HA 98 - Letter Paper of the Alexandrinsky Theatre, St. Petersburg 1833

Probably produced to mark the opening of the Theatre in 1832, the year before the letter was posted to Charleston. The recipient, Eliza Middleton (1815-1890), was the youngest daughter of Henry Middleton who served as U.S. Minister in St. Petersburg from 1820 to 1830. The letter bears the manuscript endorsement ‘Consulate of the United States, St Petersburg, May 29/June 10 1833, Forwarded by your very obt. st. A.L. Gibson’.. Probably carried by diplomatic bag to New York where it was forwarded by Goodhue with their oval cachet and redirected finally from Charleston to Newport, Rhode Island.