The Raymond Vogel Collection, Part 1 continued...

VERY FINE. A COLORFUL AND RARE FRANKING FOR THE 37-CENT RATE TO RUSSIA VIA PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL. A PHENOMENAL COVER FROM THE JOSIAH PIERCE CORRESPONDENCE.

This cover must have been sent prior to May 1863 when the rate via Prussian Closed Mail was lowered from 37c to 35c. The June date and use of the 1861 Issue point to 1862.

In 1855 the addressee, Josiah Pierce, was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be secretary of the legation of the United States at St. Petersburg, Russia. He resigned his position in 1858 to become part of a syndicate of businessmen (under the name Winans, Harrison & Winans) who were building and equipping railroads in Russia, particularly between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sometime after 1866 Pierce re-established his residence in London, where he was the legal representative of this firm. In recognition of his services to Russia, Pierce was made a knight of the order of St. Anne by Alexander II in October 1865 (source: Google Books, Bowdoin College obituaries).

Ex Gibson (Image)

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VERY FINE. A RARE COVER FROM THE PIERCE CORRESPONDENCE TO RUSSIA. PREPAID FOR THE 37-CENT PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE BUT OVER THE SINGLE-RATE WEIGHT LIMIT AND TREATED AS ENTIRELY UNPAID.

This cover must have been sent prior to May 1863 when the rate via Prussian Closed Mail was lowered from 37c to 35c. The February date and use of the 24c Steel Blue point to 1862.

In 1855 the addressee, Josiah Pierce, was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be secretary of the legation of the United States at St. Petersburg, Russia. He resigned his position in 1858 to become part of a syndicate of businessmen (under the name Winans, Harrison & Winans) who were building and equipping railroads in Russia, particularly between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sometime after 1866 Pierce re-established his residence in London, where he was the legal representative of this firm. In recognition of his services to Russia, Pierce was made a knight of the order of St. Anne by Alexander II in October 1865 (source: Google Books, Bowdoin College obituaries).

Ex Gibson (Image)

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VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT COVER FROM THE PIERCE CORRESPONDENCE TO RUSSIA WITH A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF THE 2-CENT BLACK JACK AND 15-CENT LINCOLN ISSUES FOR THE 35-CENT PRUSSIAN CLOSED MAIL RATE.

This cover must have been sent in January 1867 after the 15c Lincoln stamp became available (April 1866). The two 15c Lincoln stamps are used on this cover as part of the 35c rate via Prussian Closed Mail.

In 1855 the addressee, Josiah Pierce, was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to be secretary of the legation of the United States at St. Petersburg, Russia. He resigned his position in 1858 to become part of a syndicate of businessmen (under the name Winans, Harrison & Winans) who were building and equipping railroads in Russia, particularly between Moscow and St. Petersburg. Sometime after 1866 Pierce re-established his residence in London, where he was the legal representative of this firm. In recognition of his services to Russia, Pierce was made a knight of the order of St. Anne by Alexander II in October 1865 (source: Google Books, Bowdoin College obituaries).

Most classic U.S. covers to Russia come from the Pierce correspondence. Around the time this cover was mailed, Josiah Pierce left Russia for England, which is one reason for the great rarity of 15c 1866 Issue covers to Russia. The other reason is that a 30c stamp could be used more conveniently than two 15c stamps. (Image)

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