Lot
2556 
Philada. Pa., 5cts, Feb 13, blue integral rate cds on large gold floral bordered Valentine cover with Cupid Handing Gentleman a Message illustration at lower left, Very Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Lot
2557
Philadelphia, Pa., addressing on ca. 1846 folded Valentine drop sheet, with blue boxed "Paid" and "2" in circle rate handstamps, inside sheet with hand colored lithographed Valentine design with floral bordering, gentleman scene and twelve verse poem (Turner & Fisher, Publishers); cover with allover toning and some edge wear, otherwise Very Fine, an extremely attractive early printed Valentine, featured in Milgram's Valentine article in the American Philatelist (Feb. 2014).Estimate $300 - 400.
Frederick Turner and Abraham Fisher established Turner & Fisher in Philadelphia in 1834. Previously Fisher had worked as a printer/publisher. The early Fisher firm mainly published plays: "Turner's American Stage".
Realized: $160
Lot
2558
Portage City, Wis., Feb 12, neat cds with matching target handstamp tying 1857, 3¢ dull red (26) on floral embossed bordered Valentine cover to South Woodstock, Vt., with pierced lace Valentine enclosure with door opening showing man & women, inside with printed poem; small stain on corner of enclosure, Very Fine.Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $60
Lot
2559
Portland, Me., Feb 19, red cds with matching boxed "5" rate handstamp on folded Valentine to Bath, Me., inside lettersheet with hand colored Lady Awaiting Dove with Letter view and six line poem, manuscript 1847 dateline below, Very Fine, featured in Milgram's Valentine article in the American Philatelist (Feb. 2014).Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $100
Lot
2560
Rutland, Vt., Feb 16, cds with matching "Paid 3" handstamp on gold floral bordered Valentine cover to Shrewsbury, Vt., with pieced lace border Valentine enclosure with floral, doves & heart and lady embellishments, Very Fine.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $190
Lot
2561
Savannah, Ga., Feb 16, cds and grid duplex tying 1857, 3¢ dull red (26, clipped perfs) overpaying on oversized embossed floral bordered Valentine cover locally addressed, with original pierced lace Valentine enclosure with floral and silver embellishments, hand written poem inside; some cover wear and even toning, enclosure soiling, F.-V.F.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $160
Lot
2562
Syracuse, N.Y., Feb 14, blue Valentine's Day cds on pierced lace floral border Valentine cover to Skaneateles, N.Y., matching "5" rate and and straight line "Valentine" handstamp at top, Very Fine, an unusual Syracuse straight line handstamp most likely used only on Valentine's Day.Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $110
Lot
2563
Utica, N.Y., 2, red integral rate cds with matching "1" over rate and "Paid" in scroll handstamps, on locally addressed gold ornate border and scroll address panel Valentine cover, with embossed pierced lace Valentine enclosure with floral wreath and couple scene embellishments; cover with some edge staining, F.-V.F.Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $90
Lot
2564
Valentine's Day, Leap Year 1848, dateline on hand written poem from women asking a man (Jimmy) to be his wife, on beautiful multicolored litho lettersheet with floral and bird design, with equally exquisite matching hand carried cover with wonderful border design on front and full design on reverse, Very Fine, featured in Milgram's Valentine article in the American Philatelist (Feb. 2014).Estimate $200 - 300.
Valentine's Day can get even more special if it falls on a leap year. Tradition has it that in a leap year, the tables are turned, and the woman can propose to their man. The tradition goes back to the 5th century in Ireland, as the idea of St. Patrick to deal with men who were talking a little too long or were just too shy to pop the question themselves.
Realized: $250
Lot
2565
Washington City, Feb 11, cds tying 1861, 3¢ rose (65, s.e. at left) on Soldiers' Farewell Patriotic Valentine cover with all-over design in orange showing soldier and lady in embrace, addressed to Rhode Island, with Valentine enclosure with American flag clad tent vignette which opens to show soldier at desk with apparition of sweetheart in background, "Love Protects" Civil War poem below; stamp flaws and cover with light soiling and lightened address, Fine.Estimate $400 - 600.