Autumn Auction Series 2016

1793 Folded letter to Providence, Rhode Island, USA from Capt. Rodman of the ship "Hamilton" lying at Kronshtadt, Gulf of Finland, with dateline "Cronstadt July 3rd 1793". Endorsement in lower left corner confirms text that letter handed to Capt. John Leach of the ship "Union", bound for Salem (New Jersey), who "sails the first wind to America".
Forwarded on arrival through normal U.S. mails and cancelled in transit with linear N-YORK.SEP.24. Manuscript 'recd. 30 sep'
"Sh 38" in red ink in top right corner = Ship 38 cents, made up of 4c ship letter fee plus domestic postage for distance of 200-250 miles 34c for 2 sheets of paper at 17c per sheet, total 38cents payable by recipient. Delivery took 3 months. Very fine