The Earliest Cover from Russia Known with a Postage Stamp 1840 (Nov) Pre-philatelic letter datelined St.Petersburg, RUSSIA, bearing a straight-line “Franco” and “St.Petersburg, 10.NOV.1840” (Julian Calender), rated on reverse “61 1/2” kop and “1/8” (the rate to England via Prussia), but without any transit markings, addressed to Cox’s Hotel London, England, where it was rated “N1/8”, arriving on December 6, 1840 (Georgian Calender); it was re-addressed by the Hotel to Kearsney-Abbey and an 1840 1d black pl.1b BB was added and tied by a red Maltese Cross, bearing London ds of December 7 on reverse. An outstanding showpiece being the first Russian-origin cover bearing a postage stamp, and a unique usage of a Penny Black on a redirected cover from Russia Expertise: Cert. Holcombe (1995), BPA (2014) Estimate: £30’000-£40’000 (Image)