1867 Cover with Painterly Cancellation: To Selectmen of Littleton, from Templeton MA matte blue glaze and am always impressed by

and am always impressed by the labor and patience embodied in creations made of matchsticks

and energetically rendered green grass out front

It would look fantastic at the center of a table or on a sideboard holding a few huge white lilies

but will be very happy to live with it for a while or forever

I really love the treatment of the fur on this very sweet pup

1867 Cover with Painterly Cancellation: To Selectmen of Littleton, from Templeton MA matte blue glaze and am always impressed byI was recently reminded, coming upon this and a couple of other covers envelopes listed today, of the beauty of fancy old cancellation marks and this one to my eye is about as beautiful as it gets. Beyond the star like mark itself, for me it's also about how that black ink stamp interacts with the rest of the elements in this case simultaneously blotting out and illuminating the pinkish red of the 3 cent stamp, perfectly centered over it, with the