barr’d. John Keats
The sparrow is sorry for the peacock at the burden of his tail. Rabindranath Tagore
Our birthdays are feathers in the broad wing of time. Jean Paul
Feathers predate birds. Robert T. Bakker
I like the way the peacock is subtly worked into this lady’s dress pattern. And here below – although not Victorian – is a photo of my latest Lenox Carousel animal acquisition, couldn’t resist when I saw it!
Lovely cards. 🙂 I went to a wedding once that the bride chose peacock feathers as the theme. Sounded so gaudy, but it was actually elegant–in a loud sort of way, if that makes sense. 🙂