Lot
556 
1857 (Aug. 5) New York, N.Y. to St. Petersburg, Russia, folded cover by Prussian Closed Mails with "New York Br. Pkt. '23' Aug 5" debit exchange cds to Prussia, carried by Cunard Line Asia from New York Aug. 5 to Liverpool arriving Aug. 16, Aachen (8.18) backstamp transit with large blue manuscript "12/2" debit to Russia, Russian magenta "56" due rating on back, Very Fine. Estimate $200 - 300.
The postage due of 56 kopecks marked in magenta pen on the reverse. This consisted of 46 kopecks to cover Prussian debit and 10 kopecks Russian internal fees. Aachen marked "12/2" in bright blue ink to show breakdown of Prussian debit to Russia, 12 silbergroschen "foreign" transit and 2 silbergroschen Germany transit.
Realized: $170
Lot
557
1860 (Sep. 18) St. Petersburg, Russia to Dover, N.H., cover with St. Petersburg (9.18) backstamp, red "Aachen 24/9 Paid 25cts" cds credit to U.S., carried by Vanderbilt Line Vanderbilt from Southampton Sep. 26 to New York arriving Oct. 7, red "New York 'Paid 30 Oct 7" exchange credit cds, Very Fine. Estimate $150 - 200.
St. Petersburg circular datestamp on reverse showed letter was posted on September 6, 1860 by the calendar in use in Russia at the time, which was 12 days behind the Julian calendar. Prussia showed breakdown of fees credited to Prussia in manuscript on reverse, 11 silbergroschen "foreign" and 3 silbergroschen for transit from Russia. Blue "Fr." in upper right indicated letter was prepaid.