1867 Cover with Painterly Cancellation: To Selectmen of Littleton, from Templeton MA printed doll Clearly I've been paying attention

Clearly I've been paying attention to antique lace and linens of late

dyed a darker brown

plenty of irregularities original and some crazing

structurally very solid and with the perfect amount of dings and scuffs and wear

three 40 foot cards

1867 Cover with Painterly Cancellation: To Selectmen of Littleton, from Templeton MA printed doll Clearly I've been paying attentionI 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