Provenance: Arthur White.

Details:

• Sender. August 6, 1858 (Julian or August 18 Gregorian) paid letter posted by 'Carl Spiegel St. Petersburg' (blue oval handstamp left) to 'Firma Julius Castelnau' ^[1] in Montpellier, France. Sender wrote 'franco'. Wax seal showing the initials 'CS' of the sender.
• Post office. Handstamp 'FRANCO' was applied to restate it has been paid. Also the postmark '1858 - ST. PETERSBOURG - VIII 6' was applied.

Dobin: 1.02 type 3.07. Reception expedition of foreign correspondence, transit postmark, used 1854-1859, Rarity 4.^[2]

• Steamboat. Endorsement by steamboat to the port city of Lübeck. In the early 1850's the rail line was extended north from Luneburg to Lübeckto connect with the T.P.O. between Minden and Deutz.
• Train. August 23 (Gregorian) 'MINDEN DEUTZ 23 8 II' and 'Aus Russland' postmark applied. The latter is used as a German entry/transit mark aboard the Minden-Deutz T.P.O. The plain lower case 'Aus Russland' is not particularly common. Earlier covers usually in black are often characterized by manuscript endorsements directing the letter via Baltic Sea steamers. They are believed to be mail sent by merchant houses in St. Petersburg and the Baltic States by steamer to North German ports. They are usually backstamped aboard the Minden-Deutz T.P.O.

Vandervelde: Aus Russland type Ry3

• Night train. August 23 (Gregorian), 'PRUSSE A ERQUELINES 23 AOUT 58 G'. French entry mark, ambulant, night train showing mail from Prussia (Prusse) entering France at the Belgian border town of Erquelines. Letter was also marked by the French with 'P.D.' (Payee au Destination).

Noël: #1035^[3]

• Train. August 24, 'PARIS 24 AOUT 58 (60)', transit postmark.
• Day train. August 24, 'PARIS a LYON 24 AOUT 58 E'. Paris to Lyon T.P.O. transit backstamp, day train (octagonal center).
• Post office. August 25 'MONTPELLIER 25 AOUT 58 (33)' arrival backstamp.