Rossica 135 - Greg Mirsky, Etc.

ROSSICAOCTOBER 2000 No.135

The Journal of the Rossica Society of Russian Philately

THE ROSSICA SOCIETY OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY

OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be re-President: Gary A. Combs produced or transmitted in any form by any means

8241 Chalet Ct, Millersville, MD 21108, USA without permission in writing from the journal editor.Vice President: Raymond Pietruszka The views expressed by the authors in this journal are

211 Evalyn Street, Madison, AL 35758, USA their own and the editor disclaims all responsibility.Secretary: Gerald (Ged) Seiflow

1249 St. Claire PI, Schaumburg, IL 60173, USATreasurer: Gary A. Combs The Rossica Society of Russian Philately, Inc. is a

8241 Chalet Ct, Millersville. MD 21108, USA non-profit, non-political organization incorporated in

Librarian: Gerald (Ged) Seiflow the state of Maryland, USA, and affiliated with the

1249 St. Claire PI, Schaumburg, IL 60173, USA American Philatelic Society. The Rossica Journal isAuditor: Webster Stickney the official periodic publication of the Rossica Society

7590 Windlawn, Parker, CO 80134, USA of Russian Philately, Inc., published twice a year inApril and October and mailed "surface rate." Price

BOARD OF DIRECTORS for non-members is US $10 per issue. For air mailGeorge G. Werbizky delivery, please add US S5. Subscriptions are avail-

409 Jones Road, Vestal, NY 13850, USAS, , ,able for US $30 which includes air mail postage.Dr. G. Adolph Ackerman

S9. d A er E W in O Available back issues are listed in the section titled "In629 Sanbridge Circle E., Worthington, OH

43085, USA The Back Room." Submit articles for consideration

Dr. Ray J. Ceresa directly to the Editor. Periodically. other Rossica pub-

Spinnaker House, 7 Jacken Close, Felpham, lications are listed in the back of the Journal. Informa-

Bognor Regis, West Sussex, P022 7DU, United tion is available from the Editor or Secretarn.Kingdom

Society dues are US S25 per year with a discount forPUBLICATIONS early renewal. Membership applications can be ob-

Bulletin: Raymond Pietruszka tained from the Treasurer or Secretar at the addresses211 Evalyn Street, Madison, AL 35758, USA listed under "Officers of the Societ".

Journal: Ivo Steijn .Journal: Ivo Steijn Dealers wishing to advertise in the Journal are \\el-6350 Stoneridge Mall Rd #G205, Pleasanton, CA94588, USA comed. Information pertaining to advertising can be

found in the back of the Journal.

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIETY Checks and money orders submitted should be made

USA payable to The Rossica Sociert of Russian Philately

Washington-Baltimore Chapter: Steve Alushin and not to any officer. Checks not draw\n on a LS13103 Wellford Dr, Beltsville, MD 20705, USA bank must include an additional US S20 for process-

Northern California Chapter : Ed Laveroni ing fees. Sorry. no credit cards are accepted. Please860 East Remington Drive No. A, Sunnyvale, CA make all checks payable to:94087, USA

ROSSICA SOCIETY OF RUSSIAN PHILATELYEUROPE EUR E c o Gar\ A. Combs

Jack G. Moyes, 23 Stonywood, Harlow, Essex,hat8241 Chalet CourtCM18 6AU, United Kingdom

Millers\ille. MYD 21108

USA

The ROSSICA homepage may be accessed at: http:/'wwxw.rossica.org

Rainer Fuch's homepage devoted to zemstvos may be accessed at: http:' fuchs-online.com zemst os

© Copyright 2000 The Rossica Society

ISSN 0035-8363

THE JOURNAL OF THEROSSICA SOCIETY OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY

Journal No. 135 for October 2000

Editor: Ivo SteijnEditorial Board: Gary Combs, David Skipton, Karen Lemiski

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A word from the new Editor: HELP! 3President's Message, by Gary Combs 4Election results 5Warning on forgeries of Russian stamps and postal history 6The Imperial stationery-Zemstvo connection, by George G. Werbizky 9Further notes on Romanov-Zemstvo combinations, by Leonard Tann 16A closer look at some uncommon and not well-documented zemstvo stamps,

by Bill Nickle 17Russian mail to the west before 1843: some forwarded letters, by W.J. de Jongh & Ivo Steijn 27A Russian Prisoner of War's correspondence during the Crimean War, by lan W. Roberts 34The devil is in the details: the Russian Scientists issue of 1951,

by Gregory Mirsky & David Waterman 35Ship mail in the Far East during the Civil War, by Ivo Steijn 42Russia celebrates her most famous son in style, by Jeff Dugdale 43Postal stationery for Russian servicemen during WW1, by Alexander Epstein 50Library notes 69Auction notes 70Member-to-member adlets 73Society publications for sale 74Reviews 79

A word from the new Editor:HELP!

By Ivo Steijn

Observant Rossica members will notice three future issues to be published on gold-plated pa-things about this issue of the Rossica Journal: per, I might be a tad vague about the chances of

that happening any time soon, but at least make1. It's LATE! the wish known. You'll find my address and2. It's kind of thin email at the bottom of this editorial.3. It appears to have a new Editor

And of course, a plaintive cry for help goes toTo start with the latter feature, Karen Lemiski all members (and non-members-I'm nothas handed over the editorial reins to yours proud) who are thinking of writing an article.truly, and she has made things as easy for this Let's face it, it's a struggle to fill each issue andnew editor as she could. On behalf of all Ros- I would prefer not to have to write vast reams ofsica members, let me thank Karen for the won- articles myself to fill up white space, particu-derful work she has done during her tenure as larly as my choice of subjects will be limited toEditor, and let me curse her quietly for raising those things I know something about.the bar for the rest of us...

I've heard some pretty interesting reasons forThe relative thinness of this issue is easily ex- NOT writing an article over the last few years.plained: a large article which was planned for For instance, one person said he was reluctant tothis issue had to be withdrawn unexpectedly, write an article because as soon as it was pub-leaving us with a rather sizable gap to fill. For- lished, people would come out of the woodworktunately, many regular contributors stepped in to correct it. While it is true that publishing anto fill that gap, which is why you are holding a article often brings new information to light,thin issue, not a nonexistent issue. that is the whole point of writing the article, in

my opinion. How else are you going to commu-As for the lateness, here I must squarely absorb nicate what needs to be brought out into thethe blame. Learning the ropes of yet another open? So don't let that one stop you.piece of software and spending hours reproduc-ing the layout of Rossica Journal pages in the Others claim that only the Hallowed Expertsnew format was a task that simply took much write articles and that readers wouldn't be inter-longer than expected. Let's hope future issues ested in subjects that don't deal with stamps andwill be less strenuous to publish, covers worth 1000s of dollars. To which I say

balderdash (which I rarely say, trust me). ThereSo why the cry for help? Well, I need the assis- are many interested readers out there for articlestance of the members for a number of a things. on any subject, rare or common, expensive orFirst and foremost, I would like to hear from cheap.you about any subject you wish to talk about. Ifyou have desires for articles on any particular So let me summarize all this:subject, write! (I can't promise I'll be able to HELP!rustle up said articles, but at least I'll know whatI'm looking for) If you have thoughts about the Ivo Steijn, 6350 Stoneridge Mall Rd #G205,future direction of the Rossica Journal, let's Pleasanton, CA 94588, USAhear it. My powers are limited so if you ask for [email protected]

Rossica Journal Number 135 3October 2000

President's message

By Gary Combs

It seems like I just wrote a message and now another form of communications that membersanother one is in order! Where has the time should use to gain knowledge relative to thegone? hobby. Try it, it is not illegal, immoral, or fat-

tening. And best of all it is free.Rossica continues to be a strong and viable So-ciety that is well respected in the philatelic com- In August, Rossica and the CSRP announced amunity. Our journal is continues to be widely joint venture aimed at providing assistance toacclaimed as a "leading" document and is read our respective members on Internet auctions.around the world. I find this exceptional as the The reason for this is simple...I have seen manynumbers of postal historians, publishing re- members buying bogus material based on theirsearchers, and exhibitors continue to plummet at apparent lack of knowledge. There are severala terrible rate. sellers who prey on this lack of knowledge and

are doing quite well. Please read about this ef-The new slate of officers is dedicated to ensur- fort located elsewhere in the journal and at theing Rossica continues to lead the way. They are website. We have put the world on notice thatnot shy and are fully capable of discussing is- Rossica and the Canadian Society are concernedsues. Believe me, I know this first hand! Please and willing to provide assistance to our mem-feel free to write to any of us at any time. A bers.word of caution is in order. We will not attemptto engage any member in a long-winded phi- We continue to have too many members wholosophical dialog as we have sometimes in the physically move or change their email addressespast. We expect to hear opinions from members, and fail to notify us. If you do not get a Journalbut are under no obligation to alter the course of or a Bulletin because of your failure to notifyhistory based on a single opinion, us, please do not expect the Society to absorb

the cost for sending a second copy.I am a bit alarmed at the lack of people attend-ing stamp exhibitions. In the last two years at- The Expertization Committee no longer exists.tendance by Rossica members has dropped off Leon Finik resigned as Chairman. I cannot guar-dramatically. An exhibition is the single best antee it will be revived do to lack of qualifiedplace to "conduct business" as a collector and volunteers to run it. A quick review of the ex-should be used to maximum advantage. On the pertization records clearly indicates that it is notsame note, I have noticed that the number of a function very well used by the members. Thepeople actively collecting Russian philatelic overwhelming majority of requests throughoutmaterial is on the rise. Yet, at the same time, the its entire life have been for Scott Nos. 1-4, thenumber of collectors actively participating in consular overprints, and the 15-kop. yellowanything other than collecting items is rapidly "lemonka." All of the lemonkas, except for adeclining. Anybody have an idea on how to re- couple, were from the same dealer. It would beverse this latter trend? Living in a closet is, in very easy to simply say, "who cares" and dropmy opinion, the absolutely worst way to collect the function completely. This will be a topicanything. discussed at the annual meeting and a decision

made. With all of the self-proclaimed experts inOur website is achieving results, albeit they are the world, do we really need an expertizationmuch slower than I would like. This is simply committee? Perhaps we do, perhaps we do not.


One thing is very clear. Without volunteers, the Electionsservice will not exist. Elections for Rossica officers for the period

2001-2003 are over. The results are listed be-What is the effect of the Internet and the elec- low. The election tells us many things about thetronic media on Russian philately? This is an- society. As always, some are good and someother topic that will be discussed at the annual otherwise. So, what do we know...Of the 361meeting. What are your thoughts? 1 would love members eligible to vote, 186 were sent paperto hear them. One last thought repeated again ballots and 175 sent email ballots. Of the 142for those who missed it before is that electronic members voting, 78 members returned paperversions of material are nothing more than an- ballots and 64 members voted electronically.other way to publish. Paper is still viable and This roughly equates to the following: 22% ofwill remain for some time. For those of you who the eligible members voted using paper ballots,feel that electronic copies are bad for whatever 18% of the eligible members voted electroni-reason, please remember that you can print a cally, and over 40% voted-one of the betterpaper copy from an electronic version. If you elections in history!spill coffee on a page or scribble all over it, sim- The votes were:

ply print another copy. President Combs--140 yes, 2 abstainVP Pietruszka--142 yes, 2 abstain

Our new journal Editor, Ivo Steijn, is looking Secretary Seiflow--138 yes, 4 abstainfor articles for the upcoming April 2001 journal. Treasurer Combs--138 yes, 4 abstainGive him something to do! Ray Pietruszka is Librarian Seiflow--138 yes, 4 abstainalways looking for short items for the Bulletin. Board membersMake him happy! Kick both of them up a notch Ackerman--138 yes, 4 abstainby actively participating. Share your informa- Werbizky--138 yes, 4 abstaintion with others. Ceresa--137 yes, 5 abstain

Auditor Stickney--140 yes, 2 abstainDave Skipton finished the translation of The The ballots of 19 members were returned forMute Cancels of Russia, 1914-1917, Part 1. bad addresses (regular mail and email).Now we are working on the illustrations. This isan exciting publication by Arnold Levin and Of interest, the voting relative to countriesone all members will want on their philatelic shows that the US had 282 eligible votes, butbookshelves. I look forward to making it avail- only 113 voted (40%). The UK/England had 24able in the near future to all members as well as eligible voters, but only 6 voted (25%). Canadathe rest of the world. had 16 eligible voters, but only 5 voted (31%).

We are either doing such a fantastic job or suchIt is with much sadness I announce that the a pathetic job that approximately 60% of theMidwest Chapter is no longer active. This was membership decided not to vote.one of our liveliest chapters in the past. Several The figures are actually very good compared toattempts to revive it have not been successful, past elections, but continue to reflect an apa-The officers will discuss disbanding it at this thetic membership. The really sad part is that ofyear's convention, the 13 functional positions that support the soci-

ety (President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer, 3 boardCongratulations go to Karen Lemiski for a Ver- members, Librarian, auditor, expertization com-meil award for the Rossica Journal received at mittee, Bulletin and Journal Editors, websiteSTAMPSHOW 2000. I would encourage all manager), 12 since I am listed twice, there weremembers to let her know that we appreciate her 3 people who did not vote. Sorry, no namescontinued efforts in support of Rossica. You can listed here. My position is simple. If you do notfind her address in one of the previous journals. want to function in a position, then resign or be

asked to resign.

5 Rossica Journal Number 135October 2000

Warning on forgeries of Russian stampsand postal history

From Rossica and the CSRP

For those of you who have been following the the Internet. We know there are sellers who doauctions on eBay and other Internet auction this without any reservation. We cannot disclosesites, you have noticed some rather interesting names since that may leave us vulnerable to aitems. It appears that some sellers do not under- lawsuit, a weapon fully understood by these un-stand the nature of an auction, wherein the price scrupulous characters.starts at a nominal price with the hopes that itwill go higher. Rarely does the item begin at its Another clue is when the seller quotes catalogsactual value. This is normal in a market-driven that are not necessarily in every collector's li-business. The buyers make the value of an item brary, i.e., Russian catalogs, because the price isrise or fall. This may be OK for speculators, but higher. Often sellers will state their item hascan be a real problem for inexperienced collec- been "signed" or bears the expertization marktors. of so-and-so without naming the owner of the

mark. Stating that a stamp has been "expertized"We have reason to believe, but no absolute by a famous Russian expert named so-and-so isproof yet, that there are sellers who engage in the same thing as any American applying anwhat is known as shilling. These individuals ownership mark to a stamp from the USA. If themake a bid with no intentions of purchasing the name is not recognized by the Internationalitem solely to drive up the price. This is fraud, philatelic community, it should indicateillegal, and carries some fairly stiff penalties. "caution" with the item.Unfortunately, fraud must be proven by the ac-cuser and not the alleged perpetrator. Rossica and the Canadian Society of Russian

Philately (CSRP) believe it is time to warn ourAnother form of deception or fraud is deliber- respective members of what may be fraudulentately misidentifying an item in the hopes that activity on the Internet auctions. The informa-the buyer will pay a good price for an item tion provided is to be used ONLY as referencebased solely on what the seller states in the de- material. It is not to be used as the "gospel"scription. An inexperienced collector can pay a truth about anything covered. Out of fairness tolot of money for an item that is worth nowhere the sellers of questionable material, we mustnear the hammer price. In these cases, the col- state that even those who routinely fall into thislector may have the option to return the item IF category, not everything they sell is fraudulent.the collector can prove the lot is not as de- It is impossible to determine if an item is genu-scribed. Here again, the burden of proof rests ine or not based solely on a digital image on awith the buyer. The seller most often will say computer screen. However, it is possible to ren-that he/she was misinformed or did not know. If der an opinion that must be considered only anthey offer the same item again without any dis- opinion and not an expertization. The decisionclaimers, you have your proof. to purchase the item remains with the buyer and

our opinion can not be the basis for return withThe last category of fraud is when a seller either society's name attached or the name(s) ofknows the item is fraudulent and sells it anyway anybody rendering this opinion. If you want anwithout any warning to the buyer. This is the item expertized, you must first acquire it andlargest category observed to date on the Inter- follow the procedures already in place.net, not to say that it also does not happen off


Starting in August, a committee made up of nal Soviet Medals imperforate issues of themembers from the CSRP and Rossica will begin 1940s. In general, if any stamp or set alreadyoffering opinions, NOT expertizations, to our exists imperforate, then there is ALWAYS themembers on items on Internet auctions. We will possibility that bogus perforation varieties maynot be able to continue this forever since state- be produced.of-the-art digital imaging and reproduction ca-pabilities continue to drop in price. We believe (f) Pairs imperforate-between exist for manythere are sellers that are either "manufacturing" Soviet issues and some have been trimmed tobogus items using computers and printers or produce apparent IMPERFORATE PAIRS.functioning as conduits for those who do manu- That is philatelic vandalism at its WORST, as itfacture bogus items. destroys varieties that were originally very in-

teresting in the first place!To better explain the kind of opinions we willbe offering, some issues are provided immedi- (g) Beware of digital certificates, as they areately below, subject to manipulation. Ask for original signed

certificates.Forgeries of the Imperial and early Soviet peri-ods have been well documented in the past, but (h) Digital forgeries of postmarks on otherwisecollectors should now be especially on the look- legitimate covers. These are very difficult to de-out for the following categories: tect even with the item in hand. However, there

are certain "red flags" that may be observed.(a) Deceptive forgeries exist of Russia UsedAbroad postmarks, copied from the volumes (i) Removal of and/or replacement of originalissued by S.D. Tchilinghirian and W.S.E. franking.Stephen (the so-called "Shtempelgate Forger-ies"). In fact, postmarks that can be found illus- (j) Beware of photocopies of original literature.trated in any published work should be com- There may be copyright violations involved.pared with that work. Get your postmarks ex-pertized! (k) Russia Number One, some thoughts:

(b) Digital forgeries of overprint varieties for * Beware of Russia Number 1, for example, thatthe early Soviet issues. are listed as "mint." or "unused." These are

probably items from which the cancellation has(c) The notorious line-perforation 11 1/2 forger- been removed. No. 1 MINT is a great rarity andies made in Berlin on originally imperforate we know only of one pair in the SPB StateDirigible Construction and North Pole Flight Postal Museum and one other copy reported bysets of 1931, producing BOGUS fantail varie- Mikulski.ties and pairs imperforate-between. They arescarce, but know what you are buying and LA- * Beware of Russia Number 1 without reason-BEL THEM AS SUCH, otherwise you will suf- able margins all around or at least on threefer when exhibiting or trying to sell the items! sides. We have noted an increasing number of

trimmed Scott Number 8 and 15 and possibly(d) Remember that complete forgeries exist of Number 2 stamps being offered as Numberthe 10th Anniversary of the Soviet Civil Avia- Ones. Cut down copies ofNos. 8 & 15 shouldtion set of 1934 . They are poor photo- be recognized by the reddish-brown color of thelithographic copies. line-perforated 11 1/2 on frame plate, as No. 1 was printed more in athicker paper and WORTHLESS! chocolate-brown shade.

(e) Recent perforation forgeries made on origi- * Some copies affixed to mail missed cancella-


tion and have been soaked off, so they are, tech- terial surface again.nically speaking, "unused." Theoretically, theyshould be very slightly scuffed, having gone 7. All responses will go out under the headingthrough the mails. of "Joint CSRP and Rossica Committee on

Internet Fraud."* Used copies with postmarks must be put underultra-violet, to show if the original pen cross has 8. Rossica will maintain a list of items aboutbeen removed and a forged cancel then applied, which members have inquired and the opinions

of the committee at the Rossica site, but it will* Check for forged postmarks applied on stamps only be available at the Rossica site to Rossicawhich were already pen-cancelled, members or in a restricted area (TBD). The

CSRP will retain information in printed form.* Check for postal fraud where the pen crosshas been removed and the stamp affixed to an- 9. The Committee will provide opinions withinother piece of mail, receiving, thereafter, either 72 hours. Each member with an opinion willanother pen cross (!) or a postmark send the opinion to Andy and Gary, who will

respond to the initial request for opinion.Ground Rules

10. The names of the committee members who1. This service is available ONLY to Rossica provided opinions will not be published with theand CSRP members with Internet access and for opinions.whom we have a valid email address.

11. The committee will not address revenue or2. Andy Cronin, [email protected], other Cinderella items. Zemstvo items are con-(CSRP) and Gary Combs, gcombs@cablespeed. sidered philatelic for this process.com or [email protected], (Rossica) arethe focal points for their respective societies. 12. Individuals to whom opinions have been

provided must agree that the information will3. Opinions from the committee are provided not be sent to the seller as evidence or proof ofsolely for informational purposes. It remains the any decision not to bid or as a basis for return ofdecision of the individual whether to buy an an item.item or not. The CSRP/Rossica opinions willnot be used as an endorsement to buy or not tobuy.

4. Requests for opinions must come via email toAndy and Gary so we have a record.

5. Whoever gets it, Gary or Andy, passes it tothe other and requests assistance from commit-tee members. Requests for opinions will be sentto all committee members (by Gary or Andyonly) even if it is not their specialty.

6. Gary and Andy will ensure the pictures(JPEGS/GIF/etc.) are captured and stored. Thisway should one system fail the other has it. Weneed to keep all correspondence as well. Wehave a feeling we will see some of the same ma-


The Imperial stationery - zemstvoconnection

By George G. Werbizky

Introduction Summary of examples in the literatureIn Rossica 133, as a result of Rabbi L.L. Tann's Two books were used to tally items in the abovesuggestion, I examined postal sendings that had categories: Imperial Russia Zemstvo Post byboth zemstvo and Romanov stamps. The result Oleg A. Faberg6, and the superb Corinphilawas that such mail is fairly scarce. Following a catalog of the Faberg6 zemstvo collectionparallel path, this article examines the mail to or auction, December 1999. The straight count isfrom zemstvos that used Imperial postal items as follows:with imprinted stamps, i.e.: * Ten covers and five postal cards in the

a. Postal cards Faberg6 book, representing 15 districtsb. Stationery envelopes * Nine letters and twelve postal cards in thec. Wrappers auction catalog

The combination of zemstvo - Arms issue A letter from Borovichi is shown in both thestamps occurs frequently and thus is not part of book and the catalog. There is not a singlethis examination, example of a wrapper, postally used, in either

the book or the catalog.

Examples of Imperial postal cards, stationery envelopes and wrappers

OTHPBITOEkHO

S. ... .... ....

Ha amoi0 Cmopowb nUlutuemnol o.tivo aOpe0 j ,

Figure 1 Postal card sent from Moscow to a village in Bogorodsk zemstvo


Figure 2. Letter sent from Belozersk, where Imperial and zemstvo posts met, to the RR stationUshaki on the Nikolaevskaya RR line. Note that both postmarks are Belozersk, as expected.

~C ^", i^ . IM

Figure 3. Letter sent to St.Petersburg from Borovichi zemstvo.10 Rossica Journal Number 135

October 2000

s - B BCEMIPHLIfI IITOTOBbIlT COI03b. POCCISI.SUNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE. RUSSIE. .

OTIPbITOE fMCbMIO. - CARTE POSTALB \

; :: ................. ..................... ....

......... .. ... .......-

H7a onio6;rot It ,W) montf.wo aOpeos. - CGt6 resermd eaxclusvrenent (I I'adresse.

Figure 4. Postal card sent from Shtokmansgof, Wenden to Dresden, Germany. The Scott cata-log lists Wenden, but does not list any zemstvos. A peculiar situation.

FO 9 APTOL4K.A

I</^^< /-<-C^ '' i£-- <»Lo

Figure 5. Postal card sent from Glazov zemstvo to Moscow


FO'-TOBAql KA A-'

Figure 6. Postal card forwarded by Imperial postal system to a village in Griazovets zemstvo.

C- i CC I

S ~V--

.I. . A. . ..

Figure 7. A registered letter sent from Dneprovsk zemstvo to Moscow. On the back of the enve-lope is the zemstvo administration seal, indicating that this is official mail.

12 Rossica Journal Number 135

October 2000

. - w

Figure 7. A registered letter sent from Dneprovsk zemstvo to Moscow. On the back of the enve-lope is the zemstvo administration seal, indicating that this is official mail.


B1 OTrnjl CeabeRolt OKOHomiHiH CeJICKOX03oaiT TBeHnOfl CTaTHCTFIRH

MIH eCTepcTea e' mexja aia

H rccyaapOTBeHHIXM I·�mnecYI TBa .

"C .-Hlemepoypzm.

Figure 8. Letter sent from Pskov zemstvo to St.Petersburg. The recipient is the Dept. of Statis-tics for Rural Households, Ministry of Arable Farming and State Properties. Such envelopeswith pre-printed address are found originating from several zemstvos and in all probabilityevery zemstvo had to send certain requested reports. The stationery envelope was probably

provided by the Ministry.

i'** "" . -. " *

Figure 9. Reverse of the cover in fig.8, shown reduced.


........................................................................ ............ .......... ...................... .. ............................... ....... ......................

. ................................ .. . . . I .- : .._.... " ...-... ,.. ... . :. .

Figure 10. Postal card sent from Chedyn zemstvo to Moscow.

1 st Che Veisop' z st ee tossa, te* n a. C h34.R . -Cot r

Figure 11. Letter sent from Chistopol' zemstvo to Odessa, to Alexander Ya. Cherleniovski. Forjust who Mr. Cherleniovski was, see Rossica 120, 128-129 and 130.


/ Koida ra nepect.IKy ni;umqe1ur iftW ffo.Abo0f., mo 609eAt irume.m'itA ineitameaomda -

qdono. ,,nme.jitilm noi moetA ?i.r ic. ~ -0*

1•-

. "-. '. 4 ',: .,; '

^. •: j•, ,-. 1-..

T4II7 EP· T XH-·iorb It

Figure 12. Wrapper for printed matter sent from Moscow to Bogorodsk zemstvo. All wrappers ,

with a zemstvo connection should be considered scarce.

Rossica Jourrial Number 135 15

-'- " -I

• ' n , . .. JI OT H, C . : ' , ". • " - 1 , ; ."•-, ' . , - ' . .

•.. •i' . " . ' i " • .

" -* i.c- . _. , . -' - : .

Figure 12. Wrapper for printed matter sent from Moscow to Bogorodsk zemstvo. All wrappers

with a zemstvo connection should be considered scarce.


Further notes on Romanov-Zemstvocombinations

By Leonard Tann

Once again, let me pay a well-deserved tribute imperial PO pmk are of the same district as into our friend and fellow-collector, George Wer- Fig 1 shown by George (Rossica 133, p 32) andbizky, not only on 'taking up my challenge' to Fig 4, the very fine 7k Nicholas II stationary en-investigate Romanov-Zemstrvo combinations, velope plus 3k War-Charity stamp with addedbut on the splendid items he illustrated in Ros- 2k brown Ust'-Sysol'sk Zemstvo stamp, bothsica Journal 133 of Oct. 1999. with Ust'-Sysol'sk pmks, to Petrograd.In an exchange of correspondence since then,we have agreed that Romanov-Zemstvo combi- (b) Incoming mail to a Zemstvo via its localnations fall into two distinct categories, imperial PO.

This includes mail from any other location ad-(a) Outgoing Mail from a Zemstvo via its lo- dressed to a Zemstvo via that Zemstvo's localcal imperial PO. imperial PO. Such incoming mail could beThis includes cards/covers that originate in a franked with any stamps or combination -Zemstvo PO and have to pass through an impe- Arms, Romanovs, War-charities...but the Zem-rial PO to enter the imperial postal system. As stvo of destination adds its local stamp for localwe are agreed that Zemstvo POs were well delivery.stocked with the Arms stamps and did not re- I show here my solitary example of a Romanov-ceive consignments of Romanov stamps/ Zemstvo item. It comes under category (b)stationery, at this point Arms stamps would be above, incoming mail. It's a 3k Romanov sta-added. If the outgoing card/cover bears a Ro- tionery postcard from Slobodskoi, Vol[ogda] G.manov stamp, it can only be because the sender dated 30-4-14 addressed to the Ust'-Sysol'skhad one and affixed it to the card/cover. As district in the Vologda province. It bears a 2kGeorge pointed out, use of Zemstvo stationery brown Ust'-Sysol'sk Zemstvo stamp duly can-envelopes with imprinted stamps, as well as use celled 9-5-14.of Romanov stationery envelopes/pcds would Now that we have opened up this new avenue ofbe far scarcer and the more desirable in Ro- philatelic research, we look to our fellow collec-manov-Zemstvo combinations. tors - particularly those in the Zemstvo field -In this category, the Zemstvo pmk and the local to augment our examples with further ones.

October 2000

A Closer Look at Some Uncommon and Some NotWell-Documented Zemstvo Stamps

By Bill Nickle

The recent Faberge auction of 1738 lots of Rus- for recent forgeries prompted by price increasessian zemstvo stamps and covers shows that this and improved color reproduction processes.area of philately is alive and well. Recordprices were realized on most of the material. Figure 1 shows a full sheet of the 2nd edition onMany of these stamps and covers found their yellow smooth paper, Byelozersk Chuchin num-way back to Russia but a few were bought by ber 14. The number 3 is shown on stamp num-collectors and dealers from Europe and the ber 5 instead of the letter z. Also, the capitalUSA. letter A is shown in stamps 11 and 12 instead of

the regular sized letter A. The black on greenCatalogs of zemstvo stamps which were issued paper Bobrov Chuchin numbers 5 (R) and 5Cfrom 1865-1917 are not very detailed and are (RR) are show in Figure 2 (only 24 copiesrather repetitive with perhaps too much atten- known) and 3 (only 20 copies known). Perhapstion paid to location of stamps on full sheets, the king of the Zemstvo stamps, Alatyr' 2 (onlySome catalogs were incomplete and some had 25 copies known) rated RR is shown in Figureno pictures of the stamps. The total print runs 4. This example is stamp number 18 on a sheetof some of these 3000 stamps were between of 20. Apparently the short supply of these150-1000 making them rare. Perhaps the best stamps was brought about by the unwillingnesscatalog was Schmidt (1935) in German, but of the persons in charge of the Alatyr' Zemstvoonly ten copies were made. This volume sold to send these stamps to collectors, thus the re-recently for 8500 Swiss francs and is essentially cent price rise in the Faberge auction to $3,000unavailable. The most commonly used catalog (U.S.) A rather coarse design, the 1883is Chuchin (1984, revised edition). The repro- Bugulma 4 (R), is shown in Figure 5, the num-ductions of the stamps are small and sometimes ber 2 is upright in the lower corners. Figure 6blurred. I find the 2842 page copy of Gold's shows Borovichy 4 (RR) with the typical inktreatise on the Baughman collection to be useful cancellation mark. Total issue was only 1570along with the yet to be finished Artuchov vol- stamps. An early forgery, Figure 7, was doneumes. The Faberge auction catalog (1999) itself by someone who was not familiar with the cyril-with its color photographs is a most welcome lic alphabet. The standing postman on the blueaddition to our knowledge of these interesting 4k, 1894 Gryazovets 68 is shown in Figure 8. Itold stamps. Much of the Zemstvo private mail has another engraving (Figure 9) with the post-was sent free and the official mail of the Zem- man having a dotted shadow (Chuchin 76). Ko-stvo administrative offices was sent free with lomna 39 without the stars in the shield (ratedthe placement of official seals on the envelopes R) is shown in Figure 10. The more common(Nickle, 1999). variety Kolomna 34 is shown in Figure 11. Fig-

ure 12 shows Lokhvitza 1 with the blue rubberThe purpose of this article is to enlarge stamped official seal postmark for packets on it

and show more clearly some of the uncommon along with a small hole in the middle of theand some of the not well-documented stamps of stamp. Seventy copies of this stamp were foundthis Zemstvo period from my collection. Im- strung on a piece of thread. Lebedian 2 isportant characteristics of some of these stamps shown in Figure 13. It is a grey-green in colorhave not been shown before. A few early for- and is rated RR. Also rated RR are Lebedian 3genes are also shown. Collectors must be alert (20 copies known) and 4 (only 7 copies known).


I•UO3EPCKAAI BIAO3EPCKAA I0O3EPQCAllfl3EMCIONWA aEM@CEMAM 3EMC EOAO

cemcRl•Iom ICai CHalOa Co•bCualOmm eABIB ROMROIL no

MOJN3EPI• • ICKBO03EPCKAIA jOi3EPKA3EMCAJI 3EMCKAJI 3EMCRAJ

cnc aInonTa icccallno casionABOB KOIL ABIN Ron O. |BKOIL

AOSEP IRI 103EP AIOU IIIPC AI3EMCIAal 3EMCKAJI 3EMCRAJI

cIsCKRnT IIa ccjiCRoIAnoi caicaaABS KO. ABS RO-On. |ABS XOH.

MO3E10PCRAI BO3EPCKAJI 1031 EM A3EMCKAM 3EMCKAf1 3EMCAIAH

CCoJcRaln OTa ceOcaanoo CTa IlCRACcaTnoTABS ROIl. AB. ROIn. I B1BSCOn,

Figure 1

They are shown in Figures 14 and 15. It is in- the oval and the five is above the letter D in-teresting that all the stamps of this town are 5K stead of the letter Z. Figure 26 shows the topwhich is higher than most other towns. The en- strip with salvage of a full sheet Pskov 48-51.graver's name Lith. N. Uhl. SPB can be seen in The sheet was printed with six blue 3k, four yel-Figure 16 of Nolinsk 10. Nolinsk 3 (R) and 4 low 1K, two rose 5k and one yellow green 10K.can be seen in Figures 17 and 18 along with There were six vertical rows of these 13 stamps.their early forgeries Figures 19 and 20. Figures Figure 27 shows a nice representation of the 3K21 and 22 show Orgeev 1 (only 16 copies blue Okhansk 3. It is not known if this stampknown, RR) and number 2 (only 17 copies was placed in circulation. I like the fish nets inknown, RR) with their blue and rose networks, the legend. Figure 28 shows the not so commonPskov 1 (RRR) (only 13 copies known) is (R) Okhansk 4 with its stars which are diagnos-shown enlarged in Figure 23 with the space be- tic along with the ornamentation above thetween the five and the oval. Also, the 5 is di- shield. Figures 29 and 30 show Okhansk 5 andrectly above the letter Z. Figures 24 and 25 de- 6 with variations in stars and ornamentation.pict Pskov 2 and 3 and show the five touching Figure 31 shows the 1869 Tikhvin (RR) with


4..... : .

Figurm 31

4 Azaurpcasa

Figure 2

-K0 0 11

FigureFigure 4

Figure 5


11 e

"Kovt"iic&i

Al43 r tc kace

Figure 6 Figure 7

M8PKa

Figure 8 Figure 9


Figure 10

Figure 12

i rFigure 13

Figure 11

Rossica Journal Number 135 21

October 2000

S: .« . . . * -

! 0

5 .. ii i* j pd

., .... .. .Figure 15

Figure 14

I-=

Figure Figure 19

October 2000

Aon A · 21 1.

Oe 21

112

Figure 20

Figure 22


only 11 copies known to exist. Figures 32 and33 show top left corer blocks of four of theShatsk 13C and 14a. The date 1889 is only onthe stamp in the upper left corer of each ofthese sheets.

J3A ·•Figure 24

4 /

Tb 10

Figure 23 , Figure 25


-·-C

do 9

Figure 27 Figure 28

rt -- --ifW~l~hK 1

Figure 29

Figure 26 Figure 30

Rossica 25Octobe 25

STHXBIHCIOflJCEJ.IhCOKt IIOqTb

Figure 31

Ow 0

° '.-': e·gL: _ .o

?PH Rots ?PH ^-i' vk **N Ks<

LAAA- -A-- AL

Figure 32 Figure 33

26 Rossica Journal Number 135e October 2000

Russian mail to the West before 1843:some forwarded letters

By W.J. de Jongh and Ivo Steijn

Sometimes we should realize how expensive it Let's look at two letters from Riga to Holland,was to send a letter from Russia to the West in sent in 1706. The letter in fig. 1 is a normal let-the mid- 18th century, ter, weighing approx. 2 grams. The two-numberA letter from Russia to Holland or France had to code "14-38" on the reverse of the letter indi-go through Prussia, and for that transit, Prussia cates the letter was taxed with 38 Polish Groszycharged 10, later 11 gute Groschen. In those in Memel, where the letter was transferred fromdays a carpenter earned 8 gute Groschen for an the Swedish to the Prussian mail. The letter was11-hour working day, and therefore had to work prepaid to Cleve (fr.Cl6we).for 14 hours to earn the money to send such a The letter in fig.2, on the other hand, shows noletter. Today that carpenter earns a letter-rate in such postal markings, although it is from thea few minutes! It is not surprising that cost- same correspondence. However, there is an an-conscious merchants sought ways to reduce notation "port pro rato"...these enormous costs. What is the explanation of all this?

Figure 1 (left) and 2 (right). Two 1706 letters from Riga to Amsterdam


Li

Figure 3. A 1719 letter from Riga to Amsterdam. Prepaid for Memel-Emmerich with 190groszy (quintuple rate). Dutch charges of 18 stuyvers.


Figure 4. 1755 letter from Riga to Amsterdam, no postal annotations of any kind. On reverse,the sender has written:

I request that the accompanying enclosures are delivered by mail as soon as possible and the postal

charges to be noted. I apologize for the trouble.

The cover contained one letter to London, one to Wackefield (sic), one to Lyon, one to Luykand one to Lijden (sic).

-. .. "

Rossica Journal Number 135 29

October 200 ' '

&\ *

S" ' ° \ :,

^ . .4


The answer is given by the 1755 letter from sible that the whole package weighed less thanRiga to Amsterdam in fig.4. The same sender 15 grams and that six letters were sent for theand the same addressee as in fig.3 but again this price of one or two. The letter in fig. 2 now sud-letter has no postal annotations of any kind. But denly makes sense: it was enclosed in a largeron this letter there is a note to the addressee on shipment and the annotation "port pro rato" sim-the reverse: "The enclosed herewith we beg you ply meant that the appropriate share of the totalto post and to book the costs on our account." postage was to be booked on the account of theFurthermore, the addressee duly noted on the sender.letter that he had dispatched 5 enclosed letters to This way of sending mail was not popular withvarious destinations. So here we have at least 6 the postal authorities, and was in fact made ille-letters under one cover! As we know that such gal after 1817.letters could weigh as little as 2 grams, it is pos-

. ie - *

Li *

Figure 5. 1759 letter from Riga to Amsterdam, via Hamburg. Contained one letter to Lyon, two


From the same archive another example in fig. for 1 '2 lot: a single letter would have been

5: a 1759 letter from Riga which was sent as charged with 5 stuyvers according to the 1752

part of a packet to a forwarder in Hamburg. The Amsterdam tariff list. And in this letter we

packet was probably sent by sea because the again find 4 letters to be forwarded from Am-

land route was being made unsafe by the third sterdam onwards.Silesian War (1754-1761), which culminated inthe Russian capture of Berlin in 1760. Some examples from the post-Napoleonic pe-From Hamburg, the letter was sent by land mail riod are shown in figures 6-8.

to Amsterdam, and was taxed with 7 stuyvers

Figure 6. 1829 letter from St.Petersburg to London, via Hamburg and Amsterdam. Note scriptcachet on reverse: "Hamburg / Over Amsterdam"

Presumably traveled "undercover" from St.Petersburg to Hamburg, and from there to Am-sterdam. Dutch postal charges 15 cents, 35 cents were split by Holland and Hanover. British

charges for a ship letter were 8d.

JK

, iI .


£ ",t· - L "

by Hamburg mail to London, there charged for 8 x ¼oz. = 160d = 13/4.

The letter contains the request: "the included letters to be forwarded to our friends in Spain," a

/-' ,:0." " 3"

Figure 7. A 4 lot letter sent from Riga to London. Russian charges 342 kopecks. Transported

by Hamburg mail to London, there charged for 8 x ¼oz. = 160d = 13/4.

The letter contains the request: "the included letters to be forwarded to our friends in Spain," a

practice which had been made illegal in 1817.


Figure 8. Letter from St.Petersburg via a forwarder in Hamburg to London. Charged in Lon-don with 1/8 which is the rate for letters from German cities.

In London the letter is refolded and sent on to Madeira with a new address.

S'I

/t./


A Russian Prisoner of War's correspondenceduring the Crimean War

By lan Roberts

Ioann Zagorodnikov was a private soldier serv- 13 August the garrison was pleasantly surpriseding in the No.10 Finnish Line Batallion of the to receive a delivery of mail from the local post-Russian army in the Bomarsund garrison on the man who had managed to cross enemy lines.Aland Islands. On 13 August 1854 he was takenprisoner along with over 2,200 members of the Shortly after their arrival at Plymouth the pris-garrison by an Anglo-French naval force which oners received a visit from the priest in chargehad been attacking the islands since June. The of the Russian Church attached to the Embassyprisoners, some of which were wives and chil- in London, Evgenii Ivanovich Popov, who haddren, were divided between the British and remained in Britain after the outbreak of war.French. On 17 August Zagorodnikov boarded He had travelled to Plymouth by train fromthe British naval vessel "St.Vincetn" which London on 14 October and on the followingberthed at Sheerness on the morning of 7 Sep- day, a Sunday, he held a service for the prison-tember. After a short period of imprisonment in ers and the members of their families. Regularthe prison hulk "Devonshire" the Russian pris- visits by the priest continued throughout the re-oners were transferred by steamer to the British maining months of 1854, 1855 and the firstnaval base of Plymouth which they reached on 6 months of 1856 when the prisoners were repa-October. triated to Russia.

Unlike most of his Russian fellow-prisoners, One of Popov's duties was the disbursement ofZogorodnikov was literate. His father, who had pay to the prisoners. On his first visit Zagorod-married the daughter of a Russian soldier, was a nikov received 2 shillings and 6 pense in Britishjunior civil servant (9h Grade Titular Counsel- pre-decimal currency. On 15 October Zagorod-lor) in the Auditor General's Department of the nikov handed over to Popov his first letter to hisArmy. As a result he had been taught to read aunt for onward transmission to Russia via theand write before joining the army. At some British authorities. It will be recalled that Greatstage during his service he had attained the rank Britain had issued the first postage stamps (1of non-commissioner officer, but ahd been un- penny and 2 pence) for internal postage in Mayjustly reduced to the ranks in 1852. Throughout 1840. Three stamps for overseas postage fol-his military service he had corresponded with an lowed these issues in September 1847, Novem-aunt whom he addressed as Darya Savelevna. ber 1848 and March 1854 to the value of I shil-Neither her surname nor place of residence is on ling, 10 pence and 6 pence, respectively.record. Zagorodnikov's subsequent letters to his aunt

were dispatched by the same method, althoughShortly before the Anglo-French attack on the it is not clear how Popov forwarded them toAland Islands, Zagorodnikov's aunt had in- Russia.formed him it would not be possible for him to In a memoir written after his return to Russia,transfer to St.Petersburg because of the outbreak Zagorodnikov recorded that in fir first letter heof hostilities between Russia, Britain and France had only been allowed to give details of thein March 1854. In early July 1854 postal ser- state of his health and the place of his imprison-vices between the Bomarsund garrison and Abo ment. Zagorodnikov does not explain whether(the modern Turku) in the Grand Duchy of this restriction was imposed by the British ofFinland had been suspended. Nevertheless on Russian government.


The Devil is in the Details:The Russian Scientists issue of 1951

By Gregory Mirsky and David Waterman

Objective example of stamps issued in 1951.

The objective of this study is to show Probably because of the popularity ofdifferences between general and specialized the set, it was reprinted two times. It was (andstamp collecting. We used one common stamp probably it still is) common practice of the So-

issue to illustrate new horizons that open with viet government to reprint stamps if a specific

moving towards specialized collecting. Speciali- set has high public acceptance and interest

zation means acquiring detailed knowledge on a among collectors. Each printing has its own dis-

specific subject. We hope to highlight the ad- tinctive differences.

vantage of specialization as an additional value The first printing of this issue was in

for collectors. Common stamp sets, that can be August of 1951. All 16 stamps was issued. The

easily obtained if you look at it from generic stamps had a quadratic screen background,point of view, represent significant challenge which none of the major catalogs mention

when one is trying to uncover and collect all va- (Figure 2).rieties of that set. It brings new interest and The second printing was done in 1955.

challenges. The same 16 stamps were reissued. They stillhad quadratic screens, but now the sizes were

Russian Scientists Issue of 1951 different probably due to different cylinders

We selected for our study a set of very used for printing (Figure 3). The design of one

common stamps first issued in August of 1951. of the stamps (Lobachevsky) was slightly

This set is devoted to famous Russian scientists changed - the last "1" in "1951 was printed as

(Figure 1 and Table 1). "I" (without a serif). This variety is mentioned(FiguStamps werTbe on un- in some of the general catalogs but without ref-Stamps were printed on un-

watermarked paper in sheets of 100 (10 x 10) erence to a specific printing. (Figure 4).

and perforated 12.5. 1,000,000 Sets were There are different dates for this print-

printed. V. Zavialov designed all stamps. The ing in the literature. Weibrecht in his

designs of 2 stamps were based on a drawing "Spezialcatalog. R.S.F.S.R. und S.S.S.R. 1918-

and a painting: the stamp devoted to geographer 1960", published in 1995 mentions that the sec-

S.P. Krasheninnikov was based on a drawing by ond printing was done n 1956V.N.UstinovskyA.Osipov and the stamp for N.I. Lobachevsky and A.Y. Pevsner in "Katalog Spravochnik

was based on a painting by L.Krukov. All Pochtovih Marok SSSR, 1918-1991" wrote that

stamps were printed using the photogravure the second printing originated in 1955. To re-

method on white and colored paper. solve this discrepancy we found a copy of the

The fact that this set was very popular official Soviet catalog "Postal stamps of the

can be proved indirectly by the fact that several USSR" published in 1955. It solved the mys-

general philatelic books, published in different tery. This catalog describes that this set was is-

years use this set as an example. In 1957 the sued n 2 sizes and gives us the sizes of each

USSR Department of Communication published stamp. All Soviet books of this period had the

a book on "Soviet Postal Stamps" for a phila- exact date of publishing - July 7, 1955, which

telic exhibit during the 6th World Youth and means that second printing of the set was issued

Student Festival [1]. This book devoted several before this date. Unfortunately the previous

pages just to describe this set as a representative printing of this catalog was in 1951. So, therewere no catalogs published between 1951 and


-I II.E

Name Description

1 A. M. Butlerov Chemist, author of theory of structure of organic substance

2 P. N. Lebedev Physicist, optics

3 N. I. Lobachevsky Mathematician, author of nonlinear geometry

4 A.N. Lodigin Physicist, one of the inventors of the light bulb

5 A. 0. Kovalevsky Biologist and embryologist

6 S.V. Kovalevskaya First Russian woman-mathematician

7 P. K. Kozlov Geographer, Central Asia explorer

8 S. P. Krasheninnikov Geographer, Kamchatka peninsula explorer

9 N. S. Kurnakov Chemist, author of physics-chemistry analysis

10 D. I. Mendeleev Chemist, author of Periodic Table of the Elements

11 N.N. Mikluho-Maklay Geographer and anthropologist

12 A.N. Severtsev Biologist, author of evolutional morphology

13 A.G. Stoletov Physicist, one of the authors of photoelectricity

14 K.A. Timiriazev Biologist

15 K.E. Tsiolkovsky Inventor of principles of rocket building and movement in thespace

16 N. P. Yablochkov Physicist, electricity


Figure 2. Quadratic screen of the 1st and 2nd printing

Figure 3. Size differences between 1st and 2ndprinting. The differences are random.

Figure 4. Varieties of N.I. Lobachevsky Stamp -1st (1951) and 2nd / 3 rd printing (1956/1957)

("1951" with and without a serif).

Figure 5. Horizontal Screen of 3 rd Printing


0 #NWET

-_Nmpp_---WRPPSZqffpp-ý-_Nqpp_

October 2000

Figure 6. Butlerov stamp overprinted for Mendeleev Congress of 1958(unissued) (from collection of Nikolai Kondrikov - Raritan Stamps, NJ).

Figure 7 Cover with A.N.Lodigin stamp (size 33x22 mm) (1" printing was sent from Gorkii on 23.10. 51to Mateza, Italy. It has arrival cancel of 4.11.5


1955 to determine exact year of the second details as some others.printing. No general catalogs from this period(Scott, Stanley Gibbons, Michel, Yvert, etc.) Conclusionpublished annually include any information The general collector has a great oppor-about the second printing. tunity to widen the collecting area by looking

The third printing was done in 1956 ore td pr g ws de in 1 o into details of common inexpensive sets. Our1957. Ustinovsky [10] and Soloviev [13] be-lieve that it was 1956, when Weinbrecht [12] example shows the value of specialization andstates that it was in 1957. This time only 9 of 16 studying specialized literature. The set we ana-

stamps were printed a 3 rd time. The sizes again lyzed has at least 42 stamps to collect instead ofvary and this time the stamps were printed with 16 listed in general catalogs. This is not exclu-horizontal screen. This was a very limited issue sive to this set, but exists over and over again.and stamps of this printing are difficult to find. The catalogs you choose as references play anWe could not find any publications that have the important part in your knowledge of the hobby.numbers of stamps issued for the 2nd and 3rdprintings. We hope a reader will help us withthis information. The majority of the stamps of Referencesthe 3 rd printing was cancelled to order (CTO). 1. "Soviet Postal Stamps". VI World YouthConsequently mint stamps of the 3rd printing are and Student Festival, 1957a rarity. Some were never offered for sale on the 2. Scott Standard Postage Stamp CatalogMoscow stamp market according to Soloviev 2000, vol. 5, 1999[13]. 3. Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue, Part 10,

In November 1958 the Butlerov stamp Russia, 1986from this set was overprinted with a red over- 4. Michel Europa-Katalog Ost 1997/98 (inprint "VIII Mendeleev Congress 1958". This German)overprinted stamp was not issued since the con- 5. Yvert et Tellier Catalogue de Timbres-gress was canceled. This stamp represents a sig- Poste, vol.4. Europe De l'Est, 1992 (innificant rarity. Nikolai Kondrikov (Raritan French)Stamps) helped us to obtain an illustration of the 6. Minkus Stamp Catalog, Russia, 1981-1982stamp from his collection. See Figure 6. Edition.

7. Postal Stamps of the USSR, 1955 (in Rus-Postal Use sian)

The stamps of this issue are very diffi- 8. Postal Stamps of the USSR, 1918-1969, (incult to find on cover. We found one to prove Russian)that it was actually postally used, but it is the 9. Postal Stamps of the USSR, 1918-1980, (inonly one ee discovered so far, see Figure 7. It is Russian)hard to imagine that one million sets were 10. V.N. Ustinovsky, A.Ya. Pevzner. Catalog-printed and only a very few stamps were Handbook. Postal Stamps of the USSRpostally used. May be somebody can help us to 1918-1991 (in Russian)understand this mystery also. 11. Russia Postage Stamp Catalog (1857-1995),

"Tsentrpoligraf", 1995 (in Russian)Catalogs 12. Spezialkatalog R.S.F.S.R., U.d.S.S.R. 1918-

Different catalogs (general and special- 1960 by Rolf Weinbrecht (in German)ized) have different depths of coverage for this 13. V.Yu. Soloviev. Postal Stamps of Russia

set. We analyzed information from 12 catalogs and the USSR, 1857-1991. Specialized

and present the results of our study in Table 3. Catalog-Handbook, 1998 (in Russian)This table clearly shows that none of the cata-logs has all data. Weinbrecht [12] has most ofthe information, but it does not go into variety


# Description (paper color) 1st Printing 2nd Printing 3rd printing

Size (mm) Screen Size (mm) Screen Size(mm) Screen

1 S.P. Krasheninnikov (white) 22.5 x 33 O 21.8 x 32 O 21.8 x 32

2 N.I. Lobachevsky (white) 22.5 x 33.5 0 22.4 x 33 E 22 x 33

3 A.M.Butlerov (light blue) 22.5 x 34 O 21.8 x 32.5 0 22 x 32.5

4 A.G.Stoletov (rose) 22.2 x 33 O 21.5 x 32 O

5 A.O.Kovalevsky (rose) 22.8 x 33.5 0 21.5 x 32 O

6 N.N.Miklucho-Maklai (rose) 22.5 x 33.2 0 21.7 x 32 O

7 P.N.Yablochov (white) 22.5 x 33 D 21.5 x 32 O 21.5 x 32

8 A.N.Lodygin (white) 22.6 x 33.7 O 22.5 x 33 O 22.5 x 33.7

9 S.B.Kovalevskaya (rose) 22.5 x 33.3 O 21.9 x 32.4 E

10 D.I.Mendeleev (light blue) 22.5 x 33 O 21.9 x 32 O 21.5 x 32

11 KA.Timirjasev (rose) 22.8 x 33.8 O 22.5 x 33.5 D

12 P.N.Lebedev (light blue) 22.5 x 33 O 22.2 x 32.8 O 22.5 x 33

13 K.E.Tsiolkovsky (light blue) 22.6 x 33.6 O 21.8 x 32 O 21.8 x 32

14 A.N.Severtsev (rose) 22.5 x 33 E 21.6 x 31.7 O

15 N.S.Kumakov (rose) 22.8 x 33.8 E 21.8 x 32 O

16 P.K.Kozlov (white) 22.8 x 33.4 O 21.6 x 32 O 21.6 x 32

Table 2. Russian Scientists Issue 1951-1956


STI

Scott E 1568- X X X X X X

S| i 0 s P

Stanley E 1707- X X X X X X

"go z -

Gibbons 1722Michel G 1575- X X X X X X X X X

1590Yvertet F. 1556- X X X XTellier 1571Minkus E 1685- X X XX X X X X

1699Postal R 1666- X X X X X XStamps of 1681the USSR,1955Postal R 1627- X X X X X X X XStamps of 1642the USSR,1969Postal R 1627- X X X X X X X X XStamps of 1642the USSR,1980Ustinovsky R 1627- X X X X X XX X X XPevzner __ 1642Russian R 1788- X X X X X X X X XPostage 1803StampCatalog1857-1995Weinbrecht G 1528- X X X X X X X X X X X X X

__1543Soloviev R 1627- X X X X X X X X X X X X

1642

Table 3. Information about the set in general and specialized catalogs


Ship mail in the Far East duringthe Civil War

By Ivo Steijn

Russian ship mail in the Far East is not easily I can confirm that two mail routes were in op-found at the best of times. The question whether eration in 1923 (by which time the Civil Warthe known mail routes continued to function was mostly over): loose stamps of the 1921during the Civil War is almost impossible to an- Chita issue occasionally surface with strikes ofswer from surviving material, as ship mail from the ship mail postmark of the Blagoveshchensk-the Civil War period is an order of magnitude Nikolaevsk line, with dates in 1923.scarcer than the (hardly plentiful) examples The Vladivostok-Kamchatka line delights usfrom the pre-revolutionary period, with the cover illustrated below, from the Kom-in this note I can tell you what I've been able to mandorski Islands to NiS in Serbia, where it ar-find, and ask for more examples to be brought rived on 3 October 1923.into the light of day.

Any other examples?

1 ) "/

4-1


Russia celebrates her most famous son in style

By Jeff Dugdale

If we can gauge the fame and esteem of an his-torical personage by the number of stamps is- . --------

sued to commemorate him or her than one thing C. nYWK

is clear. More images of poet Alexander Push-kin, or references to his work appear on Rus-sian/Soviet stamps and other philatelic mediathan for any other Russian, with the possibleexception of the first man in space, Yuri Ga-garin.

At the end of the Twentieth Century Russia ROSSU

marked the two hundredth anniversary of the P 5.o00birth of its greatest poet, Alexander Pushkin,with a series of four colourful and elegant setseach with a different sub0theme marking as anaspect of Pushkin's life.

Finally in 1999, again on 6 June, the fourth is-

On 6th June (Pushkin's birthday) in 1997, a five sue to commemorate Pushkin consisted of four

stamp set (SG Nos 6681-5) illustrated with head and shoulder portraits of the Russian bard

beautiful drawings a handful of the most cele- by various artists depicting him aged 16, 27, 28

brated of Pushkin's fairy tales, for example and 37 (illustrated here in a portrait by K."The Fisherman and the Golden Fish", "The Bryullov), just before his death in fact (SG no

Golden Cockerel" and "Tsar Saltan" (see panel not yet known).

opposite). Each of the three multi-stamp issues is available

Later that year on 19th November, there was a also in mini sheet format with elaborate and de-

minisheet (SG MS 6717) marking the transla- lightful illustration in their margins and they aretion into Hebrew of Pushkin's verse-novel to be commended to the serious collector of lit-

"Eugene Onegin" by Abraham Shlomsky. This erature.

stamp depicts Pushkin's own cartoon for Chap-ter One of the novel in which he imagines meet- In addition there is a whole series of elaborate

ing his own hero Onegin on the Neva embank- cachets and cancellations depicting Pushkin

ment. (There is a corresponding twin issue by from various towns and cities which feature in

Israel.) his life such as Saint Petersburg, Moscow,,Pskov and Odessa and several postal mail items

The following year, a further issue continued carrying illustrations of his many homes and

the theme of using Pushkin's own drawings. actors who portrayed his characters.

This time the 2 8 th May 1998 issue comprisedfive cartoons showing for example a self- To understand why Pushkin is so celebrated so

portrait, a Knight in armour and Tatiana, the often in stamps is to acknowledge that he is to

aristocratic heroine of "Eugene Onegin" (SG Russian culture what Shakespeare is to English-

6762-6). speaking nations. Like the Bard of Avon, Push-kin has contributed many phrases and sayings tothe popular language of his country and various


critics have him dubbed variously, "the creator of the Caucasus" and "The Bandit Brother")of modern Russia", "the greatest single progeni- Shelley and the composer Mozart, (of whom hetor of Russian literature", "Russia's best loved wrote in "Mozart and Salieri"). But Pushkin'spoet" and "the soul of Russia". death resulted not from medical inadequacies in

the face of horrible disease or dreadful accidentThe range of his material has made parts of the as with some of them.Pushkin canon accessible to all ages - Russianfairy tales, romantic dramas, stories from the Rather, he was killed intentionally in a duel,history of Russia, lyric poetry, tales of the su- fighting to preserve the good name of his stun-pernatural, works of high seriousness and poetic ningly beautiful wife Natalia who was beingcurios like "To My Inkwell". hounded at Court by a young French 6migr6

called d'Anthes, who in fact fired the fatal shot.The appeal of Pushkin's work was also muchbroadened by composers as Tchaikovsky, Mus- Alexander Sergeyevich Pushkin was born insorgsky, Glinka, Prokofiev, and Rimsky- Moscow in 1799 into a noble family. His greatKorsakov who took his major works and inter- grandfather had been a black general who hadpreted it for the stage, just as Verdi would do served Peter the Great and there was Abyssinianfor Shakespeare. In this way Pushkin's charac- blood on Pushkin's mother's side which ac-ters reached international audiences through the counted for his swarthy appearance, which ismedium of music. best seen in the 1999 3 rouble stamp showing

him as he looked in 1826,here illustrated.Pushkin died young at 38, like several of hiscontemporary or near contemporary creative Pushkin was educated at the Imperial Lyceum atgeniuses - poets Burns, Keats, Byron (who in- Tsarkoye Selo of Moscow, but reports of hisspired him to write such works as "The Prisoner schooling were not complimentary, suggesting

Kyda

S KHHOexc npeanpHRTHR CBf3H » aApec oTnpasBreAn

"-- - m---------

nlmiHTe HmneKC npeAnpHrTHR CBR3H MecTa Ha3HaqeHHw


@@g A.C. nYW4KH c@ sonal tragedy of Onegin's wasted life to seriouscommentary on more lofty matters of state andit took Pushkin eight years to complete. (Seepanel).

- -- --------- He was moved to Odessa in 1823 and incurringScyKMHA 1.50 the disapproval of a superior he was dismissed

from government service the next year and ban-ished to his mother's estate near Pskov where he

ROSSUA 19 wrote "Boris Godunov". (See panel). TwoR• M ,, ). 00 years later, he was pardoned by Czar Nicholas I

S who helped to rehabilitate him into court circles\.-'C< and who also much admired Pushkin's lovely

'I 18 new wife Natalia Goncharova as did many,P;OCCWn ROSS'IA much to Pushkin's frustration. The pressures

became intolerable and Pushkin eventually chal-he did not or could not apply himself to his lenged one young admirer to a duel, which asstudies. His own drawing of the school appears you know brought about his death in Saint Pe-in the 1998 series and in a postal card produced tersburg on February 10h 1937.in the same year which features an imprintedstamp of the poet's schoolboy friend I.I.Puskin, Pushkin's influence on Russian and Europeanwho is also shown with Pushkin in a coloured literature was immense. He also helped tocachet on the card. "spring-clean" his won language which had

been suffering from too much French influence,His first job in 1817 was in the ministry of for- though ironically it was a French 6migr6 who

eign affairs in Saint Petersburg, during which brought his life to an untimely end.time he joined and underground revolutionarygroup. Three years later his "Ode To Liberty" Sources Used:irritated the authorities and he was exiled to theCaucasus though still holding official posts. In Dictionary of European Writers by W.N. Har-that year 1820, he published "Ruslan and Lyud- greaves-Mawdsley (Everyman 1968)milla" a long romantic poem based on folk taleswhich earned him the reputation of an up and Pushkin biography on internet by J.T. Shawcoming poet. This poem is commemorated inSG 2550 (1961: Russian Fairy Tales) and of The Rough Guide to Opera by Matthew Boydencourse by Mikhail Glinka's opera completed in (Rough Guides 1997)1842.

Papers Issued with The Pushkin Prizes (1999)The influence of British poet, Lord Byron, ismuch in evidence in the next series of major po- Various internet sites for folk talesems, like "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", "TheFountain of Bakhchisarai" (both 1822) and "TheGypsies" (1823/24).

Soon after Pushkin began his most famous work"Eugene Onegin" again a Byronic style ex-tended narrative, described as the first greatRussian novel, although in verse. This is workwhich operates on many levels from the per-


Evgenii Onegin

S- .- P CYHK4 1.50ROSSU' 1-m- B RO

^--; *J2nn1u -mm oncru' t

u q n w t o 1 1 3 0 3 7 , A c.3 n Y W K W H

J03P0j0fi f HI f2

Pushkin's first great opus, "Eugene Onegin", is Olga Larin, whilst her sister, Tatiana, is capti-usually described as a novel in verse and as vated by the suave figure cut by Onegin.such is of Miltonic proportions, written part bypart in various locations over all of eight years Tatiana (shown in this 1998 issue based on afrom 1823 to 1831. The poet is very much the sketch by the poet himself) writes a gushing let-intrusive narrator in the original story and in the ter to the urbane young gentleman, the Letterfirst chapter he imagines himself meeting his Scene in which she sings, "May I perish; buthero Onegin on the banks of the River Neva, a first I will call upon some mysterious bliss inscene which Pushkin himself captured in a car- the radiant hope that I shall know all life'stoon which is reproduced in the 1997 souvenir joys!"sheets along with the cover page of the first edi-tion of the novel. being amongst the most famous of all opera sce-

narios. Alas, the young rake does not respondIn the much-abridged narrative of in kind, telling her he is not ready for sincereTchaikovsky's opera first staged in the Maly commitment and he upbraids and humiliates herTheatre of Moscow Conservatoire (whose 150th in his rejection.anniversary is celebrated in SG 4327 of 1974) atthe end of March 1879, the composer himself In Act 2 at a dance there is gossip, however,produced the book which he subtitled "Lyric about a possible relationship between them andScenes from Pushkin". Inevitably this version an irritated Onegin begins to flirt with Olgaof the story omits all the social commentary of much to Lensky's embarrassment. Lensky feel-the verse novel and of course Pushkin's own ing insulted challenges Onegin to a duel inpoint of view, so evident in the original, which Onegin kills him.

Briefly the simplified plot begins with the visit Some six years later Onegin, in considerableof two friends Vladimir Lensky, a poet and depression after a series of sadnesses in his life,Yevgeny Onegin, a clerk and man-about-town encounters Tatiana once again, no longer theof doubtful repute to a country estate. Lensky is simple country girl but married to nobleman.interested in the younger daughter of the family, Onegin realises now he has strong feelings for


0.75 Pocc.u

A. B. Hem.aHOBa B CH S epbl l KH

Kyda

A. B. Hex4•aHoza a cueme m3 pb . 111HHn. M. HaMKolcKoro · EareHHm = erm

Ha eKc c np fnpHRTHR CBR3H H anpec oTnpaaBTeJR

: :.. ! ::... ::.. i :.... .. ... ...KOCTPOMA. *NJIs OTABKA

nHWUHTe HHAeKC npenpnp aTHN CBH3H MeCT Ha3HaqeH«R OA 1 r.

her and in a complete inversion of the early part rural Russian on literature and human nature.of the story, he writes to Tatiana only to be re-jected - "I was younger then", she sings - and At least four film versions of the operatic ver-left wretched and solitary. sion of the tale were made between 1959 and

1987 but the story was only recently made intoProfessor Asa Briggs sums up the verse novel as the motion picture. "Onegin" directed by Mar-"a kaleidoscopic work in which the simple plot tha Fiennes was released in April 2000, starringis complemented by an irrepressible flow of pic- Ralph Fiennes in the title role with Liv Tyler astures, images, ideas and comments on urban and Tatiana and Toby Stephens as Lensky.

Boris Godunov

In 1824/25 Pushkin wrote "Boris Godunov" a Unlike the clerk Onegin, Boris Godunov was aShakespearean style tragedy whilst exiled at his real historical figure, born in 1551 and who wasmother's estate close to the village of Mik- effectively in charge of matters of state duringhailovskoe near the town of Pskov, in North the reign of Tsar Feodaor Ivanovich before be-West Russian and now on Estonian border (see coming ruler himself in 1598, his coronationcacheted envelope below). However, because being depicted in SG 6643.of the authorities suspicious attitudes towardshim he was given permission to publish the His achievements include strengthening thedrama only after waiting for four years and then Russian states Southern border, building citiesunder his ""own responsibility"" in Siberia and coping charitably with the terrible

famine in the early years of the Seventeenth


in 1868/9 and reworked (and again later and no-toriously by Rimsky-Korsakav) before being

* 1 premiered in early February 1874.

The opera tells of Godunov's ever deepeningtl0 guilt after murdering Dimitri the true heir to the

SOCCI ' ROSSUt p- throne and of how the Czar is haunted by the"__ images of his guilty past. According to Mat-

Century, alluded to in the illustration on the thew Boyden it is "an austere, often bleak crea-

right of this 1996 stamp. tion in which the tortured characters are starklydelineated in tableaux like scenes carefully

Modest Musorgsky's opera based on Pushkin's linked through the use of recurrent motifs".

drama in Prologue and four acts was composed

The tale of Tsar Saltan

This tale xplains how Tsar Saltan overhears powers enabling him to build a Wonder-City,three sisters who are confiding to each other over which he is chosen to reign. One of thesetheir views on the subject of happiness, powers is metamorphosis which allows him on

one occasion to change into a bumble bee andThe youngest, having declared that she would fly back to his father's Court to sting his evilwish nothing better than to become the mother aunt: the celebrated "Flight of the bumble bee".of a hero, is chosen by Saltan for his bride.While he is at the War the jealous sisters plot The swan, having resumed her former estate ofagainst the young queen, who with her little son Princess, consents to share his throne.is consigned to the waves in a barrel, whichdrifts on to an island. Returning from the Wars, Tsar Saltan hears of

the famous island, and journeying thither is re-Later when the boy is a sturdy youth and now united with his queen."The Tsarevich" he saves a swan from a pikethat is pursuing it. He is rewarded with magic The tale was turned into an opera by fellow

Russian Rimsky-Korsakov in 1899 to mark thecentennial of Pushkin's birth and contains the

Sdazzling world famous "Flight of the BumbleA lMMin im a Bee" among other exciting melodies.

50 jOLqTA.CCMC Q.. .MR


A plethora of Pushkin portraits

AC.t 1 71 A..C.nYULEIX H 1837 fA-CJIYU

100th Death Anniv 100th Death Anniv 110th Death Anniv Pushkin with Polish poet1937 after T.Paita 1937 Moscow monument 1947 Mickiewicz - 10th Anniv of

used for SG 728/30 by A. Opekushin SG 1261/2 Russo-Polish Friendshipused for SG 731/33 1965 SG 1885

with statue of Peter the Great(The Bronze Horseman) A.C. KHH .YL

1956 Russian Writers issue.SG 2042)

150th Death Anniv after T. Rait with label showing linesfrom "To N.A. Ya Plyushkova" 1987 SG 5767

PMCYHKM

" °" 1.5 0 · · · · · rrA.C. nYlJKMHA I.50 ...............S* *.. nYWKMH

AC. YWH 200th Birth AnnivSA. YK (3rd series)

"after S.Chirikov1999 SG ??

ABTOnoPTPETnrPOCCHf 1998 *: l0 t

POOSiA ROSSIJA

"miemmIJ PA 7.00 !200th Birth Anniv ...................

(2nd series) 200th Birth Annivself portrait (3rd series)

1998 SG 6765 .ex mini-sheetafter V Tropinin

ROSS I.oo 1999 SG ??


Postal stationery for Russian servicemenduring WW1

By A. Epstein

The beginning of the WW1 meant for Russia, such indications was not to be delivered at allamong other things, the mobilization of great [1].masses of people for the Army-in-the-Field. Theresult was a drastic increase of the mail stream All these rules are printed as notes I and II (theto and from the Army. In this connection there latter on the reverse side) on the PS card shownappeared special postal stationery intended just in Fig. la,b. This postal stationery card printedfor such mail. All these postal stationery items in black color on a rather thin white card alsocan be divided into three categories: official, has the words B'b LlEfICTBYIOIUYIOsemi-official and private. Most such postal sta- APMIIO (To Army-in-the-Field) on the uppertionery is rather scarce; therefore the present left and e3rsnaTHO (Post-Free) on the upperarticle gives only a general review of them, not right. It is undoubtedly an official issue, butpretending to give a detailed listing. That should there remains open the question whether this PSbe a matter for the future, card was issued by the Main (Central) Postal

Administration (in such a case it deserves to beOfficial postal stationery included even in general postal stationery cata-

logs) or by some local postal authority (Post/The principal feature distinguishing official Telegraph District or Main Post Office of Petro-postal stationery (i.e. issued by the Imperial grad or Moscow; in the latter case its statusstate post) from private issues was the Imperial would be the same as that of the official post-coat-of-arms in the upper left corner of the PS card blanks issued by such administrations fromcard or letter-card (PS envelopes had no such the beginning of 1900s). Information about thefeature, but there was, anyway, an imprinted date of issue is lacking as well.stamp design in the upper right corer). Thereseem to have been very few such official postal Fig. 2 features a PS formula card intended forstationery items for servicemen's mail. soldiers' messages from the Army and printed in

red on buff card normally used for PS cards. ItFrom the very beginning of war, the post-free resembles very much the normal postcardprivilege covered ordinary mail of normal blanks issued by local postal administrations.weight (to 30 g) to and from the Army. There- However, instead of a rectangle for stamp in thefore no postage stamps should be affixed to upper right comer, there is an oval marking withsuch covers and postcards. Besides, strict rules Red Cross in the center and text readingwere established as to writing the address on "Storehouse of Her Majesty Empress Alexandramail to the Army. According to these rules, the Fyodorovna" between the inner and outer ovals.address should include the rank, name, patro- This means that although this postal stationerynymic, and surname of the addressee and the was an official issue (the coat-of-arms on thedesignation of the military unit or institution upper left), it was distributed by this branch ofwhere the addressee was serving. No front, the Red Cross rather than by post offices.army, corps or division designation, except ofthe cases when it was included into the unit des- It was announced at the beginning of 1917 thatignation, as well as the destination place was as of February 1, even ordinary mail to theallowed to indicate in the address; mail having Army would no longer be free, but should be


Figure la

B'b 2SHCTBEIOlIyiO APMIEO. BesniraTuo;

S IIOHTOBAH KAPTOLKA.I. Bib aApecamb TrenrpaMET H noqtroaurb'onpaBneeif aBI AlsICTSyIo-

iUymo apMin nHanekan yKashaBaTb TOnlho HHn-, aHM, OT4eCTBOia aNMniJO appecaTa, a TaKxe HanMeHoiaHie qacuT Hanu y'peKcAe-

Hil Ba KOTOpoM'b aLpecaTb cnymwKTb.

Ha smoi aouopo;nb ,rt::n:emc moabKo aORpec.

Figure lb

II. 06osHaaeIe t nca saxb H TenerpaMMaxb MtcTa pacnnooeHina RacTea soacarbaHH BsoDCKOBbxI yppewneeHia ocnpetaeTcR : nCbma H TenerpaMn� c-s yxasaHlexis

nMc» HaxomcaeHf aoAcKoBoO qacTH yRpenseHni BCoe nH 6yHyjry ornpaanaeMbw.

#-»


Figure 2

Figure 3

" . nrlO4TOBAq KAPTOqKA

B% JthiCTBayIouymo ApMiro .

-. . . . . . .. . .- -

S................. ... ....


Figure 4a

IOTO BA8 KAPTOQ ' .,SB6 tARCTByloiyo AppM

(C-b OTBSTOm-b)

(HaameHoeaHle aoTa MAN y'pemfleHia, Ba noTr

4-.-4

0 (M1Hib aApecafa) ~- Aw- ?

0 (,oT_ Tec ) ................ ........ ..................... .S(arnInB) - dlt^Of ___ I

o06ue1OT OAul UMRI naino flOTpMa"uw3b M Swbmuxb AilwlrdHeMi* I ma. Tea.97..?8.

Figure 4b

T BA IAPTO K -

JnI OTBITA)

Hasb AIRCTBYIoi[eA*) Keay ........ < / ^

S*) MparUnM a• pe l xw w.a u oa-Ur Inu or TpasLaR s.


prepaid according to a special privileged postal CEPTIONIST K. Bodrov (the name as signa-rate: 2 k for postcards and 5 k for letters [2]. It ture). This means that the order for manufactur-was this event which we can thank for the emer- ing these PS cards was taken by the State Print-gence of the PS card proof depicted in Fig. 3. ing Works. However, all evidence shows that

printing was not started, as no copies withoutThis PS card is listed by Ascher [3] as well as the receptionist's cachet seem to exist. The rea-Prigara [4] under No 281 and 28/2, respectively, son is apparently that the prepayment of mail toas not released for use; it is not mentioned, how- the Army had been abolished by the Provisionalever, in the Higgins & Gage catalog [5]. Its de- Government at the end of March 1917 [6] andsign resembles the 3-k PS card of the 1909-issue such mail became free again, so the need for abut differs from the latter in some aspects. The special PS card disappeared.color is green instead of red, and the imprintedstamp face value is 2 k in accordance with the Semi-official postal stationeryabove-mentioned privileged rate. The stamp de-sign is the same as that of the corresponding ad- Postal stationery issued by private organizationshesive and not that on the 3-k postcard. There is but in co-operation with the post (probably alsoan additional text "To the Army-in-the-Field" sold over the postal counters) are listed underunder the main text fIO4TOBAAI KAPTOMKA. this category. Double postcards, i.e. dividable

units with a message (to the Army) and a replyThe cachet applied to the card together with the (from the Army) part, printed in various townstext written in manually reads: "APPROVED by but having a common pattern are the common-Main Post/Telegraph Administration / LETTER est of these semi-official issues.of 24 Jan. 1917 No 7515/232 / ORDER RE-

tCTByK)IOUTy Ap

S ......... .................. ... .. .

October 2000

"" i Otoasnt Onrnnl noram nocpuuuinnnb o1n Bou AItdnul. |-.' noeporpaPn, Koaonaojiaa ya- 9 -B. 8 TM. 2.S.6

Figure 5


Figs 4a and 4b show the message and reply for Rendering Assistance to Persons Havingparts of such a double postcard printed in Petro- Suffered from Military Activities, with an ad-grad. Both halves are printed in black on a gray- dress in Petrograd, Nevskii Ave 10, flat 5, andish card with the text "To be sent without the telephone number.stamp" within the rectangle at the upper right. The reply part has less text. The addressThe address lines in the dispatch card are pro- consists only of lines "To Whom" and "Tovided with inscriptions in brackets correspond- Where" with a note on the bottom that "theing to the addressing rules cited above, i.e. from sender him/herself is to write in his/hertop to bottom: address".

Designation of the unit or institution where the There were several, slightly different printingsaddressee is serving of this postcard. While the reply part remainedAddressee's rank unchanged, there were some alterations in theName message part. So, in the next printing of thePatronymic Petrograd postcard shown in Fig. 5 the price isSurname. no longer indicated (probably because of the

instability caused by the growing inflation), andThe vertical text on the left indicates the post- the vertical text on the right now reads after thecard price equal to one kopeck, the text on the number: "Approved by Petrograd and Moscowright after the number informs us that the post- Main Post Offices". Also the address and phonecard is "Approved by the Petrograd Main Post number were changed, the first to Kolokol'nayaOffice". Finally, the framed text on the bottom str. 9, flat 8. The card is of a slightly darker buffgives the issuing organization, i.e. the Society shade and has a smoother texture.

IIOITOBAI KAPTOI A .

B tiicTByioLnyo .RpMIo : OS (Cb OTBTOMb).. .. ...

( Hbi M Ir aCT yM peniAeHli, Sb. ILpeoat

9 . b ....i....

(CaOW A lAR) . rr ......... * ..... .............. , . . ......... -

AoxoA nocTynI b no paciiipemim rocnauTaa A NN solnnpn fIMaxlarpIaecKoN Kiinnurt NMIEPAf AOoc MOCKo. Ywsepcrr.

Csnaa : MoesCa, B. IAap,• nacxaa ya., M 85. Tea. 61-09.

Figure 6


Figure 7a

Iq0TOBAH KAPTOqKA .. o neR

Bi A -BCTByIoumylt ApMi(Cb OTB1TOM-b). .... 1

(HaMeHosaHiN• ,lcT MnI ylpemAeHiR, Bb I Op ib a CaL -...- . ..

S(.nH.b aApecaTa).. ........

. (..a.).. ........ . I ---

B (Oecao) ... ..

(Nor)_

I AoxojAa nocTynaeTo ,Ia ,y*Ao bIo pacuwpeoilo rocnuTa.IR al oNNIOSbnups nrxiarpMaeenoli hKAEIIt HnEPATOPCHArO MOROBs. YNHNepoNr

Figure 7b

1

rHOUITOBAJ KAPTOqKA(A n OTBTr a). p.

Msm TLtHcTBYIuoien RpMiH*) KHony ... . ../.. ..... ..... ..........

"*) Hya aJ... ..�:. ./ (.,.1 -

... . .. . ........... . . ...... . ......... . . .......... . ...... . ... . . .- .- .... .

') 06paniiu a,ipcci n ojxenz aanO~iiinli, OtpaBMiei,. • i#•ll.'" -- ' "^''


Figure 8a

IIOTOBAt KAPTOIKA .

Br AgteCTByIOiyKIO ApMiKIo.'(C-b OTBSTOmb). 5

(HaMmeHosaHNi aCTH HJu ypeMAeHia, Bb HOTOpOM

CJIYMnHT) ... / ,.. i. 2-/ - - . --- ' S

S( 11 B a..pe• .c ........... ................... ....

. ..... .. . ..... ....... .. ..-. . ... .. .. . . ........... -

S(OTecTBo). _

S AoexoAal noeTynaeTtb a n yIma no paowuNpenilo roonrTaAn AI• BonoBnpa ncmxiaTpM*ec40oi0 HAnuMb HMIIEPATOPCHArO ttcxos. YmnsepoNT.

Figure 8b

nllOTOBAM KAPTOqKA 60-h

(An 0 -r v 1 T a). .

IM3 AtfeyTByIoinelI ApMiH*) .oMy . . ......

.-. .. .. . ... . ...... ..... . . . . .... . . ...............--- ---- -

*) KyAa .. �. . ....

* 1, O0ý1 i alpeci ioj eri.e nanlioAniIT oTIipaBHTelii..


Figure 9a

1O0TOBB1 KRPTOqKR .jtC

flq 13 mmrmm

8b AtICTIByloAyMiS'(B

(HaNeaHOanle suCT$n N y4pem•Ania, aB KOTrp 1 Pecarb ,enywNTI»)......

S('4 NH aApecaTa)....I.- ......... .... (.a. .. .....

OniecmO a Iaala na BoeHOrne sI i iillIc8l. Er. KLaIs , B.-BTIanMnHPC KIa yfn. M 39, Kn. 30.

Figure 9b

I0oTOBfR KIPTO'KA(A•l OTBITA) cnaeTZc

6e 3l

H3a AtHC TByiouei APMIH .k) Homy" ) H o y ....... ...... .... .... ... . . . .. . . .........

") KyAa

*) 06parHbit aApecb AonmKeHb 3anonrIHH ornpaz HTenb.


Figure 10

1 , atpe4<- AtKnI" 3a novIHT ?Ionpaike .. ,

•· . .. -• .


Fig. 6 features the dispatch part of such a double Moscow printings. The vertical text on the right

postcard printed in Moscow on buff card. Con- is the same as on the Moscow issues, while the

trary to its Petrograd counterparts, the text on issuing organization is the same as in Petro-the right reads: "Text approved by Main Post/ grad - the Society for Rendering Assistance toTelegraph Administration". The price on the left Persons Having Suffered from Military Activi-is indicated as 1 k. The framed text on the bot- ties, but with its Kiev address at B.tom tells that "The income is directed to the Vladimirskaya str. 39, flat 30. The card is whiteneeds for expanding the Hospital for soldiers at and a little thinner than by Moscow printings,the Psychiatric Clinic of the EMPEROR'S Mos- and the price is shown as 3 k instead of 1 k ascow University". More text below that indicates this printing was effected probably in 1917 bythe storehouse address: Moscow, B. Tsaritsyn- the ever-growing inflation.skaya str. 35 and phone number.

Such postcards were probably also printed inThe two other Moscow printings (both parts of other towns, and there could be other printingsthe double postcards are shown in Figs 7a, 7b in the same towns described here. Certainly,and 8a, 8b, respectively) differ from the de- other organizations also issued similar post-scribed above by the lack of mentioning the cards, e.g. the Moscow Local Administration ofstorehouse as well as by different fonts. The the Russian Red Cross Society, see Fig. 10.card is white for both printings.

The origin of the postcard of which the messageOne more such postcard printed in Kiev, both part is illustrated in Fig. 11 is not certain yet,parts of which are depicted in Figs 9a and 9b, but it was probably printed and released inhas features common to both Petrograd and Petrograd. Its general pattern differs in many

* ' ZIIO TTOBAH ICAPTO EKA.e' 1 Cb OTBBTOMNb \

B'b A'B l CTB IO .LI YIO APM

, & HOMY. . .... ........ . .

* B OTecr o -... . ..

S.131amie . - -/

.M 1 . . . ... ' .-

Figure 11


details from all those described above. There is frame).no rectangle in the upper left corner, and the ad-dress lines have the following explanations Beside the postcards, envelopes for letters to the(from top to bottom): Army overprinted in the same general patternTO WHOM: name were also issued during the WW 1. Such PSPatronymic envelopes were issued by the same institutionsSurname as the double PS blanks described above (FigsRank 12 to 14) as well as by some otherWhere serving (regiment, staff, hospital, etc. organizations, of which the name was notThe vertical text on the left reads: indicated on the envelope (Fig. 15). ThesePrice 1 kopeck envelopes were manufactured of paper ofReprinting is forbidden various colors and shades: gray, grayish-green,

light blue etc. Their selling price is indicated.This card is mailed free of postage (in the

Figure 12


i• '. ,.•:. • ._ •.. _ . .- .. · - _• .: • - . .

October 2000

Figure 13

Figure 14

sJI.tfCTayiowIyly flph l MH.L- * _ *

* 4' (Oi'mo) -

^H t' . * ," ' ": ,n

PI (.0Auu a) .._ .. ..... . . ... .....

AAA..' . IE MOCKOBnA•mO MCTArO Y•PABJIENIR POCCICIKAro C06UECTIA. - . . iPACHArO KPECTA.

A pt omnpaaumesq: .. ... ....... ...... .. .


.. 'p•--' 93llI YOlO•)r Y1THT ....eI acrcnr rq

•-. apcu (Nmm) "

,--,

October 2000

Figure 15

Figure 16

JloporasM 3aaIHTHHKaM-b poAHRuu UnpBtrT noqTM, Tejerpa4a, TeJte4)oel .

Jaf•iT o eedb SaeTro4Ky •• rIhebMShm.

OTKPHITOE

J ,. 4e L. .. .l


The postcard in Fig. 16 is quite another story. This SOLDIER'S CARD printed in black on aThis blank printed in red on a buff card of very rough card of rather inferior quality has no coat-good quality used for stamped PS cards was evi- of-arms in the upper left corner. However, asdently a semi-official issue of the Main Post/ this postcard seems to have been issued notTelegraph Administration and distributed to- earlier than the summer of 1917, the Imperialgether with the gifts sent to the soldiers by this coat-of-arms would have looked quiteadministration. The text in the upper part reads: irrelevant, and the new coat-of-arms being"Greetings of the post, telegraph and telephone designed under the Provisional Government wasto dear defenders of the Fatherland! / Drop a not developed or adopted yet.few lines about yourselves in this letter". Thereseems something strange: the fact that the post- Private postal stationerycard is designed OTKPbITOE FIHCbMO, i.e."Open Letter" instead of nIOqTOBASI There exists a great number of various kinds ofKAPTOqKA, i.e. "Postcard" as this terminol- postal stationery for soldiers' mail manufac-ogy was established by new postal regulations tured and issued without any participation of theas long ago as 1909. This may indicate to that postal administration. Here only a few examplesthis blank was actually printed much earlier, are shown.The double postcard in red, bothprobably during the Russian-Japanese War parts of which are illustrated in Figs 18a and1904-1905. However, it is known used only 18b, was issued by the Economic Society ofduring WW1. Officers of the Moscow Military District. ThereFinally, a postcard (Fig. 17) that is included is a picture of the brothers' Cherepanov ancienthere into the category of semi-official issues but engine in the upper left and the Cross-of St.may well be of private or even official nature. George under a band in the upper right.

TCHOE IMCLV

- ~- --- . m_

Figure 17


Figure 18a

HOChI.lATb BE3' MAPOK'X.

IIOqTOBARI KAPTOqKA.

3'b,�TBIICTBY[OIIllYO APM1l 1

be

Figure 18b

,OCUlATb 8831 MAPOKl.

IH31 )hISRCTBYIOE11WE APMlIl


r:0

.8

UJC aijI .~i~t/% :~e

~j ~ cre, cca0. Y'L ·* ]·

- · h Ii \,wl.,,............... ... :.:.........,..........

3 LL aB_~crrc'~U 0f

-I..~~~Otoe -OLLAI 2b AOK

Figure 19

: i

OTk<' dbfro- nMCbMO.P3b 1•CTBVyK Iuleý apMiH.

Thi, AMCa3 poAMMUI Kpaft, l . .. ...

Tank yAH, I LL/u , .j j, g^ r i k t ru

..i. ... L .. .... .

Figure 20


Figure 21

The manufacturer of the single postcard "From Finally, it is also worth mentioning postal sta-the Army-in-the-Field" in blue color (Fig. 19) is tionery for special purposes, e.g. such as illus-unknown. The rhymed text in Russian under the trated in Fig. 22. This PS blank was intended forpicture sounds in a free translation as "Fly to the soldiers who had received gifts and wantedyour native land, you'll see there the bright para- to thank the senders.dise".

The postal stationery for servicemen's mailBeside postcards, there were also letter-cards represents quite a fascinating field of collectionand envelopes with the appropriate drawings that deserves a more detailed research, foramong the private postal stationery for service- which more information from the readers aboutmen's mail. Two such envelopes are shown in such items in their possession is required.Figs 20 and 21. The first of them with the pic-ture in blue on a grayish-rose paper has thesame text expressed in verse, as on the postcard ReferencesFig. 19, so the manufacturer must be the same. 1. HOqTOBbIh CHPABOqHHK'bThe verses on the other envelope printed in (Heo14HuiaJbHbblia) no "focTaHoBJIeHiaMbbrown on buff paper can be translated literally no norTOBOHi LacTH" 1909 r. ias: "Bravely forward against the foe, brothers / nocjeayroimtnu pacnopsaDeHHMsu3,.To a battle for the righteous cause". 143aHae aecaToe. KieBb 1916.


2. npaBsrenbcTBeHHHblf BecTHHKi, 1917, .N 5. Higgins & Gage. Priced Catalogue of Postal8, 1. Stationery of the World. 1970.

3. Dr. S. Ascher. GroBer Ganzsachen-Katalog, 6. Circular of the Head of Riga Post/TelegraphBd II, 1928. District No 17532 of 27 March 1917. Esto-

4. C.B. IpHrapa. Pyccicaa norra B HMnepan, nian State Archive in Tartu (Fund 322,a TypuHH, B KrHae H noTra B File 221)[apcTBe IfonbcKOM. 1941

IIOITOBA A IAFGTO0KA

ang orTata 0 nonyeHniH nonappa.

o0 cmopou* ntuwe cAr motMO a£o p

Figure 22

Readers' reactions to this and to all other arti- journal is at best equal to the quality of the illus-cles in the Rossica Journal are eagerly invited, trations you send, so together we should striveIf you have additional information, want to for the best possible quality at all times.comment or ask questions, write to the editorialaddress or send email. Many authors of articles can also be contactedIf you want to add illustrations, I can refer to the directly by email, and the Rossica Email List"Guide to authors" elsewhere in this issue for (maintained by Alexander Safonoff,details on how pictures can be sent most easily. [email protected]) will give you the re-Remember: the quality of the illustrations in the quired email address.


Library notes

By Ged Seiflow ([email protected])

As is usually the case during the summer, this * #1 - this could be a multi-page article inhas been pretty quiet from a library perspective, and of itself, suffice it to say that manyA few requests from previous users and a few '#1's are not genuinerequests from members who have not previ- * misidentification occurs especially in theously taken advantage of the library, so all-in- Imperial periodall, not too bad. I anticipate that this will change * etcas winter draws closer.

How can the library help? First and foremost,One of the most interesting ways in which our the library has many catalogs available for loanhobby has been impacted in recent years has (many are not written in English, but with thebeen brought about because of the use of the aid of a foreign dictionary most are 'readable'.)Internet, specifically in two areas: on-line auc- Scott's is used by the vast majority of philate-tions and web-sites. Please don't stop reading lists and is a good point of reference in additionthis article ifyou don't have access to the to being the de-facto standard for numbering.Internet, I believe that you willfind the point I However it is not very precise as far as varietiesam trying to make useful and interesting re- (color, printing, perforation, mini-sheets, etc.)gardless. are concerned. Stanley Gibbons' catalog is

much more detailed as is Michel's. There areLet's look at the two areas in more detail: also many excellent catalogs that come out of

Russia that are also available for loan. If you areOn-line auctions (this now includes on-line interested, just drop me a line.sales from the APS at www.stampstore.org)have revitalized this hobby for many of us. Now In addition to catalogs, there are many excellenteveryone can sell their duplicates easily, and Journals where those who have done researchthose interested in enhancing their collection share their knowledge with us through articles.can do so much more easily. What does this The library has the majority of journals/have to do with the library? An informed buyer magazines relating to Russian literature and, al-is a better buyer. I have seen many instances though these may not be available for loan be-where buyers have paid far too much cause of rarity etc., xeroxes of relevant articles(subjective, I know) for material presumably are available at a minimal cost. If there is a spe-because of a lack of knowledge (I too have cific subject you are interested in, please let mefallen into that trap, I continue to learn and it know and I can easily tell you what we have inhappens to me much less frequently now.) I see the library that references it.the same old 'favorites' appear again and again:"* B14 through B16 (the Volga Famine issue) Web Sites - the number of web sites related to

are generally the forged versions (if there is Russian Philately continues to increase. Thea gap between where the walking stick best of these, is of course www.rossica.org (ourtouches the ground and where the shadow web site managed expertly by Jeff Radcliffe).starts, it is a forgery) One of the many pages has links to other web

"* B30 through B33 (Obligatory Tax) - forged sites relevant to Russian Philately, so I won't goversions are more frequently identified as into any further details here. There is a tremen-such, however some are not (differences are dous amount of information available on thesemore subtle but an absence of a period after web sites - take advantage of what others havethe denomination can indicate a forgery) put so much energy and effort into making


available for you and me. There are wonderful later this year. I have also been leading thelarger-than-life illustrations in color, many spir- 'Lobachevski Project' - Lobachevski wrote aited discussions on all kinds of subjects, areas very detailed catalog of Imperial Russia thatwhere questions can be asked and addressed, was serialized in several issues of the Rossicaand so on. If you have access to the Internet, Journal back in the early '80s . This hopefullyboldly go where others have been ... will be available late 2000, early 2001. My per-

sonal collection is woefully inadequate when itFuture - This has been an exceptionally busy comes to examples, if you would like to helpsummer for me personally so I have not accom- with images, please contact me, the more peopleplished everything I originally had planned. I involved, the better the final product will be.am still hopeful that I will be able to complete When this is re-published, it will be magnifi-several more sections of the Rossica RSFSR cent! And that is basically it.Specialized Catalog (this truly is a bargain!) andI will also bring the Subject Index up to date As always, have fun collecting!!!

Auction notes

By Ivo Steijn

Mention of online auctions in the above Library sented. The drawback: the auction catalog is inNotes makes me realize that it has been quite German, but it is very well illustrated. There isawhile since there was any kind of comprehen- also a website (http://www.nagl-auktion.com)sive review of auctions for us Russia collectors with further information and special offers.in the pages of this journal. While I presume Outside this lone specialist there are a fewthat many of you know more about the auction auctions that, while general in nature, usuallyscene than I do, maybe a quick review will be of have such a wide offering of Russian materialuse to some readers. they are pretty indispensable. The Cherrystone

Auction (119 West 57th Street, New York, NYBut before we go into the auction scene, we 10019) is always worth a look, and now youmight as well agree that we Russia-collectors can even view the auction catalog on theirare very well served by a surprisingly large website (www.cherrystoneauctions.com). An-number of specialized dealers who have unbe- other auction that is well supplied with Rus-lievably large and varied stocks of Russian ma- sian lots is Raritan Stamps (P.O.Box 1539,terial for us. A quick look through some of the Highland Park, NJ 08904. Website is at www.ads in issues of Rossica and you'll have no trou- raritanstamps.com) which lately has been veryble finding half a dozen addresses of dealers strong in specialized offerings of stamps, aswho may have something you've always been well as postal history.looking for hidden away in their stocks.

While there may be other auctions that IHowever, we are also well supplied with auc- should have mentioned here, I am unaware oftions where we can get rid of that pesky extra them. If you want to repair the holes in mycash. To the best of my knowledge there is cur- knowledge, send all tips to the editorial ad-rently only one regular all-Russia auction, and dress.that is the Nagl Auction (Postfach 2104, 96012Bamberg, Germany). This semiannual auction If you are a closet masochist like me you alsooffers around 2000 lots each time, with stamps like to look through old auction catalogs, toand postal history of most periods well repre- see what treasures were sold for $0.57 or so


back in 1953. I am firmly convinced that read- item in question plays the most important part,ing old auction catalogs will one day be the im- but you'd be surprised. If rarity is measured bypetus for the invention of a time machine! Most how difficult it is to find an example then somespectacular are the so-called "name sales": the well-known "rarities" aren't all that rare as theyauctions during which the collection of a fa- can be found in virtually every major Russianmous collector was auctioned off. In the Rus- auction. Take the imperforate Zeppelin stampssian sphere the list of such auctions probably of 1930. Rare, right? Only 1,000 issued, right?starts with the Agathon Faberg6 sale in 1939, (actually, I believe opinions are divided on thatfollowed by the Goss sale of the 1950s, the subject) Well, I see those two stamps in practi-Adler and Polon sales of the 1970s and more cally every single auction catalog with a decentrecently the Liphschutz auction of a few years Russia section. Hard to find? Not in a millionago. years.Zemstvo collectors will still feel the financial The trick is of course that the vast majority ofpain of the recent Corinphila auction, where that entire print run ended up in the hands ofOleg Faberg6's collection of zemstvo's changed collectors and dealers, and have been kept safehands, and another zemstvo auction by that from harm since 1930. The number of thesesame auction house is promised for December. stamps that is actually still around today is

probably not significantly less than the originalWhile not in the same stupendous class as, say, number issued. By contrast, some other Russianthe Liphschutz sale, the late George Miskin's rarities with a print run of a similar magnitudecollection of Russian registered mail was one of can hardly be had for love or money. Try find-the nicer collections around of this huge and ing the 1932 Express Mail stamp of 80 kopekschallenging field, and Phillips (101 New Bond on an express mail cover, and that thing had aStreet, London W1S I SR, England) made the print run of 200,000!October 12 auction of his collection a specialevent, with a lavishly illustrated auction catalog. So rarity is a deceptive guide, and should reallySome wonderful lots found new owners-I was be measured by how often you see the thing of-most impressed by the 1916 registered cover fered for sale. But even then it's only half thefrom the Winter Palace in Petrograd with suita- story. If we happily ignore every major advancebly inscribed registration label and I remember in economics since the late 19th century we canGeorge showing me this wonderful cover during regard "market price" as the result of two fac-a BSRP meeting a few years ago. It is a nice tors: supply and demand. "Rarity" determinesthought that George's excellent collection is supply, but what determines demand?now being appreciated by many happy buyers.

Some fields are just more popular than others. II'm not aware of any more impending "name collect Siberian stamps of the Civil War period,sales" which is just as well as they are often the and some of those stamps had tiny print runs ofresult of a collector's career coming to an abrupt a few sheets, but I will never expect to pay 4-end. But when they do occur...get a copy of the figure sums for them as I would for the imperfo-auction catalog at least! rate Zeppelins, simply because there are far

fewer people collecting these stamps than thereThe Forbidden Subject: prices are people collecting Russian airmail stamps,So how are prices developing these days? Be- stamps with Zeppelins on them, etc. In otherfore I attempt to say anything halfway sensible words, the demand for those Siberian stamps is(25% sensible would be a record) on the sub- far lower, and their market price is far lower asject, let's go briefly over the factors that deter- a result.mine, or should determine, a stamp/cover'sprice. But even that simple logic breaks down in theMost people would guess that the rarity of the heat of the marketplace. An auctioneer of my


acquaintance once said that the final price is de- pressive prices.termined by the two most fanatical buyers in themarket, not by the number of potential buyers. Geographical differences in rarity sometimesAnd it's true, you see it time and time again: affect the market price of items as well. For in-that one item that fits really neatly in the collec- stance, if you collect classic Russia on covertions of two or more collectors will attain a fan- you will notice that a lot of 19th century coverstastic price at an auction, far higher than you have three-color frankings. There is an excellentwould expect. How can we explain a price of reason for that: rates for mail abroad were un-over $100,000 for the postmark of an obscure wieldy numbers like 14 or 26 kopeks, and suchRussian office in Mongolia? Surely there aren't rates had to be made up with at least 2 or 3that many collectors of this field? No, there stamps. Since most of the Russian covers out-aren't, but all it takes is two of them with deep side Russia are Russian mail abroad, collectorspockets and veins pulsating on their temples in the West were quite used to seeing such 3-during the auction... color frankings.

Then there's the fad factor. As recently as 10-15 But for Russian collectors such frankings wereyears ago you couldn't give away Soviet propa- pretty exotic-looking, and now that our Russianganda cards of the 1930s. I saw them languish- colleagues are active in the marketplace, we seeing in dealers' boxes at $1 apiece. Then the the- many such covers being "repatriated" to Russia,matic collectors discovered them, Soviet philat- where they sell for healthy amounts. Again, put-ely became a bit more popular and suddenly ting our faith in the invisible hand of the market,they routinely sell for $20 and up, with three- that means some global price equilibrium willfigure sums paid for the more rare examples. As be reached for such material after awhile. Aan another example, look at loose stamps with more recent example are the "special flight"interesting postmarks, such as those of the Rus- covers with the 1930 Zeppelin stamps, most ofsian offices abroad. Such loose stamps used to which went abroad, making them relatively un-fetch high prices at auctions but the fashion usual in Russia itself.changed towards collecting such postmarks oncomplete covers, and loose stamps have never That works both ways. Until relatively recently,recovered from their subsequent collapse in finding some of the Soviet stamps of the 1930spopularity, on cover was a tough job. They were designed

for franking inland letters, and such letters wereSo with all these caveats firmly in place, what not often seen outside Russia. But since thecan we say about market prices "out there"? great outflow of philatelic material from Russia

got started, we are now seeing such covers moreWell, it's difficult to spot any global trends. I and more often, and as a result, prices are drop-still feel that some Russian stamps are wildly ping.undervalued while others are simply too expen-sive given how often you see them offered. So- Finally, a word about eBay. I don't regardviet prewar postal history seems to be slowly prices on eBay as very important, simply be-gaining in popularity but certainly not at the ex- cause there are a lot of uninformed buyers andpense of Imperial postal history. Ephemeral ma- sellers active there. When a block of bogusterial, such as revenue stamps and cinderellas stamps featuring Tiger Woods sells for $160seems to be becoming more popular, with prices there, I cease to regard eBay as part of the phila-definitely on the rise for the better material. As telic marketplace. Bargains can sometimes befor zemstvos, the relative flooding of the market had there, but never think that eBay bargainwith high-quality material certainly hasn't af- prices reflect the market, just as exceptionallyfected prices very much: all the recent zemstvo high eBay prices don't. Buyer (and seller!) be-auctions saw items changing hands for very im- ware, is the motto there.


Member-to-member adlets

Rossica cannot assume any liability for transac- * Adlet service is available to Rossica mem-tions resulting from member responses to adlets bers only.nor get involved with mediating disputes. Mem- * All adlets exceeding the 480-character limi-bers are cautioned to be fair in offering and in tation must be accompanied by a check forresponding. Any material considered to be of the correct amount made out to the Rossicavalue by the sender sent through the mails Society.should be insured or registered for your own * Adlets for the April journal must reach theprotection, editor by 15 February.

* Adlets for the October journal must reachThe regulations and prices are as follows: the editor by 15 August."* Members adlets are free with the following * Mail all adlets and checks to:

limitations: they must not exceed 480 char- Rossicaacters. A character is defined as a letter, c/o Gary Combsnumber, space or punctuation mark. The 8241 Chalet Courtmember's name and address are NOT in- Millersville, MD 21108cluded in this 480-character limitation. USA

"* For adlets that exceed the 480-characterlimitation, the price is 10 cents per word, nomatter how long the word may be. Wanted: I am looking for stamp n' 8 of Scott

"* Each adlet must include the name and ad- used with dot numeral and the same one on let-dress of the member placing the ad. ter. Please contact: Pieri Rolando, C.P. 113-

"* No dealer ads will be accepted as adlets. Via Cafiero 89, 47023 Cesena, Italy.The journal makes other provisions for [email protected] commercial advertisements.

Dealer-member Ads

The Editorial Board of the Rossica Journal in- Rates:vites advertisements from our dealer-members 1/4 page - $15 per issueas well as nonmembers who conduct the occa- 1/2 page - $25 per issuesional auction or ail-sale with a strong offering Full page - $50 per issueof Russian and related-area material. The Jour-nal appears twice a year and reaches over 400 Full page does not include the inside or outsidemember and affiliates worldwide in April and of the back cover. The back cover is availableOctober. Deadlines for submission of ads are on a first come, first served basis. The rates forFebruary 15 for the April issue and August 15 these are:for the October issue. We strongly prefer com-mitments for ads in three consecutive issues or Inside back cover - $100more (except for the back cover) to aid us in Outside back cover - $150planning. However, one-time ads for upcomingauctions or mail-sales can be accommodated If you have any questions, please contact theand are welcome, journal editor.


Society publications

The Russian Post in the Empire, Turkey, The Russian Posts in the XIX CenturyChina and the post in the Kingdom of Poland by K.V. Bazilevich, translated by Dave Skiptonby S.V. Prigara, translated by Dave Skipton.

Sa i , THE RUSSIAN POSTS IN THE XIX CENTURYl ra l, N M nIra& by K.V Builich

Ikvr k CCuin wzR

This is the standard upon which many studies The original work, published in 1927 in Mos-and conclusions have been established. Written cow, is today almost impossible to find. It isin 1941, the book is considered by many to be one of the most detailed overviews of the impe-the authoritative guide for Russian postal his- rial Russian postal system to be found under onetory. Any serious collector of Russian postal cover, and contains a wealth of information andhistory must have this book on his shelf. The illustrations. Dave has provided many illustra-translation can be purchased from the Treasurer tions not in the original. If you want to learnor Librarian at the following rates: about the why and wherefores of old Russia's

communications system, this book will oblige.Non-Rossica member - $40 postpaidRossica members - $35 postpaid Intended as a companion to the Prigara transla-Dealer rate - $24 per copy for single orders of tion, the Bazilevich book will be a handsome5 or more. addition to your shelf: 165 pages on semi-gloss

paper, casebound, with a purple and white dustjacket. Members may order directly from theTreasurer, Librarian or Journal Editor of the so-ciety. Prices are as follows:

Non-Rossica member - $50 postpaidRossica members - $45 postpaidDealer rate - $30 per copy for single orders of5 or more.


Imperial Russian Postal Placename List, Re- Rossica Library Subject Index-Part One, byverse Sort (1858-1915) compiled by David David Skipton.Skipton.

Dave Skipton spent over a decade creating oneHave you ever had a partial strike on a loose of the finest Russian philatelic libraries in thestamp or cover, where the first few letters of the world. However, all the knowledge of what isplacename are missing? If so, and you collect available has rested solely with Dave until now.imperial Russian cancellations, this working aid Dave, with the help ofJ.D. Myke, Scott Allenis a must for you. It contains 18,187 postal pla- and Ged Seiflow has spent an incredible amountcenames gleaned from ten sources, ranging of energy in compiling a partial library index forfrom the Prigara book to the official 1916 Postal general dissemination.List.

The Index is approximately 800 pages long andThe Reverse Sort is 379 pages long, photocopy, contains 10,600 entries, which are divided intoprinted on one side only and unbound. It con- 92 cross-referenced categories - and it is onlytains an introduction, an explanation of how to a partial listing. A large Part One would be toouse the RS, compiler's notes, a list of cancella- bulky and extremely demanding on the repro-tion abbreviations, format explanation, a list of duction process. Part Two is currently in devel-sources, province and oblast' trigraph listings, a opment.Cyrillic-Latin alphabet conversion chart and361 pages of cross-referenced placenames. A The Index is mostly arranged first by subject,must for the serious cancellation collector, then by period of Russian history, and in someMembers may order directly from the Secretary, cases further by type. Each category is pre-Treasurer, Librarian or Journal Editor of the so- sented by title, author, journal., volume, date,ciety. Prices are as follows: page number(s), publisher, translator and ab-

stract.Non-Rossica member - $45 postpaidRossica members - $40 postpaid (Overseas A transliteration guide and a comprehensiveorders please add $3 for surface mail on all or- philatelic or communications journal abbrevia-ders.) tion list also is provided.

Dealer and bulk purchase rates are available If you are serious about using your library forupon request. philatelic research but d not know what, if any-

thing, is available, then this Index is a must foryour bookshelf. However, be sure that the shelfis sturdy since the Index weighs in at approxi-mately four pounds!

The Index is currently being reproduced in lim-ited quantities so order your copy now. Actualcosts for shipping will be determined when theitem is mailed - rates vary by type of postalservice and location - and you will be notifiedof the additional charges.

Cost $50 plus postage ($5) for members. Ordersmay be sent to Dave Skipton or the Treasurer.Please make checks payable to "The RossicaSociety."


Cumulative Alphabetical List 1858-1916, by Back Issues of the Rossica JournalGary Combs. 138 double-sides pages plus fourintroduction pages. We have a limited number of back issues of the

journal for sale, both in English and RussianIn 1984 Dave Skipton introduced the Reverse language editions. Russian edition s availableSort, which is used by Russian philatelists are numbers 44-69 (see list below for availabil-around the world. Nearly a decade later, Gary ity); English editions available are numbers 70-Combs has taken this massive work - over 127. Unfortunately, there are many holes and18,699 entries - and rendered a "Forward sort" some issues have less than three in stock. Pricesof the information and corrected a few minor listed for back issues are in U.S. dollars. To or-discrepancies. This work first appeared in Eng- der, please contact the Treasurer.lish and subsequently reworked to produce aCyrillic version thanks to computer support pro- Single Issues:vided by Pat Eppel. This version is better than Member-$7.50the original. Non-member-$10.00

As often as I use the Reverse Sort to find a loca- Single issues currently available are: 44, 45. 54.tion when only the last part of the placename is 62-71, 73-75, 79, 80, 88, 89, 93, 110-112, 115-visible, I found a definite need for a work that 117, 119-127, 130-134provided the same information, but in a left-to-right or "forward" order. This work precisely Double Issues:fills that void. Member-$15.00

Non-member-$20.00Both the Cumulative Alphabetical List and itspartner publication the Reverse Sort offer the Double issues currently available are: 46/47.postal historian and cancellation collector the 76/77, 94/95, 96/97, 98/99, 100/101, 102/103.most comprehensive listing of locations avail- 104/105, 106/107, 108/109, 113/114able, albeit not a complete listing of all possiblelocations. An effort to produce a document of Copies of issue 128/129 are available at athat magnitude would clearly exceed the size of charge of $20 for member sand $30 for non-this work. members

Gary has done an impressive job with this workand filled a void that has existed since day oneof collecting for those without access to Statearchives in Russia or numerous postal listings.This work represents the largest single cumula-tive listing of Russian locations in existence inthe Western world.

This publication is highly recommended for theserious postal historian or cancellation collector.Let him know if you want it sent via a fastermethod (and include extra postage).

Cost: $45 for Rossica Members, $50 for non-members. Sent post paid at surface rate. Avail-able from the author. Also available on floppyor CD ROM in Adobe Acrobat format.


A Study of the Postmarks of Moscow, 1765- ROM version is set at US $40 for Rossica mem-

1917, Part One by Gary Combs and Noel Warr. bers and $60 for non-members, which includesAir Mail shipping anywhere. Pricing for the

Over a decade has passed since the effort began, paper version will be set later.

During the ensuing years, the scope of the workhas grown tremendously with input from some Anyone interested in purchasing this Rossica

of the world's best-known philatelists. Now publication on CD ROM should contact Gary

Part One is ready for publication and comes in Combs at the address listed below or via email

at nearly 300 pages. at [email protected]. Cash, money order orcheck drawn on a US bank and made payable to

Gary and Noel have captured information from Rossica are accepted. Sorry, no credit cards or

many sources in their attempt to bring together stamps or non-US currency are accepted.

information in English about this overlookedsubject. Part One is just the tip of the iceberg. It Gary A. Combsis richly illustrated where possible. The amount 8241 Chalet Ct.of information contained in this study is stag- Millersville, MD 21108gering. However, as Gary and Noel say, "... USAthere is still so much we do not know. If wehold off publishing waiting for more informa-tion, we would be rewriting the study over and The Philatelist's Guide to Maps, Atlases andover. It is now time to return it over to the Gazetteers of Russia by Peter A. Michalove.philatelic community and openly solicit theirfurther input into the effort." In 1993, Peter Michalove published this epic

work in a limited edition, which quickly soldThe study opens with a brief historical synopsis out. Rossica is pleased to announce it is againof the Russian postal system from the 1660s to available for publication in CD-ROM format.roughly the 20th century. After the historical Both the Moscow study and Peter's book maysection, they launch into an incredibly detailed be had on a single CD-ROM. Just let Garypresentation of the post within Moscow proper. know when you send in your order.They include: the design of the city, locations ofall the gates, a bit on the environs and introduce This excellent reference book is a must for allthe telegraph. Once all this is said and done, serious Russian postal historians. The book con-they get down to the main subject of this study, tains three parts with topics as follows:Moscow Postmarks. They have borrowed heav-ily from publications in Russian and include il- Part one: The classic cartography of Russialustrations of rarely seen items where possible. * Contacts between Russia and the West

* The late 16th and 17th centuriesLinks have been provided form the Table of * The reign of Peter the Great and beyondContents as well as the postmark reference ta- * References for Part Onebles to the appropriate page within the study. Toview the study, you must have Adobe's Acrobat Part Two: The period of Imperial Russian postalReader installed on your computer. This soft- historyware is also provided on the CD ROM. * Russian postal guides, postal lists and re-

lated sourcesThis study will be available on CD ROM to * Other sources for the Empire as a wholestart in order to keep costs down. Publishing a * European Russia300-page document with a lot of illustrations * Poland, the Baltic and Finlandcan be very expensive. It will be offered in a * The Caucasus, Central Asia, and Siberiapaper addition at a later date. Cost for the CD * Railway routes


Part Three: The Soviet period The series consists of 29 sections. It will be pro-"* External border changes duced unbound so the member can store the"* Placename changes and spellings catalog as s/he sees fit. In order to keep costs"* Cartography in the Soviet Union down, updates will be available either as a com-"* Sources on the Soviet Union as a whole plete section or as individual pages (initially"* European Russia, Ukraine, Belorussia and only the complete sections will be sold). This

Moldova format is truly what we collectors have been"* The Baltic waiting for."* The Caucasus and Central Asia"* Siberia Each section is divided into three parts:"* Railway routes Introduction"* Epilogue Detailed illustrations of varieties

Detailed catalog entries with pricesA transliteration guide and a list of Russian geo-graphical terms is also included. The first three sections released are:

Cost: $22 for members, $30 for non-members. Section 0: Introduction (10 pages)Free with first section ordered

Section 3: 1st issue of the RSFSR (82 pages)The 1918 Chainbreakers of 35 and 70 kop.

The Rossica catalog of the RSFSR $10 for members, $20 for non-membersby Ged Seiflow Section 7: 1st standard issue of 1921 (58 pages)

The stamps of 1, 2, 5, 20 and 40 rub.Thanks to the Rossica Librarian, we now have a $9 for members, $18 for non-membersnew and very interesting series available to themembers. This series, which has been several Prices include surface mailing costs, dealers in-years in the making, is special and represents terested should include about lots of 10 or more.the fulfillment of a need that has existed for along time. Ged has started what we believe is Availability data is now! For more information.the most comprehensive catalog of RSFSR please write the Treasurer (address below).stamps available. Members can refer to issue128/129 of this journal for a glimpse of this ef- For sales, send a check (drawn on a US bankfort. This new catalog is ideal for the specialist and made payable to Rossica). money order, etc.as well as for the new collector. It is profusely to the Rossica Treasurer:illustrated (most published catalogs are sadlylacking in this respect) and lists every known Gary A. Combs, 8241 Chalet Court. Millers-variety. ville, MD 21108, USA.

Why such a huge undertaking? Well, which Sorry, no VISA/MC or stamps for payment.catalog do you use when stamping around? Mi-chel? Scott? Gibbons? Russian? French? Ital-ian? Or do you have all of them like most of us? PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL ROSSICAThe reason for this is simple: no single catalog PUBLICATIONS CAN ALSO BE OR-is sufficient when studying Russian philately. DERED ONLINE, ON THE ROSSICANo catalog is complete. Additionally, no catalog WEBSITE:is flexible enough to allow for additions and de-letions without purchasing a new catalog-until WWW.ROSSICA.ORGnow!


Reviews

Journal of Classical Russian Philately "Kislovodsk-a second cover" by Harry vonNo.5, June 2000, 64+iv pages. Hofmann; "Nagorno-Karabakh: a fait accom-

pli?" by Ivo Steijn; and the "Used AbroadThis journal is bilingual (German-English) Chronicles XVII" edited by Bill Stoten.throughout and therefore has an unprecendent-edly large readership, and this readership is Membership of the BSRP is $20 a year. All in-blessed with an excellent array of articles in quiries to Alan Blunt, Riber House, 13 Audenevery issue. In this issue we find: "20 kopek Close, Osbaston, Monmouth, Gwent NP25stamp with watermark '2' on cover sent abroad" 3NW. United Kingdom or [email protected] Zbigniew Mikulski; "City postcard P1 gone ukastray" by Ortwin Greis; "A variety of the greenand black proof of Wenden Mi. no.12" byWedekin Eggers; "Return to sender after thewar was over" by Harry von Hofmann: Yamshchik / The Post-Rider"Uprating of the stamps of 10 August 1921 ?" by No.47, November 2000, 120 pagesMartin Siegler: "Stamps of Imperial Russia withPolish postmarks" by Jacek Krawczyk; In this massive issue of this excellent journal we"Remarks on the domestic postal rates of the find, apart from the shorter items: "The postalRSFSR" by Alexander Epstein: "Russian postal history of South Russia 1917-1920: issues andcensorship WWI / Supplement 2" by Antoine rates" (a phenomenal 47-page study!) by Alex-Speeckaert and a large number of shorter arti- ander Epstein; "Comments about the 'Three Tri-cles. angles' postmarks" by Alexander Epstein;The high quality of articles, illustrations and ed- "Further on the article 'The mysterious trianglesiting make this journal a delight to read, and a on Soviet datestamps'" by Eric Jirvlepp; twomust for anyone who is interested in Russian articles on postage due mail by Alexander Ep-pre-revolutionary philately. stein and Meer Kossoy; "The Moldavian and

Romanian posts in Southern Bessarabia 1856-Subscriptions are $30 for USA and Canada ($50 1878" by Andrew Cronin; a follow-up on thefor airmail) to be paid to Loral stamps. P.O.Box article about the Kyzyl a, b, and c postmarks by740 521, Rego Park, NY 11374-0521, USA. V.N. Ustinovskii; "Military censorship of rank-

and-file mail in Russian Navy during WWI" byV. Berdichevskii and M. Kossoy; "The Russian

The British Journal of Russian Philately post on the island of Crete" by G.V. Andrieshin;No.84, May 2000. 68 pages. "Classic Swiss letters sent to the Russian Em-

pire" by Erling Berger; "The fourth (AprilAnother excellent issue from the new editorial 1920) issue of Armenia on covers" by Drteam. Apart from shorter notes, this issue con- Arkadii M. Sargsyan; "Revisiting the stampedtains the following: "Censorship of postal corre- double letter-card of Russia" by Prof. A.S. Ilyu-spondence in Russia" by Meer Kossoy; shin and Jean Walton; "Finnish Nationalism" by"Shipmail: St.Petersburg-Le Havre" by A. Charles Leonard and "Postage stamps issued bySpeeckaert; "St.Petersburg police revenues" by the zemstvos" by Alex Artuchov.Jack Moyes; "Receipts" by Noel Warr; "Tuva: acover form the 1927 second issue" by Gwynn Subscriptions are $20 a year, to be sent to POWilliams; "Postal service in the Baltic under Box 5722, Station 'A', Toronto, Ontario, Can-Soviet administrations" by Alexander Epstein; ada, M5W 1P2.


USSR, Specialized catalog of postage stamps, that it gives catalog prices for all items. in US $1923-1940 (in Russian). 280 pages with full- no less. And therein lies perhaps its only weak-color illustrations. Published by "Standart- ness.Kollektsiya"

The prices quoted may make perfect sense fromCatalogs and handbooks seem to be falling from a Russian point of view, but they will lead to athe skies these days. Even before this journal few elevated eyebrows outside Russia. As ancould print a review of the Lyapin catalog example, look at the 1933 "ethnographical" set.which covers the same period, this fine hand- The stamp of 3 kopeks features the Crimeanbook comes along. Standart-Kollektsiya is plan- Tatars who were declared to be a non-entity inning to publish a whole series of handbooks, 1944. As a result, the stamp itself vanished fromwith part 1 planned as a reworked edition of Soviet catalogs for many years, and any usageDobin's handbook on pre-stamp postmarks, part of it within the USSR must have been uncom-2 to cover Imperial Russia, part 3 a multi- mon to begin with, and even more uncommonvolume catalog of zemstvo stamps, part 4 after the Crimean Tatars had been "purged." As(already published) covering the RSFSR, part 5 a result, the value in the "stamp on cover" cate-(in three volumes) covering the USSR and part gory is highest for this particular stamp.6 (already published) covering post-Soviet Rus- However, here in the West we see this stampsia. with some regularity on printed matter sent by

Mezhdunarodnaya Kniga during the 1930s.The books are beautifully printed on glossy pa-per. Illustrations are in color throughout and are The reverse situation occurs with some of theextremely clear. Simply on a visual level, the commemorative stamps of the 1930s which arebooks are a joy to own. never seen on cover here, but which get fairly

modest values on cover in this catalog. I'dHowever, there's more than just a pretty face to LOVE to buy some Soviet stamps on cover for

be had here. For each stamp issued during 1924- the prices noted here! ($75 for an 80k Express1940 this handbook gives all varieties (paper, stamp on cover? Can I have 5, please?)perforation, watermark, etc.), known errors andplate flaws, sheet layout and marginal markings, So some judgment is needed in interpreting the

information about essays, proofs and specimens, prices. I should add that these discrepanciesthe circumstances of its issue and any special only seem to pop up for stamps on cover-forpostmarks associated with its issue. For each stamps, mint or used, I really don't have enough

issue, a few mouth-watering covers are also il- of an overview to be able to judge the validitylustrated. of the prices noted here. And, as noted else-

where in this issue, prices are hardly universal

However, this is not all. In the back we find constants of nature anyway.

equally detailed sections on postage due stamps,stamps for foreign exchange tax, the Tambov This book illustrates so much unique material

local issue of 1931, unissued designs and essays from the archives of GoZnak and the Popov

for stamps, postal stationery, unstamped postal Museum and is so complete in all respects, it is

stationery (e.g. for official mail), military mail, clear it will remain the definitive word on So-

mail which enjoyed post-free privileges, post- viet stamps for the foreseeable future.

marks and their evolution during 1923-1940,placename changes, the valuation of covers, A hardcover edition of this book can be ordered

postal rates, and a thematic index. Phew! for $60 from Loral stamps, P.O.Box 740 521.Rego Park, NY 11374-0521, USA. A softcover

However, this handbook is not merely a listing edition costs $40. Contact the seller for postage

of interesting information, it is also a catalog in costs and payment methods.


r - -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- - --- -- -- -- - --- -- -- --- -^

RUSSIAN POSTAL HISTORY

What Do You Collect?

I stock Russian Postal History items from the Imperialand Soviet periods

Including:

Airmails, Republics, Space, Zemstvos,Semi-Postals, Inflation, Stations, TPOs,Interventions and Offices Abroad

I also stock the Baltic CountriesLet me know what you are searching for.

Material sent on approval.I am always searching for material to buy and

offer top dollar.Please include references or Rossica number.

Member: Rossica Society, Canadian Society of Russian Philately.British Society of Russian Philately, Australian & NewZealand Society of Russian Philately, APS, NSDA, PTSand others.

Webster F. Stickney7590 Windlawn Way

Parker, CO 80134.------------------------------------------------ -

Rossica 135 - Greg Mirsky, Etc.

Documents

Transcript of Rossica 135 - Greg Mirsky, Etc.