5c Red Brown (1). Two singles, bright reddish shades and worn-plate impressions, each with three margins to irregularly in at top, tied by red square grid cancels, matching bold "New-York Feb. 17" circular datestamp on 7-1/2 by 5-1/4 in. embossed Valentine envelope with original Valentine enclosure, outside comprises lace and silk panel with silver and gilt paste-on decorations surrounding a multicolored enamel vignette picturing two cherubic figures, the inside with a handwritten love poem dated 1851, cover lightly creased with negligible splits along the embossing

VERY FINE. AN OUTSTANDING AND RARE VALENTINE WITH ORIGINAL MATCHING ENCLOSURE USED WITH TWO 5-CENT STAMPS OF THE 1847 ISSUE. A REMARKABLE RARITY.

Ex Pope, Dr. Kapiloff, Hillmer and Mirsky.

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