Lot
5122 
(Russia) 1858 (Sep. 13) Portland Ct. to St. Petersburg, Russia, cover bearing 1¢ blue, type III (21) and three 12¢ black (36) singles, each with manuscript cancels and "Portland Conn., Sep 13" cds, additional strike at lower left, red "New-York, Br. Pkt, Sep 15" exchange cds backstamp and magenta "14" cent credit, carried by Cunard Line Africa from New York Sep. 15th to Liverpool arriving Sep. 26th, red "Aachen, Franco 28/3" framed transit and blue ms. "f 3" credit, Russian arrival backstamp; 12¢ stamp faults, Fine and scarce 1857 Issue use to Russia. Estimate $500 - 750.
The magenta "13" at upper left is not for accounting, but marks letter #13. Each mail bag was accompanied by a Letter Bill showing the numbers of letters of various rates. A clerk used the back of this envelope for calculations. The PCM rate to Russia was 37¢ for prepaid mail.
Realized: $450