RUSSIA CYRILLIC ST. PETERSBURG MARK ON RETURNED COVER WITH N...

Hammer

£140

RUSSIA CYRILLIC ST. PETERSBURG MARK ON RETURNED COVER WITH NEVER-OPENED (!) COVER INSIDE; 5 July 1776 envelope (with its original enclosed letter plus a further identically sealed letter inside) from St. Petersburg, with the rare St. Petersburg "C.HETEPbYPFb" mark, to "Kronshtadt" (on Kotlin Island - c.6 miles away by sea); but the word "Narva" was also included in the middle of the address, which is now a town in Estonia (but which in 1776 was still part of Russia). So it was returned & has the German endorsement "Return, as the letter should be delivered in Narva" on the back. Why was the letter returned to its sender? Why has the letter inside - which was sealed with the same wax seal - never been opened in almost 250 years?? This letter was written the day after the United States of America's Declaration of Independence! (2 covers) [Ex Peter Ashford, Cavendish, 29 May 2013, lot 879; realised £200+BP.]Cross Reference: RUSSIA