Here’s a fun piece from State Library Victoria about the real-life antecedents to Fallen London’s rude and faintly menacing Rose-gifts. Granted, the Surface examples tend more towards "bawdy jibes" and less "veiled death-threats", but that’s the Neath for you - life is cheaper than mutton down here.
Wait. You can get mutton? Who’s your supplier?
Well, technically it’s just meat from Mutton Island, but a little mysterious well-bait never hurt anyone.*
*Statement not evaluated by the Ministry of Public Decency.
giggles madly