12c Black (17). Three singles, mostly full margins, used with 1c Blue, Type IV (9), full margins to just in, tied by "Philadelphia Pa. Feb. 11" (1856) circular datestamps on blue folded letter to William Winans in St. Petersburg, Russia, red "New-York Br. Pkt. Feb. 12" backstamp, carried on the Cunarder Arabia, departing Boston Feb. 13 and arriving Liverpool Feb. 24, red "AACHEN 26/2 FRANCO" framed transit datestamp (Feb. 26), blue manuscript "f6" on back and "f3" on front indicating German and Russian transit fees had been paid, magenta "14" credit, left stamps with small bit of red wax seal to ensure stamps did not fall off causes slight buckling to the stamps, small cover edge tear

VERY FINE. A RARE 1851 ISSUE COVER TO RUSSIA PAYING THE 37-CENT RATE VIA PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL.

William Winans arrived in Russia with his brother in 1843, as part of a $3 million contract to supply railroad locomotives and cars for the new railroad between St. Petersburg and Moscow, which was completed in 1851. 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 a millionaire.

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