The William H. Gross Collection: United States Postal History continued...

5¢ Red Brown (1), large margins to just touched at top right, tied by blue grid cancel with matching "West Chester Pa. Feb. 13" circular datestamp lightly struck at left on Valentine envelope with bronze floral and ornamental lithographed design on front and back, addressed to Miss E. Everhart at Geiger's Mills, Pennsylvania, with original Valentine enclosure (confirmed by impression of circular rim from postmark)--a magnificent design with lace panel over pink silk, pink ribbon, paste-outs including enamel flower, gilt figures, verse on enamel card, and at top an extraordinary gold-leaf ribbon and medallion containing profile of female figure, one backflap removed, Very Fine and spectacular use of the 1847 Issue on a bronze lithographed Valentine cover, ex Haas, Garrett and Boker, with 1983 P.F. certificate (Image)

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5¢ Red Brown (1), huge margins to large including portion of adjoining stamp at left, tied by red grid cancel with matching "New-York Feb. 19" circular datestamp on Valentine envelope with beautiful scrollwork design lithographed in gold on front and back, addressed to Northcastle, New York

Extremely Fine and spectacular 5¢ 1847 Valentine cover.

In 1845 Congress changed the basis of postage charges from one rate per sheet of paper to one rate per half ounce. Since envelopes would have been counted as an extra sheet of paper under the old system, the switch to a weight class paved the way for letter-and-envelope stationery. Still, the practice of folding a letter and writing the address directly on the letter sheet continued well into the 1860s and 1870s. The use of envelopes increased slowly during the life of the 1847 Issue.

The 5¢ 1847 is recorded on a number of Valentine and ladies' covers, but this example, in our opinion, is one of the most striking envelope designs. It is also desirable as a smaller size cover (137 x 93mm).

Ex Louis Grunin, Duane B. Garrett, Ryohei Ishikawa and Guido Craveri. With 1993 P.F. certificate. (Image)

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