Lot
90 
1851, 1¢ blue, type IIIa, position 15R1e, showing wide breaking on top outerline, margins clear to unobtrusively touching at bottom, tied by clear full strike of red "Valentine's Day, February 14, Fremont, Ohio." three-line slogan postmark on small locally addressed ladies drop cover, with illustrated Bible forget-me-not label entitled "A Friend" on backflap, stamp additional pen canceled; some trivial faint cover toning, Very Fine and choice, illustrated and written up in February 1997 edition of Linn's Stamp News, the February 2014 edition of the American Philatelist, and the February 2017 edition of the Chronicle; with 1996 A.P.S. certificate.Scott No. 8A Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.
A UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE FREMONT, OHIO "VALENTINE'S DAY" SLOGAN POSTMARK - THE EARLIEST AMERICAN SLOGAN CANCELLATION KNOWN AND ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR VALENTINE COVERS IN EXISTENCE.
According to Dr. Milgram, while there are a few cancellations on the 1851-57 series that contain wording, the words usually pertain to postal matters (i.e. the "Used And Done For" cancel from Fairhaven, Ct.). This unique townmark is the first slogan cancellation used in the United States. According to the A.S.C.C., Fremont used a straightline postmark in blue in 1850. Accompanying this cover is an unlisted example of the Fremont straight line on 1850 folded letter in red that closely matched the red ink on the Valentine cover posted several years later.
According to David Zlowe, who had examined the stamp and cover, positively identified the stamp as a type IIIa from position 15R1e which also has a double transfer, particularly in the "O" and "S" of "POSTAGE".
Current Opening Bid: $3,750