Lot
4079 
1852, 1¢ blue, type IV, two singles, each three large margins, used with 3¢ dull red (11A), all tied by two strikes of "Philadelphia Pa., Jan 1" cds on blue 1855 folded letter from the Winans correspondence to St. Petersburg, Russia at the 5¢ British Open mail rate, endorsed "via Boston Steamer / January 3rd 1855" at bottom right, carried by Cunard Line America from Boston Jan. 3rd to Liverpool arriving Jan 17th, reverse with red-orange London transit cds overstruck with red "Seebrief per England und Aachen" (1.19) transit cds, London manuscript "1/-" debit rating, blue manuscript "12/2" silbergroschen rating, Very Fine. Scott No. 9 Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
A RARE EARLY 1851 ISSUE TRANSATLANTIC USE TO RUSSIA.
William Louis Winans was a noted railway pioneer, who, with his brother, traveled to Russia in 1843 as part of a $3 million contract to supply railroad locomotives and cars for the new railroad between St. Petersburg and Moscow. From 1852, William was the chief manager of the Russian operation, which had a lucrative contract for making and maintaining running stock for the growing Russian railroad network--it was reported their contracted fees were 17 times higher than in any other country in Europe. During the Crimean War the firm's operations expanded, and Winans acted as the U.S. vice-consul in St. Petersburg. The contract expired in 1862, and Winans left Russia for London a millionaire.
Realized: $2,200