Specialized Russia
December 4, 2013
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #4048 RUSSIA 1857 Russia Number One 1857 10k brown & blue, two vertical pairs, brilliant colors, margins all around, one just clear at upper left, brilliant colors, cancelled by pen, one also with traces of dot cancels, barely tied on home-made cover to Moscow, with faint postal markings on back, overall ageing and refolded at top, wax seal removed. Mikulski estimates that only about 30 pairs of Russia No. 1 exist, some used on covers (in his collection, there was in fact a cover franked with single and two pen cancelled pairs); this cover with two vertical pairs represents the second highest franking known, certainly a museum piece and a highlight of Russian philately, ex-Mertens collection  Catalog #1 | Price Realized $45,000.00 |
