Cover
        Cover
    Officers and representatives of the society
        Page i
    Table of Contents
        Page 1
    Obituary, Dr. Gordon Torrey
        Page 2
    The near abroad: The VOA correspondence (1), by George Shaw
        Page 3
        Page 4
        Page 5
        Page 6
        Page 7
        Page 8
        Page 9
        Page 10
        Page 11
    Fraud at Nikolaev, by Asdrubal Prado
        Page 12
        Page 13
        Page 14
    Free-Frank mail in the New Republics, by Paul Burega
        Page 15
        Page 16
        Page 17
        Page 18
        Page 19
        Page 20
        Page 21
    Borovichi Zemstvo post, by George G. Werbizky
        Page 22
        Page 23
        Page 24
        Page 25
        Page 26
        Page 27
    Moscow, the 1st state town-post branch office, by Gary Combs
        Page 28
    Before beyond Bryansk, by Dave Skipton
        Page 29
    Chechnya, by George Shaw
        Page 30
        Page 31
    Non-railway "Vokzal" postmarks, by P. E. Robinson
        Page 32
        Page 33
        Page 34
        Page 35
        Page 36
        Page 37
        Page 38
    Obituary, Dr. Heinz von Hungen
        Page 39
    The 1916-1917 surcharge on the arms stamps, by Leonard Tann
        Page 40
        Page 41
        Page 42
        Page 43
        Page 44
        Page 45
        Page 46
        Page 47
    The 15-Kopeck arms stamp with star overprint of 1922-1923, by Raymond Pietruszka
        Page 48
        Page 49
    A unique? Moscow oval, by Gary Combs
        Page 50
    Warning: Siberian forgeries, by Ivo Steyn
        Page 51
        Page 52
        Page 53
    Not by beer alone. Pre-printed cards part II, by Gary A. Combs and George G. Werbizky
        Page 54
        Page 55
        Page 56
        Page 57
        Page 58
        Page 59
        Page 60
        Page 61
    More about the OKCA covers, by A. Epstein
        Page 62
        Page 63
        Page 64
        Page 65
        Page 66
        Page 67
        Page 68
        Page 69
    Once again on ordinary paper, by N. Petrov, translated from the Russian by Dave Skipton
        Page 70
    When does common become scarcer? by Mel Kessler
        Page 71
    Life of the society
        Page 72
    Member-to-member adlets
        Page 73
    Expertization
        Page 74
    Membership status
        Page 75
    Special offer to Rossica members
        Page 76
    Submitting articles for the Journal
        Page 77
    Reviews of philatelic publications
        Page 78
        Page 79
    Advertising
        Page 80
        Page 81
        Page 82

ROSSICA


No. 124 April 1995











THE JOURNAL
of the
ROSSICA SOCIETY
of
RUSSIAN PHILATELY







OFFICERS OF THE SOCIETY
President: David M. Skipton, 50-D Ridge Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA
Vice President: Dr. Peter A. Michalove, 307 S. McKinley, Champaign, IL 61821, USA
Secretary: George G. Werbizky, 409 Jones Road, Vestal, NY 13850, USA
Treasurer: Gary A. Combs, 8241 Chalet Ct., Millersville, MD 21108, USA
Librarian: Andrew Medwid, 16 Woodfield terrace, Tarrytown, NY 10591, USA
Auditor: Webster Stickney, 7590 Windlawn, Parker, CO 80134, USA

Board of Directors:

Vacant
Dr. G. Adolph Ackerman, 629 Sanbridge Circle E., Worthington, OH 43085, USA
John Barefoot, P.O. Box 8, York Y03 7GL, United Kingdom

REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIETY

Washington-Baltimore Chapter:
Vacant
Northern California Chapter:
Mike Renfro, P.O. Box 2268, Santa Clara, CA 95055, USA
Midwest Chapter:
Dr. James Mazepa, P.O. Box 1217, Oak Park, IL 60304, USA
Great Britain:
Dr. Raymond Ceresa, Fairview Cottage Quarry Lane, Gorsley, Ross-on-Wye,
Hereford HA9 7SJ, United Kingdom

All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any
means without permission in writing from the journal editor. The views expressed by the authors in
this journal are their own and the editor disclaims all responsibility.

The Rossica Society of Russian Philately, Inc. is a non-profit, non-political organization incorporated in the state
of Maryland, USA, and affiliated with the American Philatelic Society. The Rossica Journal is the official periodic
publication of the Rossica Society of Russian Philately, Inc., published twice a year in April and October and mailed
"surface rate" from the Editor's residence. Price for non-members is US $10 per issue. For air mail delivery, please add
US $5. Subscriptions are available for US $30 which includes air mail postage. Available back issues are listed in the
section titled "In The Back Room." Submit articles for consideration directly to the Editor. Periodically, other Rossica
publications are listed in the back of the journal. Information is available from the Editor or Secretary.
Society dues are US $20 per year with a discount for early renewal. Membership applications can be obtained from
the Treasurer or Secretary at the addresses listed under "Officers of the Society."
Dealers wishing to advertise in the Journal are welcomed. Information pertaining to advertising can be found in the
back of the Journal.
Checks and money orders submitted should be made payable to The Rossica Society of Russian Philately and not
to any officer. Checks not drawn on a US bank must include an additional US $15 for processing fees. Sorry, no credit
cards are accepted. Please make all checks payable to:

ROSSICA SOCIETY OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY
c/o Gary A. Combs
8241 Chalet Ct.,
Millersville, MD 21108
USA

Copyright 1995
The Rossica Society
ISSN 0035-8363







THE JOURNAL OF THE
ROSSICA SOCIETY OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY


Journal No. 124 for April 1995

Editor : Gary A. Combs
Editorial Board: George Shaw, David M. Skipton, Howard Weinert

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Topic Page

ARTICLES

Obituary, Dr. Gordon Torrey 2
The Near Abroad: The VOA Correspondence (1)-George Shaw 3
Fraud at Nikolaev-Asdrubal Prado 12
Free-Frank Mail in the New Republics-Paul Burega 15
Borovichi Zemstvo Post-George G. Werbizky 22
Moscow, The 1st State Town-Post Branch Office-Gary Combs 28
Before Beyond Bryansk-Dave Skipton 29
Chechnya-George Shaw 30
Non-Railway "Vokzal" Postmarks-P. E. Robinson 32
Obituary, Dr. Heinz von Hungen 39
The 1916-1917 Surcharge on the Arms Stamps-Leonard Tann 40
The 15-Kopeck Arms Stamp With Star Overprint of 1922-1923 48
-Raymond Pietruszka
A Unique? Moscow Oval-Gary Combs 50
Warning: Siberian Forgeries-Ivo Steyn 51
Not By Beer Alone. Pre-Printed Cards Part II 54
-Gary A. Combs and George G. Werbizky
More About the OKCA Covers-A. Epstein 62
Once Again On Ordinary Paper-N. Petrov 70
translated from the Russian by Dave Skipton
When Does Common Become Scarcer?-Mel Kessler 71


OF INTEREST TO MEMBERS
Life of the Society 72
Member-to-Member Adlets 73
Expertization 74
Membership Status 75
Special Offer to Rossica Members 76
Submitting Articles for the Journal 77
Reviews of Philatelic Publications 78
Dealer-Member Ads 80









Gordon H. Torrey
(1920-1995)

The Rossica Society suffered a tremen- sian area, and many Russian exhibitors got
dous loss on March 28th when its former better consideration because of him.
President died of serotonin syndrome after a His list of accomplishments is long and
long battle. Gordon was first elected as Vice- impressive. He graduated from the University
President under Kurt Adler in late 1968, fol- of Oregon with a master's degree in history,
lowing the tragic death of Greg Salisbury and and earned his doctorate of history from the
the resignation of then Treasurer A. N. Lavrov. University of Michigan. The author of "Syrian
When Adler resigned in 1972 due to poor Politics and the Military, 1945 to 1958," he
health,GordonbecamethePresidentPro-Tem, was a Middle East analyst with the Central
and was elected President in 1974. It was the Intelligence Agency until 1974, when medical
post he held until 1992, when he chose to run problems caused him to retire. He was a pro-
for Member of the Board of Directors. Thus, he fessorial lecturer at the Johns Hopkins Univer-
was an officer longer than most people in this sity School of Advanced International Studies,
Society have been members, and he served and worked for Christie's as an appraiser for
longer than any other officer, including the many years.
founder, Evgenii Arkhangelskii. In addition to his offices in Rossica, Gor-
Gordon'scontributionstoRossicaextended don was also President of the Washington
far beyond his administrative duties. He fig- Philatelic Society, Treasurer of the Shaybani
ured prominently on the Expertization Board Society of International Islamic Law, North
for many years, wrote numerous articles for the American Representative for the British Soci-
Journal, and represented the Society at many ety of Russian Philately, and a member of the
national and international philatelic events. He American Philatelic Society, China Stamp
was the President of the Rossica Washington- Society, Military Postal History Society, Postal
Baltimore Chapter, and together with his wife History Society, and the Royal Philatelic Soci-
Ann hosted many meetings at his home. ety of Great Britain.
The Society underwent many changes dur- Two things always amazed people about
ing his tenure as President, not the least of Gordon's philatelic knowledge and holdings.
which was a 30% increase in membership. One did not ask Gordon whom he knew, you
With the passing of Salisbury, Adler and asked whom does he not know! Whenever we
Lavrov, Gordon represented "the new Ros- had the privilege to visit and discuss philately,
sica," a society noticeably non-Russian in its Gordon would bring up a box or a bag or a desk
composition and leadership. Only 16 members drawer overflowing with material. As we went
are left with numbers lower than Gordon's- through these items, discussing each one, he
540. would repeatedly say "I didn't know I had
It may come as a surprise to some, but that" in such a voice you had to believe him.
Russian philately was not Gordon's greatest Gordon was a very engaging, well-edu-
strength. He was first and foremost a Middle cated man, readily sharing his knowledge with
East expert, with outstanding collections of newer collectors. He'll be sorely missed, and
Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, etc. His link to our heartfelt condolences to Ann on her loss.
Russian philately came through his interest in Mir prakhu tvoemu, Gordon. Rest in peace,
Russian Offices Abroad, primarily the Levant old friend.
and China. Gordon was one of only a few APS
judges with extensive knowledge of the Rus- -DMS and GAC

2 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









The Near Abroad: The VOA Correspondence (1)


by George Shaw

This is the fifth article in a series on the recent valuation and six copies of the 1-ruble Soviet
postal history of the former Soviet Union as stamp of 1988. The meter revaluations of this
shown in the Voice of America (VOA) corre- period are inscribed USSR, not Moldova. Figure
spondence of March-April 1992. The first article 3 is a cacheted envelope from Kishinev with the
(Rossica 120) focused on the Soviet Postal Index 2-ruble Soviet definitive of 1984 and a due
(zip code); the second (Rossica 121) on over- (Doplocheno) marking for 3.60 rubles. This does
prints, postal stationery revaluations, and usage not correspond to any known rate, but is very
within the major regions of Russia; the third and interesting. Figure 4 is postmarked Bendery and
fourth (Rossica 122-123) covered the Autono- depicts a Taxe Percue (TP) handstamp for five
mous Republics, Oblasts, and Okrugs of the rubles, reflecting the Russian rate, not the
Russian Federation. Now we turn to the other Moldovan rate.
republics of the former Soviet Union, the "Near Figure 5 is postmarked Bel'tsy (Russian lan-
Abroad" as they are called by the Russians. This guage only) and includes a 50-kopeck stamped
article will focus on Moldova and Belarus. envelope, two copies of the 1-ruble definitive of
1988, as well as two copies of the 3-ruble stamp
Moldova of 1984. All of this was required to make the
8.50-ruble rate. Note the return address in Roma-
Moldova is a predominantly Romanian- nian using Romanian terminology (judetul) for
speaking republic created in 1940. Its 3.8 million district. Figure 6 uses a different 50-kopeck
people include a large number of Russian speak- Soviet stamped envelope plus two copies of the
ers, especially east of the Dniester River. This 3-ruble stamp to make the 6.50-ruble interna-
area declared its independence, supported by the tional express airmail rate.
Russian military. The Trans-Dniester Republic
(TDR) issued numerous speculative stamps. Fig- Belarus
ure 1 shows a cover from Tiraspol', the capital of
the region that became the TDR. It adds two The westernmost Slavic-speaking portion of
copies of the 1-ruble Soviet definitive of 1988 to the former Soviet Union, Belarus reluctantly
a Soviet postal envelope, became independent on 8 December 1991. A
There were about 35 covers from Moldova in large portion of its territory was part of Poland
the VOA correspondence. Several patterns were from 1920 to 1939 and was joined to Belarus
evidentforinternational airmailrates: 2.50rubles after Poland's partition between Germany and
for an airmail letter, a 6-ruble premium for the Soviet Union on the eve of World War II.
registration, and a 4-ruble premium for express Belarus was a founding member of the United
(special delivery). Although Moldovan stamps Nations in 1945, although an integral part of the
were issued initially in June 1991, Soviet stamps Soviet Union. Cinderella stamps were issued
and stationery dominate the usages in the VOA after World War I; recognized stamps were not
correspondence. Most datestamps from this cor- issued until March 1992. None of these Belarus
respondence are in Russian only; datestamps stamps were used on the VOA correspondence.
from Kishinev, the capital, are often in both The VOA correspondence is rich in Belarus
Moldovan and Russian. postal history. Figure 7 sent from Bobruisk is a
Figure 2 shows a registered letter from 50-kopeck Soviet postal envelope with a Taxe
Kishinev, the capital, with a 20-kopeck postal Perque marking for an additional 2-ruble rate.
envelope together with a 2.30-ruble meter re- Figure 8 shows a cover originating from Mosty,
Rossica Journal Number 124 3
April 1995









which supplements 50-kopeck stationery with a shows a cover from Bryansk and illustrates a 5-
handstamped marking of eight rubles to make the kopeck Soviet envelope augmented by a 45-
8.50-ruble rate for an international registered kopeck octagonal handstamp and a boxed TP
letter. Figure 9 from Mogilev uses a 50-kopeck handstamp for an additional 4.50 rubles. Simi-
envelope, 2.50 rubles in Soviet stamps, and a TP larly, the registered airmail rate increased from
handstamp of 21 rubles to make up the 24-ruble 8.50 rubles to 17 rubles during March 1992.
airmail special delivery letter. Figure 13 is a cover from Svetlogorsk and com-
Various revaluations were made to postal pliments five copies of the 3-ruble stamp of 1984
stationery to make rates. Figure 10 shows a 7- with a 1-ruble stamp of 1988, a 50-kopeck stamp
kopeck Soviet envelope uprated with a 8-kopeck of 1986 and the ubiquitous 50-kopeck stamped
meter-like handstamp to make the new domestic envelope to make this revised rate.
rate of 15 kopecks. Further 2.35 rubles in Soviet Airmail postal cards are far more difficult to
stamps was added to make the 2.50-ruble rate. locate than letters. Figure 14 shows a cover from
Figure 11 depicts a Soviet envelope with a 1.50- Minsk and supplements a 5-kopeck Soviet postal
ruble handstamp inscribed "USSR postage" as card with 1.70 rubles of stamps to make up the
well as a 1-ruble TP handstamp to arrive at the rate of 1.75 rubles. The cover illustrated in fig. 15
2.50 international airmail rate. The rate for an uses seven stamps and a 5-kopeck postal card to
airmail letter increased to five rubles during the add up to the changed rate of 3.50 rubles.
period of the VOA correspondence. Figure 12





S! o5 "- 3^ *fr
P.R AVION A i -

,IO IA CCP I K'TIA CC(P U.











SHA.PKLC [IptlllpwH HH THH T H C 1H Hl.pt" Iptl HTl R P At





Wnshic nfo^ C, .4)
nHWnHTe HJIHeKC npetnpAHRTH CeO3H MeCTa Ha3Ia HMaHR


Figure 1. Cover from Tiraspol', capital of the region
which became the breakaway Trans-Dniester Republic later in 1992.

4 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









MEHiAYHAPOAHOE









Figure 2. 8.50-ruble registered letter rate for Moldova with


I, .;,_'-- i'". --_ *" -_ ,-. (_, ...-, .
I K)I7rA _CF, I...








!4A
S[ n :. i i: : J.L "-
P VKWI.((,











-rrS,
Hi enc npceanpHran cBTK Mtcra Ki laKHe' nu% [ *
Figure 2. 8.50-ruble registered letter rate for Moldova with
2.30-ruble meter revaluation, Soviet stamps, and stationery.




ril 1995 .

,-,1 : "- a 2 _yfi. VLCT Ka m













Rossica Journal Number 124 5
.'~~~~ ~~ "^^. "^^ ^^ ii'-t.






April 1995

































Air... ... o A7
7-Z




R; -. ., I- S ."
A AI L1 0 N Cal.-





















-nui-e --ec npeanp- c Ma nnaeH -- -- \. -





Figure 5. 8.50-r ble registered letter rate for Moldova. Note return address in Romanian.
6 Rossia Jo al N r 1







-A------ril 1995
wTeA3 CXC fC Af u C5M CCT n








"["^.HT nFIACK "pc.%- *Me. j I' .


""(,F. LL'k (L ____






__. C- I --...^ ^^^ f








6 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995











... ... .---- -..f l
Aar





a n C o CP 3 lI, CCP'

VOA
P.O.Box 96526 _
''. Washington D.C. 20090
USA



Sergey Rotary
Si Romane str. 4/1,ap.22
1 J :Kischinev,6 Moldova
277005 (ex -SlS)----
1IMmaTf itnReKc npea TNpHTH ca3H uMCTa Ha3Ha4Hn .. "

Figure 6. 6.50-ruble registered letter rate for Moldova.





OP. '. '.V JON -K. "t ul:
O>

JN 021 JA4't 1
(5 p2[jy !-'i -








------ -Lk -2

y/ ...s..... /eA6Ce2



'^/I LwiC k LIII-=/
iHumWTe NHa eKc panpeanpWra cCash mecra Ha3NwaeMH n --

Figure 7. 2.50-ruble airmail letter rate from Bobruisk, Belarus including 2.00-ruble Taxe Pergue handstamp.

Rossica Journal Number 124 7
April 1995










iPAR AVION e W

Recommand x






A, IT35 Hj TIPPW
--^ ---- -^- [ / ^g ^^



nfmm uAKc npeAnpu.prn cuan. merTa a3avenu a

Figure 8. 8.50-ruble registered airmail letter rate from Most', Belarus including 8.00-ruble handstamp.








AV AV Ar nT cmr A i-'A 1L40"' [A

V'" .. .- o"f/7A'i>/ Q "
' o"ile





I HtaeKC ,,pefnpMTTHf cEa3kI I a"apec oTnpaBMTefl J
2 /2?013 IL5, /-PY/ J"i
r PPAR AVION/ rL /A-

I- ; 1- I., 5-C-.


IlKUjwHTe KHaeKC npeflDnpHRtTHR C H VeCTa .4a3MAalqeMK

Figure 9. 24-ruble special deliver' (express) airmail letter rate
from Mogilev, Belarus including Soviet stamps and a 21-ruble TP marking.
8 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995
April 1995















ROApycOl OC (, -

180-1978 K0 .fA Cr P

u.sopcVu -
"r NPMA fddox 6s P26




P00,90'r&- S.J
HlneCKCe leCnpc Hlar CBR3I H I apec OTnpaBaHret



--A






to make a 15-kop. domestic rate. The internal rate was supplemented with Soviet stamps.






"*--*- "- '.' 1A i,,Pt I

NCN. -ft W A






20oo Cy/


IHf i pfti IapHHT N (HS1ftl I3 a&pec orIpaommeia
230026
C ... .









H"wnTe HHAKC peAKynpnRa C/RsM MecT/ Ka3/aqeHRf




Rossica Journal Number 124 9
April 1995
April 1995





















H.f.eKc npeenpMHrTnl cBnI3M H afpcc rnpaeHTenR
------- "A



l' i r. .; y \ \ _o
a 45-kop. octagon marking, and a 4.50-ruble handstamp.





HHie c npeAlpfIR ml H a,,AtTMP-npBHTel.















S-.v yP. 'O. 6 ( -a-- .........

31A'' >< b*'*


1^ --
w,3cpcw no v 4ccc-c







Figure 13. Increased registered airmail rate of 17.00 rubles from Svetlogorsk,
including five copies of the 3-ruble Soviet stamp of 1984.
10 Rossica Journal Number 124
OCAril 1995
n04T 3 ccApril 1995



norri~CCCF nrrA CCApril 1995~r












,.%... -3- 1. .5 .- .- .-.,, W


nti T Tp no A" noW A Oa C TA MOcp


,Kyd ANniveRmaR& VOA's do erMPeriTio
Voic.e. oP ALeRicq
P.O. Boy 96526

Komy WQsuINGmto D.C. 20090
UiNtTe> StQ'reT of AMeRicta
HHNcKc penpranpH c&asI as pec oTnpasHrean
S220 005 Be.iaLs
MINtsK-5
iRuMi Tseaq 13 -3G.
:; t.. v-eW..- P:ac S. W e\s-. M CinctpiT csn CCCP. 1991.3. 105870 nnfl ro,.s ?I
nlmlime usee aec npeApNrrl coEM M ecna maI3nMnII


Figure 14. Airmail postcard rate of 1.75 rubles from Minsk, Belarus
with a 5-kop. Soviet postcard and various Soviet stamps.







a ol rrA At

""^: VOA
Kyda ]
P. o. o 9 6 -2 6

wMosCin on pc). m CCCP. 1 .. U. 7
,- r ..o-: I '.
KoIy
IL .' A 1
H.U+Mfc npennpntpen cpMn II OeCa .a.a .,, ka

SveanRoa Lopwe(ovnal


0April 1995e/rv.S
Mwwnc'ep so canss CCCP. 1991. 3. 10o870. nnR ro.xaK. U. 7 x.
lHmuwTe suAc pex npmrsrls cIs meetIa masmaweHu


Figure 15. Increased rate of 3.50 rublesfor an airmail postcard using Soviet stationery and seven stamps.




Rossica Journal Number 124 1
April 1995









Fraud at Nikolaev

by Asdrubal Prado

Dr. Ceresa, in his explanative article about stamp, a sub-type, notice the fleuron at top right
the Money Transfer and Parcel Cards published and the missing leg of the letter "A" in "HOI-TA."
in the British Journal of Russian Philately No. The top-right corner of the frame is smudged and
52, December 1975, states in paragraph 2: the impression in the center is faulty.
I am indebted to Gary Combs and Dave
"... A charge of 2% of the amount sent was levied, Skipton for the vital information provided on this
and stamps of this value were applied to the right item. Their comments and additional observa-
hand panel, and to the back of the card if more room .
was required. (Clerical errors sometimes resulted in tons ar noted 3
only 1/2% being charged.) ." According to the manuscript text, this item
appears to be an early "famine relief surcharge"
The Money Transfer Card (MTC) shown in used before the 31 December 1921 Volga issue.
fig. 4 (reduced) was processed at Nikolaev, The famine in Ukraine was underway even in
Kherson Province, on 15 October 1921. The October 1921.
assessed amount of 1,392 rubles does not con- What we appear to have here is a forged
form to Dr. Ceresa's information! The correct stamp on a cover which was possibly part of a
amount would have been 27 rubles and 84 ko- scam to deny the Postal Department of revenue.
pecks. Yet, there is a 100-ruble stamp affixed to A 100-ruble stamp was affixed and possibly
the MTC. I do not know why the sender agreed to annotated in manuscript to indicate that 7 rubles
pay this inflated charge, but the affixed 100- were set aside for famine relief. Subtracting the
ruble stamp is a FORGERY! required rate of 27 rubles and 84 kopecks left the
Compare the stamp (enlarged) on the MTC, thief with a profit of 65 rubles and 16 kopecks. It
fig. 1, with the reproduction of the stamp in fig. 2, is not clear, however, who the perpetrators or the
where original and forgery are side-by-side as stamp forger were. Can any member add to this
published in Billig's Handbuch. On the MTC subject?




















Figure 1. 100-ruble stamp affixed to the MTC (enlarged).

12 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995



















2







Figure 2. Examples from Billig's Handbuch. Original on the left, forgery on the right.

'iS Y M E H-WL




S.
,N4.



fe t .' ,.. bi4 1 ,ll ,'
'. R *.er s of. T t ( otho



;! :' t. .. ., *' y
*; "* '.. ".-". ".. i '. ,
"* Poc nuc. Pocnuc n ...


e m is a .u t ra a sme ese n

S4 4 .ir.CU c My ri..ip,...iZ ,./ z 4 .-
"":4 --' 2 1. ,
r uir j 1a. I. fl4
.' ^ .... ,, 1 ., \ .,- > *., 1";



S .. .,,,. ;



Figure 3. Reverse side ofMTC. The text after 17nOfIC'b (signature) on the reverse of the cover reads:
IObMHKA T HE-PAMOTHAR, A 3A HEE POCnHCAJICY! (signature)-Dyul'dikat is illiterate, signing for her is
(signature). The name is a guess, but this lady was illiterate and someone else signed for her.

Rossica Journal Number 124 13
April 1995








The overprint is XEPCOHCKOH FYBEPHIH. The The manuscript on the stamp is
"PCOHCKOH FYBEPHIH" (partial P) is stamped "93" probably indicating that 7
and the "XEP" is in manuscript over the coat- rubles were set aside for the
of-arms on the left. starving.










(nfl cy. M / ii K Ii .11101 U v.






ioLp-Hb1A IJ-pecb bu NE
\. I h- .a t "LFr h 'C /





F- r
A,. 'd.- ( 0e. 8n WC



o ,, (t1. filpe r ,,i., a R 11, ;1m M ) .--,







ro
-fflT.' ', ,
KBSJt, OU -0






*^ ''---------- --&m'^ ^7 ~---- rn^.g
......1. l.. r v ... ............. ....-.. --, .

..... .. .. .... ... -, y..- -----.



SK 0h I n t
: H KOnaea,, 1 nanaT


III'aK)4Xh OuMapoKI 0 110i1prUOK-i Ve (I r C


Figure 4. MTC processed at Nikolaev where a forged 100-ruble stamp was affixed.
Text around the periphery was provided by Gary Combs and Dave Skipton.






14 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









Free-Frank Mail in the New Republics


by Paul Burega


With all the fuss about the legitimacy of In addition to government and post office
issues from the new republics formed by the mail, there are examples of military mail, which
breakup of the USSR, there are still many legiti- does not require a franking and bears a military
mate items to collect and questions to be an- cachet reading "Letter of an Active Duty Person
swered. I have been collecting covers of the 15+ Military Service Free-Frank." There
new republics and find there are many interesting appear to be several varieties of this cachet, with
items. What interests me the most are those differences in its size and the mark in the center.
covers which do not require any franking to pass Can any reader shed light on which military
through the post, i.e., free frank. Prior to the personnel are allowed free franking, and under
breakup of the Soviet Union, official mail was what conditions? Are military personnel sta-
sent free frank and postal stationery existed with- tioned outside of the former USSR granted this
out stamp indicia for this purpose. In Canada and privilege? Can anyone provide examples from
the USA, most instances of free franking no military personnel stationed in Africa, Cuba, or
longer exist. With the use of permit and bulk mail Bosnia? These would all be interesting items.
payment, most users of the post are no longer Another group granted free-frank privileges
subsidized. In Canada, the only exception to are Ham Radio operators. I have examples from
paying a postal tariff is mail sent to and from Russia and Ukraine. Is this privilege offered in
federally elected representatives. This correspon- other republics?
dence passes through the post as free-frank mail. The study of free-frank mail of the new
After the breakup of the Soviet Union, I republics is a fascinating area and one in which I
discovered free franking exists in some of the invite further input from the readers. What know-
republics for official government mail, as well as ledge and material do you have which could shed
official post office correspondence. The mark light on this interesting, non-philatelic use of the
"CJYl)KEBHOE" (SLUZhEBNOE-Official) gen- postal service? I would like to gather additional
erally is applied to this type of correspondence, information for a follow-up. Please contact me
These covers are not very common and are diffi- at: Paul Burega, 16 Aldgate Crescent, Nepean,
cult to find. Generally speaking, you cannot find Ontario, Canada K2J 2G4.
them in a dealer's stock. I am not sure why.
Perhaps it is because they have no stamps affixed [Paul opens up a new field of study in this article.
or postal payment markings and as such are Although many collectors claim to understand free-
Sa P t a liti i frank mail, relatively few have volunteered to trans-
thrown away. Perhaps they are legitimate mail .
late official documents on the subject or put their
not created with the collector in mind and, as knowledge to paper. One can assume official mail was
such, very little finds its way to North America. intended to remain in archives. However, given the
[Perhaps they came from archives which were recently chaotic conditions and the need for hard currency,
relieved of their contents-Ed.] these archives are being looted and shipped out of the
I have been fortunate in obtaining govern- republics for sale in the West. This does not mean they
meant and post office aare not collectible, quite the contrary. We should
Document these items for all to read and for future
Latvia, Belarus, and Estonia. Ukraine is the only collectors.-Ed.]
country from which I have an example of a
registered free-frank cover. Does anyone have
examples from the other republics? Other ex-
amples of registered official mail?

Rossica Journal Number 124 15
April 1995











Philatefic Department
LAV ,IlA SERVI :: POSTERS
'--1000, Riga, Latvia























Latvia. "SERVICE DES POSTES" (black) Latvia Post Philatelic Department Riga (purple)
from Latvia 16.12.92 to VILNIUS VPPC 93.01.07 LIETUVA on reverse.






'e ,







yepeHno eXOAMAT s ASCSsKy KpynHe4MUHX
XOMMepMecKMX 6aHKOB POCCHNI
yHMwM6a1s TO yCTrO9aOCTM, Kom
rapanTHSTr .UwTw1 4Tepcos KaJIMHTypbll
Cnpama : r. MotKas, Y. 925 34 62


nfufl- "-



,,nev~c npeanp u M can .B p o I s I
F. -



lHIUnrTe ROeAM, 11pMApmTWri ccTaain< ---MCI W eC1 Ha3I -


Belarus. Official, in purple, from Minsk, Belarus 23.09.93
to Postal Index 317900 Aleksandriya, Kirovogradskaya Obl. 29.09.93.
16 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995







Russia






3AKA3 HOE








KoOy





Sri tiexoD, MoacCOBCpB o0JI.
Iex 810 n.-MoCacaCRItl nowraMW '

fsmWn uaAeEc npo"upnuuri cause meca uNMsaeamr


Russia. Registered, official envelope (preprinted in black) dated 07.9.93, backstamped 08.04.93.






1i.4301
n-...--:. t P *IIil--- -- _ .L__ _























nlmUIre CHAeKC lpenAfPKKTR CBSN3 MeCTS HIauaqenKm


Russia. Official (purple rubber stamp) dated 2 00.8.93, backstamped 2.9.93.


Rossica Journal Number 124 17
April 1995
April 1995









AMETLIK
3-58 Y KE5HBOE




Kyda C-



KoMy

Hxaexc apeanpmlran c Raa3 U anpee ornpSrTnean


MII I IMIM IMIM MilM MMT a I I II


ii i : .. i. i : .:.. .:..... i .
FIamure usexe npeApnputHTHI cassma ecTs HR3Msauewnl


Estonia. Tallinn-38 EESTI dated 03.12.92, backstamped RAASIKU
dated 5.12.92 EESTI AMETLIK in black with the Russian word OFFICIAL added.


nPHEMHA5I HAPOAHOI'O aEnYTATA W9qPflUH/a
TeppuTrpHaabHbifl oKpyr No cA
o ,343913, KpaMTropcK, rcn-2-' /3.7,,
ya. B. XmejbHHIKir oro,.











1HHaeKc npeanpHBT ea CRH3 an lpfr OTnflpaBHT.'a
----------- 3 A.W







fluwsHe HHAEKc npeanpHHTnr CBSIsH MecTa Hna3HSaieh (

Ukraine. From Postal Index 343913 Kramatorsk, Donets Obl. dated 17.12.94 to Donetsk
and backstamped 19.12.94. All information is in black.
18 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995


























Ukraine. From Kiev to Aleksandriya dated 08.06.93, marking in purple with "Ukraine," backstamped 11.06.93.

Nama

















Ukraine. From Postal Index 348000 to Postal Index 362225 and posted aboard the Voroshilovgrad-Kiev Railway
mailcar, marking in purple, Kiev in red. Adversity cover previously used to Postal Index 348022.
Rossica Journal Number 124 19
April 1995
4r'M 1Hii.nlnOB>-M'1 i31it r'afn~
Miic~pCT~ 3BMi~yprtnn_____












Rossic JornlNube 241
April^ 199











AKA3HAk. C::ir>K!A% /--.
BAH..PU/b.MC. |.
JIbBO










i---- .^* ................... :-=-








Registered official marking in purple.



RO TKOBOJIHOBHKCnS.
fepe0 aB)TON -fEa.BE ATHO
(Ilpe XT 33)


....



IEPCJACKALR
KPACHAZ" KO IUKA
oAex f npeaflp)MqCl R-




hu^mog U UA iapew".M Cwu Mea Q 6aqP gma
_______ pip __1_____


Ham Radio. From Postal Index 256400, Kiev Oblast', Ukraine dated 23.09.94,
to Postal Index 255400, Kiev Oblast', Ukraine backstamped 27.09.94.
20 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995















1*1\
"Tr MOW -,vA-ww,a











HKAK npeaAp/aTH te | paeniia
RI -- j --, ,







----H \___O __ ..____

riWTe HnAeiKC penpAptMTHmU Ctes veca HI*atMiN U

Military. From Przheval'sk, Postal Index 722360, Republic of Kirghiz dated 27.01.93, to Minsk, Belarus.
Triangular military marking in black with a filled star in the center.











Kyo a Jou l N r 14






AHAKc pp4pwrTN CS| ril6 Apec Tprmt1995



S-7 *--.- 270098 r. OQecca, 98

Sfl fl ] J BoacKouag zacTh 52921

fnrunwT se HjeKC upeAVpkTHI CIR53 MecTs I*mieam___

Military. From Odessa, Ukraine dated 26.06.93 to Donets.
Ukraine military marking in purple with a hammer and sickle in the center.
Rossica Journal Number 124 21
April 1995









Borovichi Zemstvo Post

by George G. Werbizky

The town of Borovichi lies approximately Connecting the two parts of the town is a
halfway between St. Petersburg and Moscow and unique bridge built in 1905 by the well-known
is connected to the Nikolaevskaya Railway by a Russian engineer and scientist, Nikolai
28-km branch line. Today, Borovichi is the sec- ApollonovichBeleliubski. The bridge is designed
ond largest town in Novgorod Oblast' with a as a bow with the roadway functioning as the
population of approximately 65,000. string and the iron structure as the bow. When
The river Msta, which divides the town into loads are heavy on the road, the bow bends to
two parts, was an important transportation route accommodate the weight, returning to its original
for building materials used during the construc- position when the load lightens. (See fig. 1.)
tion of St. Petersburg. The river was wild and full While visiting Borovichi in the summer of
of white-water rapids. Borovichi river pilots 1994, I had the opportunity to examine the only
became famous for their abilities to navigate the three zemstvo yearly reports remaining in the
river. These navigation skills are reflected in the Regional Studies Museum. Although not a com-
design of the coat-of-arms, which bears a rudder plete picture, these reports provide a glimpse into
on the right half. A sun, symbol of hope and the zemstvo's postal activities. My sincerest
prosperity, is located on the left half. (See fig. 2.) thanks go to two able members of the museum
The Borovichi coat-of-arms is shown on all but staff, Lubov Vassilievna Nikolaeva and Ludmila
one of its zemstvo stamps. Vladimirovna Podobed.



























Figure 1. Borovichi bridge crossing the Msta River.
Picturefrom a brochure by L.. P. Frumkin, which describes the history of the town. (Lehizdat, 1984)
22 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








Chuchin No. I is equally of interest because of
the varieties. (See fig. 4.)
















Figure 2. Borovichi coat-of-arms. Golden sun on blue ,
background on the left, brown rudder on silver back-
ground on the right.
Figure 4. Chuchin No. At top: mint on left, used on piece
Stamps of The Borovichi Zemstvo on right. At bottom: ball missing variety on left, colorshift
variety on right.
The Borovichi zemstvo issued its first stamps
in 1869 and its last in 1911. The Chuchin catalog
lists 12 stamps, the Schmidt 18 which covers
minor varieties. Chuchin No. 4, rated RR, is the
only stamp not to show the coat-of-arms as apart
of the design. This rare stamp came about as a
direct result of postal rate changes and no new
stamps to fill the need. This provisional stamp,
designed by a zemstvo land surveyor named Figure 5. Chuchin No. 2 is unusual because of its shape.
Eduard Daulberg, was manufactured and used
from 10 March to 15 April 1876. The stamp The same stamp as above is shown used on
illustrated in fig. 3 bears a characteristic pen cover in fig. 6. The cover is addressed "Along the
cancel "H" which appears on other stamps as Tikhvin route, to Yavich Volost' Administration,
well. Volost' Elder." On the reverse side of fig. 6 the
following message was penned:

IJa "(To) Yavich Volost Elder

S/I I have the honor to inform you that I received your
communication No. 77, dated 19 March, containing
icuI *12 rubles in cash as a poll-tax payment.

,, Landowner Efrem Myakinin
Figure 3. Rare Chuchin No. 4 stamp. Two types of "3er Er
24 March 1873"
exist; the "3" on the right is hand drawn.





Rossica Journal Number 124 23
April 1995






























Figure front. Folded letter with Chuchin No. 2 hand cancelled.





























Figure 6 back. Acknowledging receipt of poll-tax.
f24 Rossica Journal Number 124









Figure 6 back. Acknowledging receipt ofApril 1995llt.



























Chuchin No. 8 was printed in sheets which
contain horizontal and vertical t8te-b8che pairs.
Figure 8 illustrates these pairs. Figure 9 illus-
trates a strip imperforate vertically.
F____ igure 7.-- Figure 8b. Chuchin No. 8,
Sh-l vertical t&te-beche pair.






Figure 8a. Chuchin No. 8, horizontal tete-beche pair.












Figure 9. Chuchin No. 8, imperforate vertically.









Figure 10. Chuchin No. 12, imperforate vertically.




Rossica Journal Number 124 25
April 1995









The Yearly Zemstvo Reports



Lo CTo -T-1 u)



















Figure II. Postal routes of the Borovichi zemstvo
A 'LV&Lot. B r /




SA VSe lp Z CL *.a






Figure IL Postal routes oftee Borovichi zemstvo


Most collectors are familiar with the terms
Length
guberniya and uezd-province and district. When Route in vests Da Mail Transported
studying postal history, and especially zemstvo Ustuzenski 80 Moay M Thursday
Ustuzenski 88.0 Monday & Thursday
postal history, we need to have a thorough under- Tikhvin 80.0 Tuesday & Friday
standing of the administrative divisions of the Sominsk 101.0 Monday & Thursday
European portion of the Russian Empire. The Torbinsk 27.0 ---
Arakuchevsk 7.5 --
following list includes the basic administrative Vyshnevolotsk 60.0 Saturday
sections from the top down: Valdai 5.0 ---
"* Province-ry6epHTI, guberniya 1 verst = 0.67 miles
"* District-ye3na, uezd Table I. 1904 routes and schedules.
Several villages-BonocTb, volost'
Village with a church-ce.no, selo
Village without a church-aepeBH5, Type of Correspondence Number of Pieces
derevnya
Money letters 607, total value
Yearly reports found in the museum are for of 28,907.63 rubles
the years 1904, 1908, and 1913. The following Government articles 32,882
tables present relative information found in these
reports. Tables I-VI present information for the Books and packages 1,221
years 1904 and 1908. Newspapers and 73,112
In Borovichi District (uezd) there were 24 printed matter
zemstvo postal stations which had 165 horses
assigned. The 1904 upkeep of these stations Ordinary 52,301
correspondence
amounted to 22, 539.90 rubles. At the turn of the cren nc
century, one US dollar equaled two rubles. Free Table II. Incoming mai (1904).
26 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









Type of Correspondence Number of Pieces transportation by horse and cart was provided to
district police inspectors, police officers, nurses,
Paid 2,924 examining magistrates, land surveyors, medical

Free frank, based on 4,212 doctors, and zemstvo postmen. Salaries and gen-
20 September 1886 eral supplies for 1906 and 1908 are listed in table
decision of zemstvo V. Tables VI-VIII summarize postal activity for
council 1908.
Table III. Post Office notices (1904). The following is an interesting tidbit from the
1908 report.
"Yakov Yakovlevich Yakov, with 20 years of exem-
plary service on the Tikhvin route will receive a two-
Type of Correspondence Number of Pieces ruble-per-month raise."

Money letters 990, total value
of 10,160.72 rubles Type of Correspondence Number of Pieces

Government articles 21,546 Paid 4,012

Books & packages 128 Free frank, based on 4,523
20 September 1886
Ordinary letters 13,105 decision of zemstvo
council
Table IV. 1904 outgoing mail.
Table VII. Post Office notices (1908).



Category 1906 1908 Type of Correspondence Number of Pieces
Postmaster's salary 483 546 Money letters 1,196, total value
Assistant Postmaster's 180 180 of 14,757.93 rubles
salary
Postmen 844 842 Government articles 29,767
Office supplies 80 -
Printing 96 -- Books & packages 187
Wrapping paper -- 80
Table V. 1906 and 1908 Ordinary letters 12,722
postal expenses in rubles. Table VIII. 1908 outgoing mail.



The yearly report for 1913 was a significant
Type of Correspondence Number of Pieces find in that it is the first official document to

Money letters 861, total value reveal the exact date the Borovichi zemstvo post
of 16,366.12 rubles ceased operations. The following is a quote from
this report:
Government articles 33,666

Books and packages 1,045 "Effective 1 August, with the opening of the last
required [state] post office, the zemstvo post will
Newspapers and 56,651 cease to exist. The zemstvo Post Office Department
printed matter also will close. The Manager [of the department] of
45 years [probably the year it was established] A. S.
Ordinary 56,777 Afonasiev, Postman I. V. Shulgin with 25 years of
correspond e service starting from 1888, and Ivan V. Makarov
Table VI. Incoming mail (1908). starting from 1904 are without jobs [due to the clos-
ings].


Rossica Journal Number 124 27
April 1995








In light of the significant growth of zemstvo'official "terra incognita" about which information relat-
correspondence over the last few years-in 1912 ing to the manner, scope, and type of postal
there were 5,601 incoming and 8,876 outgoing docu-
ments, averaging 43 dispatches per day-help is operations could not be found until recently.
required. N. Gavrilov, Assistant Postmaster, will re- Many articles have been published on the zemstvo
main employed at 15 rubles per month to handle these post, but few give details about the actual opera-
dispatches. Afonasiev will remain employed. Shulgin tions-sometimes we can not see beyond the
will be paid a lump sum amounting to one year's stamp.
salary, 240 rubles, and released. Makarov will be
reassigned." References:
References:
S, 1. Borovichi Zemstvo Yearly Reports for 1904,
Yearly zemstvo reports, as a general rule, ,
1908, and 1913.(LIOK rlAlabI BOPOBHqECKOIH
contain a lot of information about postal activi- 1 a 13. ( A
3EMCKOH YnPABbl).
ties. Although Lenin began systematically de-
2. Werbizky, G. G. "Zemstvo Post Office Op-
stroying the zemstvo organizations immediately ., G "
after the November 1917 coup, an occasional erations at the Turn of the Century," Rossica
after the November 1917 coup, an occasional
No. 120, April 1993.
yearly report can be found in museums in Belarus, N ri 1 .
3. Volkogohov, D. "Lenin," Novosti Press, Mos-
Russia, and Ukraine. I suspect there are some of
Sr i p h a cow, 1994. Translated and published in En-
these reports in private hands as well. .
th t h n glish by Free Press, Division of Simon and
I urge my fellow zemstvo collectors to search sh ree re, D n of S n
Schuster, New York, 1994.
for and publish this information. This is truly a


Moscow, The 1st State Town-Post Branch Office

by Gary Combs

Prior to the newly released book by Manfred mark was used on money correspondence and
Dobin (see review section for details), a rather gives it a rarity value of "4" (10 is the highest).
elusive mark lay dormant in my Moscow collec- The mark illustrated below is on a stamped,
tion. Two other similar marks were known to me; embossed envelope of the second issue from the
one from the 1st office dated 1857 and one from end of 1848, narrow tail variety. It measures
the 2nd office dated 1844. At first I speculated 21 x 3 mm and does not contain the "-FO" ad-
these were the two sections of the Town Post, but jectival ending. What appears to be either the
abandoned that theory because the mark from the remnants of a rectangle around the mark or a
2nd office predated its establishment, worn mark which was pressed very hard and ink
Mr. Dobin provides 12 hand-drawn illustra- from the edges of the device itself were partially
tions and 16 descriptions from the 1st, 2nd, 4th, printed. Mr. Dobin does not list any boxed ex-
and 5th offices, and one which is probably from amples. The mark is dated 8 March 1855.
the 3rd office although no number is present.'He Does any member have other marks from any
lists only one mark from the 1st. The example of these offices?
illustrated is a 3-line postmark in Russian from
1858 only measuring 17 x 3 mm. He states the --L-f- e,


MOCKBA
I-ro OTAtI.IA Map a% 1SA6 rAn. <
1858 r. Io j .-i-

1st office mark from Dobin's book. 1st office mark from my collection.
28 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








Before Beyond Bryansk

by Dave Skipton

The German advance in WWI played havoc chief of the postal branch office in the settlement of
with more than just the Russian mail; it displaced Golina, Konim District, Kalisz Province. Our Man-
postal personnel and gobbled up large numbers ager stated that we mustn't even think about remu-
neration from the Excise Department for the postal
of post offices along with much of their equip- officials' losses. At present the Excise Department
ment. This 15 October 1914 postcard from has absolutely no money at its disposal, in view of the
Smolensk was addressed to Ol'ga Ivanovna cessation of commerce in strong drinks. (To be con-
Smirnova at Petrograd' s Vasil'evskii Ostrov, and tinued on postcard #3.)"
attests to the beginning of postal woes (not to
mention the sobering misfortune facing those The sender of this report might have wished
fond of hard liquor!) for a strong drink himself, as the addressee
couldn't be found by Searcher #24 in the Petrograd
"#2. Several postal officials have been ordered to Inquiry Bureau after the card was rerouted to a
draw up lists of property they lost as a result of the different location on Vasil'evskii Ostrov. Has
evacuation from enemy-occupied areas. One such anyone card #1 or #3?
list, for instance, has already been compiled by the




ff *5XE4tl iBCEMIPHblfl nI lTOBhlll COR)3'b POCCIH
.&R I UNIONN POSTAL UNIVERSELLE RUSS!E.
OqUTOBAq KAPTOIKA CARTE PO


Rossica Journal Number 121 29













-October 1993 .. 3- -










October 1993
October 1993









Chechnya


by George Shaw

Grozny and Chechnya have been front-page Year's Eve. Finally, the 70-kopeck stamp at
news as 1994 turns into 1995. The Russian sup- right depicts the flag of the republic.
pression of the independence movement has been In addition, there have been several issues of
bloody as well as prolonged. This area, along local overprints. These are similar to the ones I
with many of the other autonomous republics in described in Rossica 123 for various autonomous
the Russian Federation, has been active philateli- republics and other areas. The illustrated cover
cally since it declared its independence in 1992. includes apair of 1-kopeck Soviet stamps (1988
Figure 1 shows a strip of five designs issued by series) surcharged 300 rubles. It is further over-
the Chechen Republic in 1992 or.1993. The 300- printed "Chechnya" and "Postage" as well as
kopeck stamp at the extreme left shows Sheik depicting a bird. The "C" of "Chechnya" also
Mansur (1760-1794), one of the heroes before contains a five-pointed star indicating the Mos-
the initial Russian occupation early in the 19th lem religion of the Chechen people. Interest-
century. The 700-kopeck stamp next to the one ingly, the postmark from Grozny-10 still uses
just described illustrates Dzhokhar Dudaev, a the Checheno-Ingush ASSR nomenclature from
former Soviet Air Force General and President of the Soviet period. Chechnya and Ingushetia split
the Chechen Republic during the independence in 1992, forming separate autonomous republics.
period. The 500-kopeck stamp in the center Figure 2 illustrates an envelope which was sent
illustrates Imam Shamil' (1797-1871), an impor- from Grozny on 10 December 1993 and
tant figure in the resistance struggle to the 19th- backstamped atNemencine, Lithuania on 7 Janu-
century integration of the Caucases into Russia. ary 1994.
The 30-kopeck stamp to its right depicts the [There is and will be controversy about the validity
Presidential Palace of the Chechen Republic, the of stamps coming from the independent states. The
stamps of Chechnya also fall into this category-
building that was the focal point of the three-stamps of Chehnya also fall into this ategory-
week Russian attack on Grozny starting New Ed.





II IRI II
6:



~. ...~.. .. ,,r:,>..-A >,-, .II' '. o = 0 -<.II C-o -<









[ ,SCw?' j- "-.
.*^- '1; '. '' "' ;." C, _l -_sH C-
17t0 LULLX Wlt IAJ I M I -1 I


Figure 1. Strip of five designs issued by the Chechen Republic in 1992 or 1993.
30 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995






















KyoaP V

















p.^- x /z/
Kofiy


HlIsrKV fIpe)wIP14RTH" CUHI. A dapeC Tmilpan"Te"15









nNturie IHA eKc npelnpHnTsR CBR3H mecra mHaaeH II --c









:eBanItHH dj)Hn KHHBH3HUBLM iaedgO
jaHHBWHHg
















O Mbacks d at N encI 3 CLC C 1i. 1(lw ) 99
Ros10..89s. i9055. lcaa (i nmI maJournl N r 14
/April T1995
"* ~. ;.;i.-BM'U ll.-?,." HmOioPOALHME nmC6
n I n r B I! 'I < t ', .A F R f C M t H 4 0
MIt.r. o -.. O .. PIm'eMO aF K f r -n at.




Figure 2. Envelope sentfrom Grozny on 10 December 1993 (upper) and
backstamped at Nemencine, Lithuania (lower) on 7 January 1994.

Rossica Journal Number 124 31
April 1995









Non-Railway "Vokzal" Postmarks


By P. E. Robinson

In the article "Which Came First, the Circle is not illustrated, the type number is replaced by
or the Oval" (Ref. 1) I outlined some observa- an 'x.' The other postmark details also are given
tions regarding postmarks inscribed VOKZAL as in the book, that is, in seven columns: the
or some variant of this, which were used at post reference number, the serial letter or number (if
offices situated at or near railway stations, but any), the inscription of the postmark, the diam-
were offices controlled by the ordinary Postal eter in millimeters, the earliest and latest dates
Department, rather than the Railway Post Ad- recorded and finally the valuation rating. For the
ministration. The non-railway status of these postmarks listed here, a valuation of 'C' means
offices is given in official post- office lists, and from 6 sterling for a good strike on cover, 'D' is
with a few exceptions their postmarks are circu- from 10 and 'E' is from 20.
lar, rather than oval. They generally conform to The 101 postmarks listed here should, ac-
the types normally used at non-railway offices. cording to the normal practice, all be circular,
Some large stations, such as Vil'na and Kiev, except for the two "to pay" marks. In fact, eight
had both railway and n6n-railway post offices, postmarks do not fit the pattern, being oval in
this distinction being reflected in their respective shape: two STRYeTENSK/VOKZAL marks, two
postmarks. In other cases, such as Khar'kov, an SAMARKAND/VOKZAL marks, one TULA/
office changed its status from railway to non- VOKZAL, and three KHAR'KOV/VOKZAL
railway, this change also being shown by post- marks. The office at Stryetensk was a Railway
marks dating from before and after the change in Postal Branch Office until November 1913, when
status. In a few cases, especially after 1916, the it was transferred to the ordinary Postal Depart-
postmarks are oval, perhaps suggesting a change ment. The two postmarks may perhaps date from
in the way in which post offices were organized before this time, and remained in use instead of
towards the end of the Imperial era. being replaced. Of the other six postmarks, all
The conclusions set down in the above-men- except the Samarkand marks are dated from
tioned article were based on observations made 1916, when it seems that the distinction between
when gathering postmark data for the book Rus- railway and non-railway VOKZAL marks dis-
sian Railway Postmarks (Ref. 2) and previous appeared, or some other change took place. The
works by such authors as Dr. N. Luchnik (Ref. 3). Samarkand marks are earlier; perhaps the oval
Although, strictly speaking, these postmarks shape was a mistake made by the postmarkmanu-
are outside the scope of Russian Railway Post- facturer, or maybe the mistake lies in the 1916
marks, a few examples were illustrated and ex- post office list where the Samarkand station
plained in the book, and a two-page listing of the office is shown as having non-railway status
postmarks was added as an appendix. Since then, "BOK3aJrb (n.o.)." Alternatively, there may be
some more postmarks have come to light, arid it some other explanation. A Khar'kov mark dating
seemed worthwhile to give a more detailed, illus- from 1920 has been recorded which is of the
treated listing here. Soviet type, using the post-1918 orthography
The list of post offices in the original article without the hard sign '"b."
is repeated in Table I, with additions, and with Although the details given in official post
numbers allocated to them in a series beginning office lists included the designation "CT." indi-
with V1. As in Russian Railway Postmarks, the rating that the offices were situated at railway
post office's number is used as a prefix to the type stations, these are non-railway offices. Post-
number for each postmark, and when a postmark marks from many of these offices are indistin-

32 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995










Office Designation Province or Oblast'

V1 AAxHKa6yjnb CT. (n.T.K.) Baku
V2 AKcraq(a CT. (n.T.K.) Elisavetpol'
V3 AneKcaHApoBb-norpaHH'mHwI CT. (n.T.K.) Warsaw
V4 Ama-BanamoBCKaS CT. (n.T.O.) Ufa
V5 BoroTo.j-BOK3aab n.o. later n.T.o. Tomsk
Renamed BoroTomrb-roponb
in June 1912
V6 BpiHHCKb M.-K.-B. CT. (II.T..-BOK3.) Orel
V7 BepxoBbe CT. (II.T.K.) Tula
V8 BHnbHa BOK3ajrb (n.T.K.) Vil'na
V9 BonoqHCKb nocen. (npHBOK3. n.T.K.) Volynsk
V10 rop)KOBHurL CT. (n.o.) Petrokov
V11 rpHMHHO-BOK3aaib nocen. (n.T.K.) Ekaterinoslav
V12 43eraMb CT. (n.o.) Elisavetpol'
V13 IonHHCKai CT. (n.T.K.) Kherson
V14 EInHCaBeTInob CT. (II.T.K.) Elisavetpol'
V15 3ajrtcbe CT. (n.T.o.) Vil'na
V16 3HaMeHKa CT. (I.T.K.) Smolensk
V17 3oM6KOBNHU CT. (n.T.o.) Petrokov
V18 HInoafcKanx CT. (n.T.O.) Donskaya
V19 HHHOKeHTbeBCKaR CT. (n.T.K.) Amur
V20 KaJIEbm-BOK3arb CT. (n.T.K.) Kalish
V21 KaHaTOBa CT. (n.o.) Kherson
V22 KieBb-BOK3anb ? Kiev
V23 KJoMHH1n CT. (n.o.) Petrokov
V24 KropaaMHpl CT. (n.T.K.) Baku
V25 KoHOTon CT. (BOK3. n.T.O.) Chernigov
V26 JleBHaKaR CT. (n.T.o.) Grodno
V27 Jlo6OTHHb CT. (n.T.K.) Khafkov
V28 .LnKl1 CT. (n.T.O.) Elisavetpol'
V29 MocKBa-BHHoaBCKaH CT. (ropoAcK. N 41 n.T.o.) Moscow
V30 MypaBbeBO CT. (n.T.K.) Kovno
V31 HHKonaeBb-BOK3ajb CT. (n.T.K.) Kherson
V32 OjIHTa BOK3aJh I .T.O. (not in 1916 P.O. list) Suvalki
V33 OpeH6yprb CT. (n.o.) Orenburg
V34 Opma BOK3. noceA. (n.T.K.) Mogilev
V35 HeTponaBJnoBCKb npHBOK3. nocej. (n.o.) Akmolinsk
V36 lnoJraBa-BOK3aJb CT. (n.T.o.) Poltava
V37 Pa3AntJbHar CT. (n.T.K.) Kherson
V38 PRXCKI n.o. "Ha CT. PaxKCKb" Ryazan'
V39 Carmpu CT. (n.T.O.) Baku
V40 CaMapKatHb BOK3aJb (n.o.) Samarkand
V41 CMoproHb BOK3. (n.T.O.) Vil'na
V42 Coni CT. (n.T.o.) Vil'na
V43 CTptTeHCKb-BOK3ajIb CT. (n.o. npOCT. H 3aK.) Zabaikal
V44 Tyance-BoK3ajb (n.o.) Chernomorsk
V45 Tyna-BOK3arb (n.o.) Tula
V46 XapbKOBb-BOK3aJrb CT. (n.T.K.) Kharkov
Status changed from Zh.D.P.O.
between December 1901 and
July 1903
V47 XpyiteBo CT. (n.T.o.) Vil'na
V48 4qejniqHHCKb npHBoK3aJibHnfi noCei. (n.T.o.) Orenburg
V49 laxTaXTbI CT. (n.T.o.) Erivan'

Table I. Non-Railway Post Offices Situated At or Near Stations


guishable from those of other non-railway of- many of the postmark drawings. There must be
fices, such as the postmarks from Adzhikabul, more postmarks of these types to be recorded,
Akstafa, etc., which can be found in P. T. also it is quite likely that the list of post offices is
Ashford's books (Ref. 4). not complete. I would be grateful for any addi-
Iam indebtedto my friends Norman Banfield, tional information on postmarks or any other
Eric Peel, Bart Samyn, and Leonard Tann for aspect of this subject, which will be acknowl-
postmark data, and to Anatoly Kiryushkin for edged by letter, and in any future article or book.
Rossica Journal Number 124 33
April 1995









References: 3. Kiryushkin, A.V. and P. E. Robinson. "Rus-
1. Robinson, P. E. "Which Came First, the Circle sian Railway Postmarks," J. Barefoot Ltd.,
or the Oval," Rossica Journal No. 121, pp. 1994.
42-46. 4. Ashford, P. T. "Imperial Russian Stamps Used
2. Luchnik,Dr.N."Zheleznodorozhnayapochta in Transcaucasia," Parts 6-8, British Society
Rossii," SovietskiiKollektsionerNo. 11, 1974. of Russian Philately, 1983-85.










V5.1 V5.2 V6.1
V5.1 BOGOTOLVOKZAL 30 1.9.09 6.2.10 D
V5.2 a BOGOTOL PRIVOKZAL'NII 25 29.3.12 D
V6.1 a BRYANSK M.K.V. Zh.D. 28 10.9.11 11.4.16 D





,19-05 7 211



V8.1 V8.2 V8.2 V8.2

V8.1 3 VIL'NO-VOKZAL/POChT.TEL.KONT. 28 1.3.05 E
V8.x a VIL'NA-VOKZAL 29 23.4.10 C
V8.x b(1) VIL'NA-VOKZAL (space for date 6 mm wide) 28 15.8.07 C
V8.x b(2) VIL'NA-VOKZAL (space for date 9 mm wide) 28 8.10.13 29.11.13 C
V8.2 v(1) VIL'NA-VOKZAL 28 7.11.10 C
V8.2 v(2) VIL'NA VOKZAL 28 9.9.13 C


(a8)d 6 1 ^ E3 p 80 8








V8.2 g VIL'NA-VOKZAL 28 27.8.08 21.10.09 C
V8.2 d(1) VILNA-VOKZAL (space for date 7 mm wide) 29 29.2.08 C
V8.x d(2) VIL'NA-VOKZAL (space for date 9 mm wide) 28 15.10.14 C
V8.x e(1) VIL'NA-VOKZAL (space for date 6.5 mm wide) 29 28.11.10 2.5.14 C
V8.x e(2) VIL'NA VOKZAL (space for date is 8 mm wide) 29 2.5.14 24.12.14 C
V8.2 zh VIL'NA-VOKZAL 29.5 23.11.08 1.7.10 C
V8.x z(1) VIL'NA-VOKZAL (space for date 6.5 mm wide) 29 27.3.09 C
V8.x z(2) VIL'NA VOKZAL (space for date 8 mm wide) 28 6.7.15 C
V8.2 i(1) VIL'NA-VOKZAL 29.5 3.4.12 C

34 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995














-. .. .L. .. 4
A4- -..3 /0
7W *10"1 e' 5'



V8.2 V8.2 V8.2
V8.2 i(2) VIL'NA-VOKZAL with pins 29 26.5.10 21.6.14 C
V8.2 k VIL'NA-VOKZAL with pins 28 19.8.12 C
V8.2 yu VIL'NA-VOKZAL with pins 28 24.5.13 C
V9.1 b VOLOCHISK VOKZ. VOL. with pins 32 24.7.13 C



b ,4 Y% 8O




V9.1 V9.1 V9.1

V9.1 v VOLOCHISK VOKZ. VOL. 28.5 7.6.15 3.9.23 D
V9.1 d VOLOCHISK VOKZ. VOL. 28 1915 D
V9.x i VOLOCHISK VOKZ. VOL. 28 3.3.15 D
V11.x b GRISHINO VOKZ. EKATERINOSL. 24.5 28.3.13 D

V14.x ? (ELISAV)ETPOL' VOKZ. P. ... 27 ? E




616151L 9 711.11




V14.2 V14.2 V14.2
V14.2 a(1) ELISAVETPOL VOKZ. 28.5 6.4.11 23.5.15 E
V14.2 a(2) ELISAVETPOL' VOKZAL 29 18.6.15 --.7.17 E
V120.x A(1) KALISH/AVETPOLVOKZAL 25 1.114.08 D












V20.1 A(2) KALISH/VOKZAL 28 24.10.11 16.7.13 D
V14.X b(2) ELISAVETPOL'VOKZAL (larger lettering) 25 15.3.23 E









V14.2 V14-2 V20.2




V20.2 v KALISH VOKZ. 30 25.4.12 D

Rossica Journal Number 124 35
April 1995










10-60k so*00804,


rWr 8 16)g! t3(Y0 6 23jgl 2



V2.1 22.1 V22.1 V22.1 V2
V22.1 a KIEV-VOKZAL 27.5 28.12.16 31.8.23 D
V22.1 b KIEV-VOKZAL 28 24.12.16 D
V22.1 v KIEV-VOKZAL 27.5 30.6.23 D
V22.x zh KIEV-VOKZAL 28 1922 D
V22.1 k KIEV-VOKZAL 27.5 6.4.25 D












V25.1 v KONOTOP-VOKZAL ChERN. 28 30.1.12 19.11.13 D
V25.2 g KONOTOP VOKZ. ChERN. 27.5 20.5.16 D
V31.1 a NIKOLAEV-VOKZAL KhER. 28 31.5.08 8.9.16 E
V31.x ? NIKOLAEV-VOKZAL KhER. 25 ? E









V32.1 2 OLITA VOKZAL 26 25.8.07 E
SUVAL(K. G.)/POChT.TEL.OTD.
V34.1 v ORSHA VOKZAL 26 24.8.10 8.4.13 D
V34.1 g ORSHA VOKZAL 28 20.3.12 14.5.23 D
V325.1 V35.2 V36.1 V34.1 36.2 V3.2
V32.1 1 POLTAVA VOKZAL 28 25.8.10.03 D

V34.1 v ORSHA VOKZAL 26 24.8.10 8.4.13 D
V34.1 g POLRSHA VOKZTAVSK. G./POChT. OTD.28 20.3.12 14.5.23 D
V34.x d ORSHA VOKZAL 28 30.4.13 D
V34.2 b OLRSHA VOKZAL 2 27.5 2.11.09 E
V35.1 a PETROPAVLOVSK PRIVOKZ AKM 29 11613 29118 D




c22 4 1oA ril 19952



V35.1 V35.2 V36.1 V136.2 V36.2

V35.2 b PETROPAVLOVSK-PRIVOKZ. AKM. 29 28.1.18 D
V36.1 1 POLTAVA VOKZAL 28 8.10.03 D
POLTAVSK. G./POChT. OTD.
V36.2 a POLTAVA VOKZAL 30 20.8.15 D
V36.2 b POLTAVA VOKZAL 24 12.12.10 D

36 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995

















V40.1 V41.1 V41.2
V38.x a RYaZhSK RYaZ. NA VOKZALE 28 11.1.17 D
V38.x b RYaZhSK RYaZ. NA VOKZALE 28.5 19.7.18 D
V40.1 a SAMARKAND/VOKZAL 30 X 27 7.1.13 6.2.15 E
V40.x b SAMARKAND/VOKZAL ? 2.3.15 E
V41.1 b SMORGON' VOKZ. VIL. 26 31.12.13 --.12.14 D
V41.2 ? SMORGON'-VOKZAL VIL. 30 4.11.13 D







sOKJ^7 \o8w t
V43.1 V43.2 V44.1
V43.1 a STRYeTENSK/VOKZ. "b" 30.5 X 27 7.2.07 14.5.12 D
V43.2 a STRYeTENSK/VOKZ. "2" 30.5 X 26 11.5.15 D
V44.1 a TUAPSE ChERNOM. VOKZAL 29 1.8.15 3.10.16 E





13 1,u14 18ii6)- ) (*(m=)

V41 .2 SV. 3 D

V45.1 V45.1 V45.3

V45.1 a TULA VOKZAL 28 13.1.14 4.11.15 D
V45.1 b TULA VOKZAL 28 26.5.10 18.1.16 D
V45.x v TULA VOKZAL 28 13.7.20 D
V45.x b TULA/VOKZAL 28 1.11.15 D
V45.3 a TULA/VOKZAL 29 X 26 10.7.17 3.8.17 D












V46.1 3 KhAR'KOV VOKZAL/POChT.TEL.KONT. 29 16.9.07 D
~TE OKS


V46.1 4 KhAR'KOV VOKZAL/POChT.TEL.KONT. 29 28.10.06 DV46.2
V46.x 5 KhAR'KOV VOKZAL/POChT.TEL.KONT. 29 12..03 27.1.04 D
V46.x 2 KhAR'KOV VOKZALPOChT.TEL.KONT. 29? 1900s D
V46.1 3 KhAR'KOV VOKZALPOChT.TEL.KONT. 29 16.9.07 D
V46.1 4 KhAR'KOV VOKZA/POChT.TEL.KONT. 29 28.10.06 D
V46.x 5 KhAR'KOV VOKZALPOChT.TEL.KONT. 29 12.4.05 D
V46.2 a KhAR'KOV/VOKZ. 28 15.8.05 7.3.06 C
Rossica Journal Number 124 37
April 1995













30 5 1 229 14 -29O9



V46.3 V46.3 V46.3 V46.3
V46.3 a KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL 27.5 19.4.15 5.11.16 C
V46.3 b(1) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 29 22.9.14 C
V46.x b(2) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 25.5 25.4.18 C
V46.3 v KhAR'KOV VOKZAL 27.5 1.9.08 20.9.09
V46.3 g KhAR'KOV VOKZAL 25 2.9.09 4.11.09 C




/^%^^ <^---^ AQ^S
S-73 14 (i



V46.3 V46.3 V46.3 V46.3
V46.x d(1) KhAR'KOV VOKZAL 24 7.5.08 C
V46.x d(2) KhAR'KOV VOKZAL with fillers 30 24.10.15 C
V46.3 zh (1) KhAR'KOV VOKZAL 29 20.6.17 C
V46.3 zh (2) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 29 7.3.14 8.11.14 C
V46.3 i (1) KhAR'KOV VOKZAL 32 17.6.13 5.2.16 C
V46.3 i (2) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL 30 21.10.20 C
V46.3 i (3) KhAR'KOV VOKZAL with fillers 29 8.1.11 18.5.24 C




= f24 -17ABf,1913. Y -1i115



V46.3 V46.3 V46.3
V46.x L (1) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 29 19.7.13 C
V46.x L (2) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 28 31.12.14 C
V46.3 n (1) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 28 3.7.11 24.8.12 C
V46.3 n (2) KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 32 17.8.13 C
V46.x o KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 26 28.10.13 15.11.13 C
V46.3 P KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL with fillers 26 22.10.13 17.4.19 C



9( 1 79)C 1217)X 18 8 161-- (



V46.4 V46.4 V46.5

V46.4 s KhAR'KOV/VOKZAL 30 X 26 1.9.17 D
V46.x f KhAR'KOV/VOKZAL 31 X 26 1.2.17 27.7.17 D
V46.4 kh KhAR'KOV/VOKZAL 31 X 26 22.6.17 D
V46.5 KhAR'KOV-VOKZAL (Krag machine canc.) 27 --.4.16 13.8.16 D
38 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995













OO2


V34.D1 V45.D1 V46.6
To Pay

V34.D1 DOPLATIT'/ORSHA VOKZAL 32 X 22 13.4.12 E
V45.D1 DOPLATIT'/TULA VOKZAL 26 X 20 26.5.10 E
Soviet Type

V46.6 m KhAR'KOV/VOKZAL (without "b") 29 30.8.20 D

[At the time this issue of the journal went to the printer, the exchange rate was 1 = $1.56-Ed.]




Dr. Heinz von Hungen
1919-1994

Dr. von Hungen was born in Berkeley, CA. he had. However, a second copy of something
He was primarily raised by his grandparents with an interesting postmark or usage was
who taught him the German language and a always preferred to filling holes.
love for their birthplace, Prussia. He was mar- Dr. Von Hungen had a truly outstanding
ried and had a son and a daughter. Following a collection of Imperial Russian stationery, in-
short illness, he passed away on 18 October cluding five different types of the Moscow
1994. envelopes, of which less than a dozen are
Foremost Dr. von Hungen collected Ger- known. He had most items mint and used,
man military material, including uniforms, including the "broad tail" envelopes. His
badges, guns, flags, boots, helmets, etc. He zemstvo stamp collection was very strong,
converted his garage just to house the Imperial while the postal stationery portion, originally
German Army; one bedroom for the navy; and in the Faberg6 collection, was the most com-
another for WWII material. He has a fantastic plete in existence and was used as the basis for
collection and often joked saying he planned to the Higgins and Gage catalog.
open a German military museum and chicken He was always attracted to non-mainstream
diner when he retired. interests that usually later became popular:
His philatelic interests included covers and small countries and Latin America vs USA and
used adhesives from South and Central America, Europe, used stamps vs mint, covers, postal
German military mail, and various other coun- stationery, pre-adhesive covers, etc. He tended
tries and topics. He especially collected the to blaze the trail and had a keen eye and sense
postal stationery of most of the British area and of intrinsic value. While he was a member of
various countries such as Russia, Afghanistan, many philatelic societies, he was the "quiet
Siam, the Old German States, China, and Egypt. collector," but always willing to share his ex-
He liked to buy items that appealed to him traordinary knowledge. He gave talks at many
rather than following a strict wantlist, although different society events. And, he was a real
he did keep track and would try to fill any holes gentleman.

Rossica Journal Number 124 39
April 1995









The 1916-1917 Surcharge on the Arms Stamps


by Leonard Tann

In issue number 120 of the Rossica journal, I abbreviation for kopeck (kop.) on the left and
covered the 1916-1917 surcharge on the right with the new value, 10, in the center. It
Romanov stamps. In this article we will take a measured exactly 14mm from the left edge of the
look at the 1916-1917 surcharge that was applied letter "k" to the period after the letter "p" on the
to the 7- and 14-kop. stamps of the 1909-1917 right. This design worked quite well on the 7-
Arms issue. kop. stamp. The black surcharge, placed over the
In September 1914, just after the outbreak of value tablet across the base of the stamp, reads
the war, postal rates increased for internal mail. "KOP. 10 KOP."
The rate of an inland letter rose from 7-kop. to The 14-kop. was somewhat more difficult,
10-kop and the rate for an internal registered since the "14" was located in all four corners of
letter rose from 14-kop. to 20-kop. While sup- the stamp. The surcharge across the base also did
plies lasted, correspondents used a variety of not show up as well on the dark blue background.
stamps from the Arms and Romanov issues to The 20-kop. surcharge on the 14-kop. stamp
make the new rate. As a result, considerable measures 141/2 mm and the letters are 4mm high.
stocks of the 7- and 14-kop. Arms and Romanov The surcharge reads "K. 20 K."
stamps remained at the State Printing Office In the British Journal of Russian Philately
whilestocksoftheotherdenominationsdwindled. Nos. 51-56, 1975-1979, there is a lively discus-
During 1915-1917, only essential values of the sion between the author and Mssrs. Eric Peel and
Romanov stamps were still in production. Like Howard Weinert on this subject. Mr. Weinert,
any other postal administration, they printed more quoting the Filateliya April 1917 issue, states
than was required and the rate increase had not that 24 million 20-kop. surcharged stamps were
been predicted. issued. There are quotes for the two Romanov
To eliminate the growing stockpile and keep surcharged stamps as well, but nothing is said
up with the demand for stamps at the new rates, about the 10-kop. surcharged stamps. He goes on
a decision was made in 1916 to surcharge the 7- to say the two Romanov surcharged issues and
and 10-kop. stamps, increasing their value to 10- the 20-kop. surcharged Arms issue were re-
and 20-kop., respectively. Perhaps this was more leased during September 1916-January 1917 or
cost effective as supplies were becoming harder even up to March 1917. After the March 1917
to get as the war continued. The decision in- Revolution, the Romanov issues fell out of favor
cluded the postal stationery stocks of letter cards and the remaining stocks were not released.
and envelopes as well. Although copies in the postal establishments
As stated in issue number 120, the Romanov or in people's possession continued to be used
surcharged stamps were released in September- until the stocks were exhausted, in my opinion no
October 1916. Present information indicates the more were issued by the State Printing Office.
surcharged Arms issues were released as fol- Further, Ido not believe the stocks of the 14-kop.
lows: 10-kop. surcharge on the 7-kop. Arms Arms issue were so substantial that they were
issue (blue) in December 1916; 20-kop. on the surcharged and released beyond March 1917,
14-kop. Arms issue (dark blue and rose) in though copies continued to be sold and used for
January 1917. some time afterwards. However, the stocks of the
The surcharge was designed to obliterate the 7-kop. stamps (the basic letter rate since before
old value and indicate the new value as clearly as the turn of the century) were so vast they contin-
possible. The 10-kop. surcharge consisted of the ued to be surcharged and released throughout the

40 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









period of the Provisional Government. There are No. 107, Gibbons No. 170
no means of quantifying the number issued now, a. surcharge inverted, mint and used;
more than three-quarters of a century later, but I b. surcharge misplaced, mint and used;
would hazard a guess that the total number was in c. surcharge offset on the back, mint and
excess of 80 million, eclipsing the 64 million used;.
quoted for the 10-kop. surcharge on the 7-kop. d. surcharge doubled, mint and used;
Nicholas II stamp, e. pair, one without surcharge.
These surcharged stamps and postal station-
ery were supplied to all corners of the empire, 20 kop. on 14-kop. dark blue & rose: Scott No.
including the Grand Duchy of Finland, and are 117, Michel No. 108, Gibbons No. 171
known used across the entire vast spectrum of a. surcharge inverted, mint and used;
Russian postmarks. Although issued to Finland b. surcharge misplaced, mint and used;
as a part of the last official stamp requisition, c. surcharge offset on the back, mint and
there was no shortage of earlier stamps. Thus the used;
use of the surcharged stamps in Finland should d. surcharge showing serious fractures, mint
command some premium over the general rate and used;
for used items. There are examples of philatelic
and actual use of these stamps in Finland. Postal Stationery
Surcharging/overprinting lends itself to the
vagaries of human fallibility, causing misprints, 7-kop. blue envelope, surcharged in each corner
shifts, and similar oddities of which not all can be "10" and with "kop" in the center of the base.
removed before issue. Additionally, it lends it- Two sizes: 146 x 82.5mm; 147 x 122mm.
self to forgery. Skilled forgers can easily fabri-
cate overprints, thereby defrauding postal au- 14-kop. blue envelope of similar sizes as the 7-
thorities. In Rossica No. 120, the Editor suggests kop. surcharged across the base "K. 20 K."
many philatelists regard the shifts and other va-
rieties as "printers' waste." That may indeed 7-kop. blue letter-card, size 142 x 84mm, sur-
be true in some cases. In any printing establish- charged across the base "K. 10 K."
ment there are quantities of misprints and trial
items littered around. In the stamp printing estab-
lishment, these "off cuts" should be destroyed. I Surcharge inverted
am sure at the time of the Revolution many of
these items "exchanged hands for cash." But I
also believe many items were issued and found "-f'
later-real varieties that passed over post office
counters. Of course, stamp collectors were at
work then too, and some varieties used or on m X : 0
cover are purely philatelic. However, I am con- .......* .............
vinced there were genuine varieties postally used
and not created "for favor" or "for cash." These f
genuine varieties are collectible. The tables be-
low list the accepted varieties according to three .' h 3s 1
different catalogs. -

Varieties
Figure 1. Inverted surcharge on loose stamps. 10 kop. on
7-kop. at left, 20 kop. on 14-kop. on right.
10 kop. on 7-kopeck blue: Scott No. 117, Michel

Rossica Journal Number 124 41
April 1995









Surcharge misplaced Postal Stationery

i t rw%,4ran"rvv The 7-kop. blue envelope was issued in two
sizes: 146 x 821/2 mm and 147 x 122 mm. The
indicium was surcharged with a "10" in each
corner obliterating the "7" and the abbreviation
tj "kop." applied in the center at the bottom. The
14-kop. blue envelope was issued in similar
sizes with "K 20 K" applied in the center at the
bottom. The 7-kop. blue letter card measures 142
x 84 mm and is surcharged "K 10 K" across the
bottom only.
Postal stationery of the Arms type, as well as
the Romanov issue, is scarce in mint condition. In
Figure 2. Examples of misplaced surcharges on loose used condition it is not as scarce and highly
stamps. 10 kop. on 7-kop. on top, 20 kop. on 14-kop on desirable. Extra premiums should be applied if
bottom. bearing railway, military, or "mute," postmarks.

Surcharge doubled _--__






Figure 5. Indicia of the 7-kop. letter card (left) and
envelope (right). Note the placement of the "10."
Figure 3. Example of a double 10-kop. surcharge on a
loose 7-kop. stamp. Figure 6 illustrates two used letter cards. My
apology to the owner, but I seem to have mis-
Surcharge offset on the back placed the name. The card on the top was used at
Vitebsk on 28 February 1918 and is augmented
with a 2- and a 3-kop. Arms stamp. The Vitebsk
i! I ""To Pay" mark in the upper left portion of the
', I I card (not visible in the illustration) indicates the
;nolti .o0nol aO Oi1 0n card was underfranked by 20 kop. The card on the
bottom was used in Moscow and bears a machine
S.' ;' postmark of 6 October 1917, the last days of the
{;*i 4f .E Provisional Government. These are very fine
S. items.
a0l .n OalOiJ1I nonOt. .n O A.flon .0 Figure 7 illustrates a cover sent as registered
mail from Moscow to the USA with a block of
S10-kop. surcharged 7-kop. stamps.
Figure 8 illustrates a postcard franked with a
;1J ` 20-kop. surcharged 14-kop. stamp. The card
.e0I.aoiON .nROto.aO .noa Ol.nol .AloO1A.N bears a nice strike of the VOLOGDA *280*
PETROGRAD railway, dated 30 September
Figure 4. Example of an offset 10-kop. surcharge on the 1918.
back of 7-kop. stamps..
42 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995






















2k4



S .4. ,- A -, -0.... ........ -...
: .. .. .
.- .. .. ......... ..... ...........


'*:. -- .. .. ."






...... .... . .
-- -- -7--: C' ;-^yAO


























April 1995
I^..p...... ........ ..'.... .-









S ANQUE INDUSTRIELLE de MOSCOU .-
(CI-DEVANT J. W. JUNKER & C-ie). -

-------------
ur e -S


T 'ho Philadelphia National Bankc


.-' 1 ,3513 Philadelphia
iii'mlmI -----------

U1
-i---------g is^ :







Figure 7. Cover sent as registered mail from Moscow to the USA with a block of 10-kop. surcharged 7-kop. stamps.



IIOT OBA I A-.
S AItT t' )P,
















44 Rossica Journal Number 124
t Ap R UI Iril 1995 A.
Figure 8. Postcardfranked with a 20-kop. surcharged 14-kop. stamp. The card bears a strike of the VOLOGDA *280 *
PETROGRAD railway, dated 30 September 1918.

44 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995




















,,






.. .. ..'-.-. -, '- '


i ... I


Figure 9. Cover franked with a pair of the 10-kop. surcharged 7-kop. Arms stamps. Note the surcharge is inverted.
This is an example of a philatelic item that is also nice to collect. The attached registration receipt indicates it went
through the mail.

Theoretically, both of the surcharged Arms is simple: the stocks were from the various print-
stamps should exist with any conceivable post- ings made between 1911 and 1916. The first
mark or combination of postmarks in use during printing of the 1909 series was exhausted by
this period of time. They are known with Kharbin 1910, requiring additional printing. The 1911
Rail Terminal marks as well as marks of the printing became a continuous printing, though
Chinese Eastern Railway. Copies are known the printings from 1914 show darker colors and
used in Finland. One nice item which appeared in signs of wearing plates.
an auction in 1984 had a strip of five of the 10- Both values were found in some quantity in
kop. surcharged stamps, inverted on piece post- Ukraine and overprinted with various tridents in
marked Arkhangel'sk, 8 September 1917. October 1918. Small quantities of 10-kop. sur-
Most of the varieties need no long-winded charged stamps were used in Estonia and over-
explanation. Suffice it to say that as the sheets of printed "Eesti Post" in May 1919. All genuine
stamps and the plate applying the surcharges examples of these stamps are very scarce. The
drifted apart, each stamp offers a different posi- same 10-kop. surcharged stamps were over-
tion. These shifts are common on the 10-kop. printed with the Transcaucasian Soviet Federa-
surcharge, but are more difficult to find on the tion Star in 1923 and the Armenian "Z" overprint
20-kop. surcharged stamps. of 1919-1920. The 10-kop. surcharged stamps
The blue of the basic 7-kop. stamp varies also have been noted in the 1920s when revalua-
slightly. Far more variety is observed in the 14- tion validated the values to 10 rubles of 1922
kop. stamps. The blue frame varies from a me- currency or 10,000 of 1921 currency, although
dium blue to dark blue and indigo. The center such usage is far from common.
varies from rose-red to a darker red. The reason
Rossica Journal Number 124 45
April 1995









While it would be nice to think collectors initially occurred have survived. The valuation
could discuss an issue of stamps, varieties, and of this variety should rank equally, if not slightly
uses with total detachment and objectivity, inevi- higher, with the double surcharge variety.
tably the question crops up "What's it worth?"
Let us take a look at what three standard catalogs 20-kop. surcharge on 14-kop. blue. Surcharge
(Scott, Michel, Gibbons) hove to say about valu- inverted.
ation. In quoting currency exchanges the follow- ScottNo. 118. Mint only: $50 (33.25,DM84)
ing approximate rate are used: Pound Sterling 1 Michel No. 108. Mint only: DM120 (48,
= US $1.50; 1 = DM2.50 German marks. $72)
Gibbons No. 171. Mint only: 40 ($60,
10-kop. surcharge on 7-kop. blue. Inverted DM100)
surcharge. The inverted surcharge is scarcer than the same
Scott No. 117. Mint & Used: $60 (40, variety on the 10-kop. surcharge. Scott needs to
DM100) upgrade its valuation on this item. This variety
Michel No. 107. Mint only. DM100 (40, should be about 45, $68, DM115.
$60) Valuations for the various shifts and
Gibbons No. 170. Mint andUsed: 35 ($52.50, misalignments depend on the extent of the shift.
DM87.50) Maybe $10/7/DM 18 for a moderate shift, more
There seems to be some general agreement here- for a severe or extreme shift. Nicely used speci-
mint or used approximately $60, 40, DM 100. mens deserve a premium and more if on piece or
cover. Offsets should be valued likewise.
10-kop. surcharge on 7-kop. blue. Surcharge It is a little more difficult to give an idea of
Doubled. valuation for the postal stationery of this sur-
Scott No. 117. Mint: $60 (40, DM100) charged issue. My personal views are as follows:
Michel No. 107. Mint : DM150 (60, $90)
Gibbons No. 170. Not Priced. 10-kop. surcharge on 7-kop. stationery and
The Scott valuation is, in my opinion, low and the letter cards:
Michel price reflects a more accurate valuation. Mint: $35-40, 25-28, DM62-70.
The double surcharge is harder to find than the Used with no noteworthy marks: $25-30,
inverted variety. 17-20, DM42-50.
Premiums to be added for notable marks:
10-kop. pair, one without surcharge. Station or railway marks: +50%.
Military cachets, mute marks: +100%.
This variety is listed only in the Gibbons catalog Used Abroad, steamship marks: +200%.
and is not priced. Neither Scott or Michel list it. Used in Finland: +80%.
Whereas inverted surcharges invariably occurred Used at 1920 revaluation: +150%.
on an entire sheet, it is possible the double sur-
charge may have occurred only to some stamps in 20-kop. surcharge on 14-kop. stationery and
a sheet where part of a sheet became wedged and letter cards:
a second surcharge printed. Regarding the vari- Mint: $45-55, 30, DM75.
ety "pair, one without surcharge," this was usu- Used with no noteworthy marks: $40, 27,
ally the result of misalignment of the sheet too far DM65.
to one side or the other. The margin on one side Premiums for notable postmarks should be added
received the surcharge, while the vertical row of as listed above for the 10-kop. on 7-kop. statio-
stamps on the other side was left untouched, nery.
Thus, this variety would appear on fewer items.
Doubtless, only a small fraction of those that

46 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995






Plate Numbers.
Figure 10 illustrates a number of corer items have been used postally. As Russia tore itself
of the 10-kop. surcharge on 7-kop. Arms stamps, apart in 1917-1921, these were some of the
with the original plate numbers (in blue) and the stamps that did duty in those tempestuous times.
plate number of the overprinting plate (in black). In conclusion, as I usually say, this only
Plate numbers are not observed on the 20-kop. opens the subject. More material needs to surface
surcharged stamp. This is not a complete presen- and more research awaits the collector. What are
station of the numbers/surcharge plate numbers, the different types of postmarks that can be
There must be others, if corner blocks survived, associated with these issues? What are the latest
It would be interesting to see if other collectors dates we can assign? Are there other covers with
have similar items in their collections. 1920 surcharged items which served at 100 times
The four surcharged stamps of 1916-1917 face value? Money order forms? Genuine uses of
were, in effect, the final issues of the Russian Ukrainian Trident overprints, Estonian andTrans-
Empire. The currency tokens were intended to be Caucasian overprints? More examples of the
used as coinage and not stamps, although they postal stationery and letter cards?






2ii



















3



Ap..ril 1995
2.......... .. ......... ...














April 1995









The 15-Kopeck Arms Stamp

With Star Overprint of 1922-23.

by Ray Pietruszka

Long neglected by the major catalogs, the Upon inspection of the stamp, three things
large-size tsarist small-arms 15-1opeck is a are noticeable. With the stamp's larger size, there
stamp that gets no respect. Yet, it was used is less space between stamps on a sheet, 1.5 mm
extensively when the Soviets prepared the RSFSR vs 2.0 mm, Second, the white oval in the center
star overprint issue of 1922-1923. The purpose is both .5 mm wider and taller than the older
of this article is to present the additional varieties version, making the blue coat-of-arms look
of the star overprint issue with the large 15- smaller than in type 1. Last, and the most subtle
kopeck stamp taken into account, difference, the design is cleaner and sharper than
According to Tann in his work on the Arms earlier Soviet and Duma stamps, but not as clean
Issue,' the large 15-kopeck stamp was the prod- as the first 1909 issue. (See fig. 1.)
uct of a new die produced in 1919. The engravers In December 1922, the Soviet government
made it a little larger than the old 15-kopeck issued overprinted stamps of the new 1922 cur-
stamp, which had been in production since 1909. rency. These consisted of several small-arms
The large 15-kopeck stamp, referred to as type 2, stamps of the Tsarist era overprinted with a five-
measures 16.8 mm by 23 mm instead of the older pointed star, the initials for the R.S.F.S.R., and a
type 1 measuring 16.3 mm by 22.5 mm. New new value. One-half of the issue used the 15-
printing plates were prepared and have plate kopeck stamp as its base. The best description of
numbers 6 and 7.2 These stamps were issued both this can be found in A. Rosselevitch's article
perforate, 14 x 14.5, and imperforate. "1922-1923 Surcharges on the Stamps of the
Russian Empire."3 In this work, he identifies the
two types of overprints, lithographed and
typographed, and how to distinguish between
them. These varieties are noted in the Stanley
Gibbons catalog.4
Table I presents all possible varieties of the
15-kopeck stamps and identifies the issues which
the author has found on type 2 stamps, marked
with a "Yes." Based on the evidence at hand, with
the likely exception of the rare imperforate 20-

Perforate Lithographed Typographed

20R/15K ? None Printed
40R/15K Yes Yes
100R/15K ? None Printed
200R/15K Yes ?
Imperforate
20R/15K Unknown None Printed
40R/1 5K Yes ?
100R/15K Yes None Printed
200R/1 5K ? ?
Figure 1. Type 1 at top left, type 2 at top right. Perfo- 20R/1
rate and imperforate type 2 on bottom.
STable I. Varieties of the 15-kop. stamps
and those found on type 2 stamps.
48 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









ruble on 15-kopeck, all other issues marked with References:
a "?" should exist on type 2 basic stamps, but 1. Tann, Rev. L.L. "The Arms Issues of 1902-
have not been observed to date. 1920," The Canadian Society Of Russian
Based on my own collection, I would esti- Philately, 1980.
mate that 10 percent of the late printings of the 2. de Stackelberg, Dr. C. "A New Checklist of
15-kopeck stamps used for overprinting are type the Arms Issues of 1908-1923," Rossica No.
2. Given an estimated issue of over 90 million 58, p. 32.
15-kopeck stamps overprinted for the star issue, 3. Rosselevich, A. "1923-23 Surcharges on the
the type 2 variety is not rare. These type 2 stamps Stamps of the Russian Empire," Russian Phi-
saw extensive use as the covers illustrated in figs. latelist, Russian-American Philatelic Club,
2-3 demonstrate. issues 5-7, 1964-65.
The type 2 15-kopeck small-arms stamps 4. Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue Part 10:
are a major variety and should be listed as such. RUSSIA, 4th ed., Stanley Gibbons Publica-
It was a product of the Soviet government and tions Ltd, 1991, p. 11.
used extensively from 1919 through 1923. There
are a lot more major varieties of early Soviet
stamps than the current catalogs list. This period
is still a fertile area for more research.












"Figure 2. Coverpostedon5April
". 1923, franked with a block offif-
teen type 2 stamps and a gutter
block of four 100-ruble stamps,
making the correct foreign regis-
tered letter rate in use from 10-
31 March 1923. The cover was
posted five days after the rate
period ended.






S..







Rossica Journal Number 124 49
April 1995

















SNom et prdnom .
du destinataire:.. 7.- .

J ,' ,,"'.". I mJprTEO, OM

SLieu de destidt'i F H ( Oncmpf. fpynna).





Figure 3. Star overprint on a type 2 15-kopeck stamp used in conjunction with stamps from the currency reform
definitive issue of 1923. The postcard was originally manufactured in Moscow as a Prisoner of War card.


A Unique? Moscow Oval

by Gary Combs

Prigara illustrates an oval Moscow postmark states, "These postmarks were used on the corre-
m Table IX, no. 15. On page 108 of his translated spondence delivered to the Head Post-Office
work he describes it as a Moscow City Post mark after 2 o'clock p.m. (when the post-office work
on a cover sent to Warsaw. The marks measures time was over)."
28 mm. Recently, I purchased a cut square of this
Manfred Dobin in his newly released book mark that is identical to the two illustrations. It is
illustrates a hand-drawn mark exactly resem- possible this mark came from the cover Prigara
bling the Prigara mark. Mr. Dobin says the mark used for his book. My question is this, why is the
belongs to the "Reception Dispatch of Ordinary same illustration always used to show this mark.
Correspondence." His mark measures 28.5 x Is there but one example or can someone show a
19.5 mm and was in use in 1859 only. Mr. Dobin second example?

pCK 4 OC 8.4

Ajrryclf AB r Y rl88


Prigara illustration shown at 150%. Dobin illustration shown at 150%.
50 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








Warning: Siberian forgeries!


by Ivo Steyn

In recent months three forged items from the cards and a cover, are distinguished by excellent
Civil War in Siberia have turned up, and it is forgeries of Siberian postmarks, and fair forger-
almost certain that more forgeries from the same ies of Siberian overprinted stamps.
source are in circulation. The items, two post-



otsbab
tQbt in tbiiringen. I
"fenbabnlinie:
e- (Ceip3ig)-fiinden.
--biitetifde nitalt --i











lufive simmer von

"-"- terrlic)er parth.
aiete .
".... .. ....... .









eklame. tIenriTn Kituel, Pre.dn. 17


Figure 1. (enlarged and cropped at left to fit) Postcard franked with forged "1917-
1922" overprint in red on genuine 5-kop. Vladivostok Arms and genuine 7-kop.
Chita stamps, cancelled in black with forged Vladivostok "b (Robinson 268.4 b(2))
postmark dated 10-11-22, and addressed to Moscow. The forged card was produced 1917
by taking a genuinely used postcard to Moscow, removing the stamps and the original 7XlI
postmarks (ofwhich the impressions can still be seen on the picture side), and adding
the new stamps and the forged postmark. The original Moscow receiving mark had 1
the wrong date, ofcourse, so a primitive attempt was made to alter its date by painting
in a new date of 20-11-22, and camouflaging this by overstriking it with a third
impression of the forged Vladivostok dispatch mark. At the right is a copy of the
"1917-1922" overprint as illustrated in Scott Catalogue, 1992 edition.



Rossica Journal Number 124 51
April 1995




















,. -
,? ". .^ I-


















Figure 2. (enlarged and cropped at left tofit)Postcardfranked with forged "1917-1922" overprints in red on genuine
4-kop. (two, one with double overprint) and 2-kop. Vladivostok Arms stamps, cancelled in black with forged
Vladivostok "b" (same as item 1) postmark dated 10-11-22, and addressed to Eniseisk. Forged arrival mark Eniseisk
"b" (Robinson 390.3 b) in black, dated 17-11-22. Again made from a genuinely used postcard, and again the
impressions of the original postmark can be seen on the picture side.




The common thread in these three items is the forged Vladivostok "b" postmark. It is an excellent
forgery of a postmark that was widely used during the 1918-1924 period. The strikes of the forged
postmarks are often too good to be true (i.e., not even missing a piece where stamp meets postcard),
and the lettering differs from that in the genuine postmark in several respects (no specifics are given
to avoid enlightening the forger). The forger has made other mistakes as well: none of the three items
is franked at the correct rate, and the two postcards suggest short travel times that would have been
difficult to attain in pre-Revolutionary times, let alone in the chaos of the immediate post-Civil-War
period.
The forgeries were produced in Russia. It is certain that the forger's activities were not limited
to Civil War Siberia.




52 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995
April 1995











TOBAPHIWECTBO HA flAHX'b j
BHYTPEHHEIR BUbB03HO8 TOPrOMiN I
UWA MRI TOBAPAMI -







"B'L IIPABAJEHIE


T-sa AAHHJI 0BOKOf M-pHB















Figure 3. Cover franked with forged Nikolaevsk-na-Amurye (NNA) overprints on 1-kop., 2-kop., 5-kop., I-rub.,
3.50-rub. imperforate and 15-kop., 20-kop., 35-kop., 50-kop., 70-kop., 1-rub., and 5-rub. perforate, cancelled with
forged Vladivostok "b" (same as above) dated 10-7-21. Addressed locally, forged Vladivostok "a" postmark (no
known Robinson type) dated 11-7-21 on reverse. This forged cover cunningly avoids having the NNA stamps cancelled
with a Nikolaevsk postmark (the literature states that this postmark had been lost) but having the stamps cancelled in
Vladivostok at the time they were (allegedly) issued in Nikolaevsk is rather odd.












Forged Vladivostok "a" postmark (no known Robinson type) dated 11-7-21 from reverse offig. 3.







Rossica Journal Number 124 53
April 1995









Not By Beer Alone. Pre-Printed Cards Part II

by Gary A. Combs and George G. Werbizky

In Rossica No. 120 an article appeared titled in-the-blanks to order, or printed message in-
"99 Bottles of Beer." Since that issue of the tended to be sent to many people. In some cases,
journal, Gary has increased his collection of the a blank postcard is handstamped with the re-
printed cards used for ordering beer from quired information and any blanks are filled in by
Moscow's breweries. However, printed or "form" hand. Used form cards offer a wealth of informa-
cards were used for many other functions in tion including postmarks, registration labels, and
Russia from the 1880s. a look at some of the history of Russia, its culture,
In this article we present only a few of the and habits.
many different form cards available in almost The form cards illustrated in this article will
every dealer's box. The use of form cards ranges not be described in depth. A complete article
from notification of the arrival of steamships at could be written about many of them. We will
various ports, to ordering books for a library, to point out any salient features we feel are worth
newspaper subscriptions, tickets to an opera, to mentioning. Questions or comments on this topic
notification that a financial transaction has taken are most welcome. Please contact either of us at
place. Form cards can lead to many years of the addresseslistedfortheOfficersoftheSociety
research and an expansive collection. Does any in the journal. If any member would like to head
member have a collection of these cards? up a study group on the topic, please let Gary
Form cards are defined as postcards from any know as soon as possible.
issue which contains a pre-printed address, fill-







ee.54 Rossica Journal Number 12















Postcardfrom the 7th issue of June 1886, sent to the Gustav A. Gaf Company in St. Petersburg on 21 Jurile 1889.
The card informs the company of the arrivaifrom Stettin of the steamship "Arkon in Revel on 21 June 1889.
The sender is the company of Ferster and Rutnan.


54 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








w #t-f326-' n E'_ -''
'St. P't bourg o 17cxt
TE M.
IMPRIMEURS-EDITEURS-LIBRAIRES DE LA COURT I MPERIALE
-- St. Pdtersbourg, Gostino' Dvor, IS.--Tlephone t83o.

S3ARA3HOE OT44-F I4HCIZ
Carte postal rco


-4A JI, LA- c is.rate u



PAHI PABI A

i $




St. Petersbourig, / 90.
OE N CE Oootinol ovor, 8.9
Dt LA POST IMpYtUALt
*3A Monsieur I'Admiuistrateur
LIBRAIRIE 7v /'
DE L CO'L IMPLAtItALI. ............... ................................. .......................................
S"//"
SVeuillez fire servir pour not e compete directemnt sous bande:
... abonnement de..- ... inois du. ....' 190.o. a 190 (dorEnavant ex.).
S. bonnement de........... mois du............ 190....... au.......... 190...... (dordnavant ..ex.).
S...... abonnement doe....... mois du .... 190.4. au.y 190&.. (dorinavant .ex.).
au journal: ..... ................
A I'adresse suivante: Expedition des Gazettes du bureau de post deJ Ut . "Rssie)
"I # Atjf&Z6,?
Veuillez. envoyer la facture par post a notre adsse.
En Vous print de servir cet abonnement bien regulierempnt, nous VolT prd-
sentons nos salutaions empresspes.
/ /76o t/' LIBRAIRIE DE LA SOOIETE M. 0. WOLFF.
X. 4. 2 C
X. 04 lTan. T-BA $1. o. 9on4.h

Registered postcard franked with a 10-kop. stamp of the 1902-1905 issue. This postcard was sent to the head office
of the magazine "The Times-Temps, The Italian Building, Paris, France" on 13/26 December 1905from the Library
of the M.O. Wolff Society. They are requesting subscriptions to the magazine. Notice the word "otkrytoe" has been
crossed out and the word neqa THoe-pechatnoe (printed matter)" stampedat top. The Society was the Printer-Editor-
Librarian of the Imperial Court Library.






Rossica Journal Number 124 55
April 1995








SrI .-Lceo -I flI niCLMn.


VERSICHERUNGS GESELLSCHAFT ,,JAKOR" IN MOSKAU.

A g e n tu r. ..... ........... ........ ... .... ...................... ............

E. W.

Erlaube ich m ir daran zu erinnern, dass der.............................................


der letzte Termin, zur Erneuerung Ihrer Lebens Versicherungs Po-
lic e N ..... ................ ........ ...... ist.

Agent der Gesellschaft
te .... ... 18 ...........

K --- TIolTotHoe Ynuparnet oe VnIM COp nMoa 11VOIMS 11 oGTnXReTn.


Even the Russians could not escape the insurance salesman in the 19th century! This postcard is from the Yakor'
(Anchor) Insurance Company in Moscow. The brief message is "Sir, Please let me remind you that...the last day for
renewal of your life insurance policy No. is.. "




6



Bb FPIl'JIf.C EO.1TbTE,'P1S
SOTaBnEHO H A citizen of St. Petersburg requested arm-chair seats at
n ma '.the Mikhailov Theater for the 29 January 1889 perfor-
S mance. This postcard (reduced) bears two separate
HpccJio PnA,. handstanped information blocks. The citizen is informed
M St pecna/Iri 2 that his reservations have been confined for the perfor-
E5 i'b. CK. No mance and the seating requestforarm chairs. Tickets may
ra epa o be picked up at the box office between 10AM and 4 PM on
"a e cH. the 26th or 27th of January. If not picked up, they will be
made available for everyone. Wonder what performance
this individual went to see? Does any member have infor-
mation on this subject? Seats available at the Mikhailov
:ii.i. u juaaoTCl nB'i.eOrUaoV t were: box, arm chairs, seats behind the arm chairs,
q!'ct' "Le:,., :r*l balcony bench seats, and gallery bench seats.
:t 4 utac. aruja. II ci TOTO cpoE&
neL3a:lTr e 61.1ITIH IlOCTYIU&aTI' I .
cinwylou npoiakiy.-:
CqeTrina



56 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995










KpeMeHyltcko O-so 0-o
BsMnl ar KpeANTa. .............. ................ .. ...


.......................
M.m. r.r. -
no nony'eHiR cero noKopHBfite npocM- Aoo06-
UIHTb HaM-b 0o Cy. 6"h HIHHKaCCO:
...-.I.. ... .. .... ---o The form card to the left was sent from the
T__ M .i.. S. na DR IOHa Kremenchug Mutual Credit Society (similar to a
'- r Federal Credit Union) to the Mutual Credit Society
6 1 4i 1- m ,i j'2, /y in Mezhirech'e, Sedlets Province on 20 May 1911.
According to the text, printed and manuscript, a sum
of 705 rubles representing case number 7268 was
sent on 28 April 1911 and Kremenchug Society
asking ifthe Mezhirech'e Society received the money.



En Roxyme...... o cero a i ueH't smbiKynneM-..
naro on e .............. .... ......... ..................
Ba- ocaHik BI noirTeH. orsTBa. npe6baoae-b
SC cosepLueHHxuM- nowetHieMs
KpeaeHL.rcuoe 06urecrao BsanMar pe















Celaoa t e en dc u omile fiafauy a de d iwuss2i


zemeron e codi/aiemenl pouz 'vole envoi.


SZ .........

.sis/cld ics mines.





Form card sentfrom St. Petersburg to Cambridge, Mass. on 16/27 September 1889. The card is addressed to professor
Jules Marcou and thanks him for sending (literature). The sender is Serge Nikitin, Chief Geologist of the Russian
Geological Committee, Mining Institute.

Rossica Journal Number 124 57
April 1995












ToBS 'ecTBo HH MTTepyprb, Ct3HCHaR, A9.

a- anepOqb. aKaa3H

Hn .Iot'HL /vA Hn y. on.













BaeTCR B% norameuie cy i, cAye-, .x c apeca.
... .. .. .



-






llpouaBeeHlters no a Toft 6aHkepo o a o nAaTet. On acqTte-

.LaeTcast B' noramenie cytMrbe cand yeMx o ck i aepecaTa

5a n yeHHbfp nRossi3 ToJapHmeTB ii journal




S9 1. Anril. 199
Hbi I Kp e l.T1 *- *, .^...



.. A:-,,. 2., ,, .,






This registered wrapper accompanied a publication sent to an individual on credit. The card was posted in St.
Petersburg on 7 February 1911 and bears an arrival mark of Makov, Lomzha Province dated three days later. On the
front of the postcard(at top) is a pink "COD" sticker anda St. Petersburg registration label. The message on the reverse
states the recipient must pay the amount due, three rubles and 19 kopeck, to receive the publication.





58 Rossica Journal Number 124
Anril 1995













SOTKPbITOE I CMG.



.- ... .. ..;... -IlETEP bl YP' .. ..
S ...... ..A A peu....... C .o .. ... ... .






r
"O' n-a-.b. AApecHU ... C .TOAt. ..








-. Ifa BTOr CToponDt po0b nJU1pOc Dn A03BO.AReTea uunero pyraro IIunc.iT.
S'2. loqronooe Yliipn.IeniO sa u.toplKwUUJe nilI'l.M.i In oTnihlrlorh..




Exa-

SreoIRo K BET'






aa. ia. (]t^ ^ ^ ^ J ^ ^./ ^/ .-

AJ naaeeHiea cIlasI[aH l, eulzuuubt cA8iYluli01 CBtHia: 0) UnH, OTIeCTBO I iJJA1is a Ti-
exCinaearo jitna; 6) o qiiuOBHUKa811 ia pss110qUlalX1q--ei l H ahie BllX, hitCTd CyItJeiul u.ll
6TOTHocTb UB OTTausE; B) 0 ryill xl-Ei-yceecEoo nxb A0CTOr1IlCTBOU Ia rluiiAH1, a TatMe ropo-
As, B EOMaXI coc'rocTi n1 icyueqeTiBt; r) o aa1uax 1au IJu l:ubblib [ieMetlCCiCI IIan-iit-mlrId,
rfh 3au8uiauul Uib tiltUICTBO .IH lCl ; A) 0 EpeCThLUIIt811--lili ,I(rpetiu, )f Ira, tluuCTa, te.a
Hal AepeBaul; e) o06i oCTaHTOuxl ya uOdemlbilX B OTilytlb HllBIIUIb IIolll(itBiX 111LIIHalI.--1l-
iie itMneHOBsahie Iuo0a na itau ollAI, BD iOUS0I COCUIOalu us qlcaa uaT I cayI1i u Orcpuilut
ia ysaoeuu, ani BpemelHo; I Z) o06 a locTpaHlaxl-uippunwcejbl BJ HlantiuHab.uIUCTb.
l.,a aToro Oaauia 9 zon., Bw EoropaIxT 8ai1zioqaeTCo ynnal aa
oriTBs T ocnpaEy O.-IleTep6yproaaro AApeouaro Croza.i



Individuals were required to register with the local authorities as they entered or left any locale in Russia. Extensive
books were kept on their location at all times. In Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Warsaw, Address Bureaus could be
contacted to find out the location of a person. Form cards could be purchased for the specific purpose of locating an
individual. The postcard illustrated here is an example of a card sent to the St. Petersburg Address Bureau. Mr.
Kayander is asking where "Avdot'ya Il'inishna Zhdanova, a peasant woman of Tver' Province, Vyshnevolotsk District,
but the volost' and village are unknown. The first cards were issued in 1880. They were no longer used after about 1909.
There are three types of address cards: single card for a request; single card for a reply; and a double for both request
and reply.





Rossica Journal Number 124 59
April 1995











CO HOBwlnbr roAoml% C% HOBBnrb cnaCTLOemb!
Onnellista Uutta-vnottal
3LyckliUt Nytt r!
Glad Nyaar!
Glacdeligt Nytaar!
A happy new year! Perhaps the person who ordered the printing of this
Veel heil en zegen in het nieuwejaar! card, Mr. Otto von Freymann, had friends and
Boldog Iujvet kivanok! acquaintances all over the world. The card, num-
beredNo. 11 and dated 31 December 1891, contains
Onze best zegenwenschein by gegenid van het nieuwjaar! the greeting "Happy New Year" in 17 languages.
the greeting "Happy New Year" in 17 languages.
Nostri sinceri auguri per capo d'anno! This is a splendid way to avoid writer's cramp
GCiii'dti hacht tschoq sise jul jeni bu! during the holidays. Is itpossiblyaforerunnerofthe
Felicitamos para el anno nuevo! commercial greeting cards we use today?
f La multi anYT
Cestitemt n nov let, .Bog te cuval!
Mes meillnors vOeUx i I'occasion dn Donvel al!
Kulng hsi sin tschun!
Gluckliches Neujahr!
9tto X ,01;o tr.yc ann.
Fredrikshawn, 31 December 1891.
S./ //... ......











ao .l e ed, ", /wi




A. Kriegsmann Korkenfabrik.
W Sturtz.






The postcard illustrated here is the reverse of a 5-kop. postcard from the 2nd issue of May 1872. The addressee is
informed that the A. Kriegsmann Cork Factory in Riga received his letter on 9 March 1879.

60 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995










9 OTEPbITOE IIHCO1MO
AiW OTB TA. (

BT rJIABHYIO ROHTOPY


noJlbeCHO raaeTbI ,,KRAJ"

(DO ADMINISTRACJl .K RA JU")).


Bb C.-HeTep6ypr-.







D .. o Administracji ,,Kraju. /

S Upraszam o wysylanie hKrx I w roku 1897
"t ub od .. .. 1897 r. do.. .. ....189
R. "Pieniadze wysylam dnia ........
) Naleinod prosze pobrad za obciqieniem pocztowem (Ha-
N. JIOiieHHhlfi IIa.TemiR).
"5 Adres: Imie i .Nazwisko.................
iU1tzad lub stanowisko......
U r d l b stanow isko" o ........... .....................................
SM iasto lub w ie .. ............ ................................................
5 Stanja pocztow a ...... ......... .............. ..
Pow iat................... .......... g bernia
d ..... ... ..... ....... ....... 18 9 .....1 .. r.
i (podpis).


The language of Russia was Russian, the language of much of the business community was German, the international
language used on correspondence going abroad was French. But how about Polish? The postcard illustrated here is
a domestic reply card from the 10th issue of 1890. This postcard could be used for yearly subscriptions to the Polish
newspaper "Krai-Homeland" whose main office was in St. Petersburg. What was the literate Polish community in St.
Petersburg engaged in?




Rossica Journal Number 124 61
April 1995









More About the OKCA Covers


by A. Epstein

In his recent article (Rossica No 123, Octo- and Yamburg during their first offensive in May-
ber 1994, p. 67) M. Ercolini warns postal history June 1919. The retreating Reds were able to
collectors against covers that are franked with the evacuate some of the larger post offices, includ-
OKCA stamps postmarked with an oval mark of ing those at Gdov and Yamburg, with all their
the Northwest Army Field Post-and-Telegraph assets. Thus, the remaining stocks of postage
Office (NWA FPTO). Those and similar covers stamps in the occupied area were too small to
are rather abundant and frequently offered at satisfy the long-term needs of postal service for
auctions. In this article I would like to shed some the local inhabitants. Additionally, it was neces-
light on the problem concerning the OKCA cov- sary to fill up the army treasury, since in the
ers which are found on the market and in collec- absence of civil administration, the army staff
tions. was forced to take care of the postal and tele-
This article is not a study of the OKCA graphic service for the local population as well.
stamps. In general, I omit the historic back- In short, the purpose of the OKCA stamps was to
ground which has been covered sufficiently and be the same as that of the stamps overprinted
correctly in an article by A. Rosselevich (Rossica "CtB.3AH.APMIH" issued at Pskov at the begin-
No. 55, 1958, p. 26) and in the corresponding ning of August 1919, when the OKCA stamps
parts of Dr. R. Ceresa's handbooks "The Postage had not yet been printed.
Stamps of Russia, 1917-1923" (Parts 1-5, 19- The date when the printing of OKCA stamps
21, 22-24). Therefore, only some necessary in- was ordered should have been in May or June
formation is presented below. 1919. This issue initially had no philatelic ori-
The abbreviation OKCA means gins, although later the stamps were used exten-
OTaltf.bHbIHI (not OCOBblIl) KOPHYC'b sively, mainly by philatelists and dealers.
C1BEPHOH APMIH, "Independent or Detached" The exact date of issue for the OKCA stamps
(not "Special" as it is usually deciphered) Corps is unknown. Some sources give it as 20 August
of the Northern Army. The formations desig- 1919, but the earliest recorded dates for genu-
nated by the Russian forces as "Independent or inely postmarked stamps known to me date from
Detached" were not parts of a larger formation. September 1919. In any case, the OKCA stamps
In this particular case, the army designation in the became, in actuality, the second issue of the
corps name is only a reminder of the corps' Northwestern Army, which by that time had lost
origin; more often this corps was called simply most of the territory it had initially captured. The
the Northern Corps. remaining area where the OKCA stamps could
A set of five stamps was designed and print- be used postally when they were released was
ing ordered at the B. Mand printing works in limited by some 4,000 square miles east of the
Tallinn before the Northern Corps became a part river Narova and Lake Peipus, with the only post
of the reconstituted Northern Army (soon after- office of significance at Gdov. True, during the
wards renamed to the Northwestern Army). This second offensive of the Northwestern Army in
took place before 19 June 1919. The question October-November 1919, a considerable chunk
arises about the purpose of issuing these stamps, of territory up to Ligovo in the vicinity of
since the mail of servicemen was sent free. The Petrograd, along with the towns of Yamburg,
answer is connected with the fact that the OKCA Luga, and Gatchina, once again found itself un-
forces occupied a considerable part of northwest- der the White forces. However, despite some
ern Russia, including the towns of Pskov, Gdov, assertions (e.g., in the journal Die Baltische Phi-

62 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995















A B C D






4^ /^^


E F G
Figure 1. Postmarks observed on OKCA stamps.

latelist Nr. 2/3, 1920, p. 45), there is no postal 5) clearly forged or faked covers with genu-
evidence that the OKCA stamps actually were ine or forged stamps postmarked with
used in this very briefly occupied area--except forged or fantasy postmarks.
maybe Yamburg. The number of stamps issued
(3 million sets) turned out to be too many for It should be noted, however, that in many cases it
actual postal needs. can be hard to distinguish between two adjacent
The OKCA stamps, loose and on covers, are categories-i.e., between 1 and 2 or between 2
found with the postmarks illustrated in fig. 1. The and 3.
postmarks are shown in descending order de- Covers belonging to category 1 are extremely
pending on their prevalence, scarce, with only a few specimens known to date.
All covers with the OKCA stamps can be Good specimens of such covers are illustrated in
divided into the following categories: the aforementioned series by Dr. R. Ceresa. A
1) commercial or private covers which un- considerable number of covers having the post-
doubtedly had passed through the post mark "Polna" (fig. Ic) should be assigned either
without any philatelic influence; to category 1 or 2, although covers from catego-
2) covers mailed by stamp dealers or philat- ries 3 and 4 exist as well.
elists through the post offices; There is significant evidence that "Polna"
3) covers addressed to stamp dealers, franked date stamps were actually used by the post office
with genuine stamps and postmarked with at Gdov, a small town on the eastern shore of
genuine devices, which probably did not Lake Peipus which, after Pskov was abandoned
pass through the post in the normal way, to the Red Army on 26 August, became the center
while supplied with genuine "arrival" of the Russian territory still occupied by the
postmarks; Northwestern Army. Gdov was connected with
4) covers franked with genuine stamps and Narva, a town in Estonia with a railway along
postmarked by genuine devices, which which TPO No. 353-354 ran carrying mail to and
were initially not addressed; a part of from Estonia.
them was later inscribed with addresses A cover with a "Polna" postmark dated 3-
and some were supplied with forged "ar- 10-19 is illustrated in fig. 2. The cover is franked
rival" postmarks; with a complete set of five OKCA stamps amount-
Rossica Journal Number 124 63
April 1995









a ,...k7.2./. ; .

1.: .^ **-; *fS-^ 1



J.



S. ,- .r :,. .... .. :- .--.._ ....,













Figure 2. Cover with "Polna" postmark dated 3.10.19

ing to 1 ruble, the rate for a registered letter in the with Pskov as a terminal-was used only to fix
area and the period under consideration. There is the date of posting the letter.
an arrival mark of Tallinn dated 7.10.19 made by Its counterpart, the date stamp of TPO No.
a genuine device, a manuscript "183" registra- 125 (fig. ld) is found only on loose copies of the
tion mark, and the name of the town where the OKCA stamps or faked covers belonging to
cover was supposedly mailed; Gdov also is category 5 with dates (e.g., June 1919), which,
present. This typical cover, which should be for the most part, do not conform to the actual
assigned to category 3, will be discussed in more period of use of the OKCA stamps. V. Hurt & E.
detail later. Ojaste in their Estonia Philately and Postal His-
The cover illustrated in fig. 3 was registered tory Handbook (1986) and Dr. R. Ceresa in his
at TPO No. 354, as the manuscript marking series treat this postmark as a fantasy, first of all,
indicates. This cover, discussed in my article in because of its unusual design (the text is in the
the Post Rider (No. 28, June 1991, p. 37), shows new Soviet orthography, etc.). However, the
an auxiliary use of an oval TPO postmark (fig. aforementioned postmark of TPO No. 354, when
1g). Although recorded during the Soviet period genuinely used, has a similar appearance, which
in the first half of 1919 (at least, No. 354) and then points to the beginning of 1919 as the time of
much later in 1922-1923, it would appear the manufacture (probably locally at Pskov) for all of
postmarking devices for TPO Nos. 353 and 354, these devices. In my opinion, the majority of
Narva-Pskov and vice versa, were missing in the impressions of the postmark in fig. 1 d were made
territory under the jurisdiction of the Northwest- after the fact by means of a genuine postmarking
ern Army, probably because they were taken device for TPO No. 125, which had fallen into the
away by the Soviets. The use of a similar date hands ofaprivate person, although legal usage of
stamp from TPO No. 126, Pernov-Pskov- also this device cannot be excluded as well.
64 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995













'4
^ ^ ^ 1 1,, ;" Z : ,/ "' 2"; \ . :..-o, '







X.Ap
.. i --I -.





-I t

... ......

':., ^ -. *I- .. .. . -

., ,, .J-. -J AJ




Figure 3. Cover registered at TPO No. 354, illustrating an auxiliary use of an oval TPO postmark (fig. g).


The postmark of Moloskovitsy (fig. la), in Since there are no eyewitnesses among us
addition to the one in fig. Ib, is among the most and all controversial evidence from old-time
frequently found marks, both on loose stamps collectors is, at best, second-hand information, it
and covers. Hurt & Ojaste state in their handbook is impossible to judge exactly what happened. It
(p. 225) that "Genuine cancellations exist from seems, however, very likely that the postmarking
Polna and Moloskovitsy." Although this is true device under consideration remained somewhere
for the "Polna" postmark, not a single cover with among the Northwestern Army staff members
a "Moloskovitsy" postmark that can be assigned and was used by one of them rather than by an
to category 1 or 2 is known to me. The dates most Estonian or Latvian stamp dealer (as was sus-
frequently found on the OKCA stamps marked at pected) for canceling-to-order stamps in sheets
"Polna" are 11.9.19 and 9.11.19. and fabricating postally-used covers.
Moloskovitsy, a village and railway station Covers exist franked with OKCA stamps and
on the Narva-Petrograd line, was captured on 12 a Moloskovitsy postmark which are addressed to
October by the Northwestern Army during its dealers in Estonia and Latvia, as well as a lot of
second offensive and lost again to the Reds on 7 unaddressed covers with stamps postmarked on
November 1919. Therefore, it is hardly possible them. Some of the latter were then supplied with
that any stamps were actually postmarked at fake addresses and forged arrival postmarks, see
Moloskovitsy. In my opinion, the Moloskovitsy fig. 4.
postmarking device was removed when aban- The postmark of Yamburg (fig. le) is found
doing this locality after the failure of the first only on loose stamps. Dr. R. Ceresa considers
Northwestern Army (or OKCA) offensive in this postmark a fantasy as well, again because of
June-July 1919. the unusual pattern to the wording. This opinion

"Rossica Journal Number 124 65
April 1995



















l -c .- /









/ i













Figure 4. Cover franked with OKCA stamps and a Moloskovitsy postmark supplied with a fake addresses and
forged arrival postmarks. Front of cover on the top, forged arrival marks from the reverse side on the bottom.

cannot be refuted without finding a genuinely At last, the most controversial oval postmark
used cover (category I or 2). One should not, of the NWA FPTO (fig. lb) needs to be examined.
however, exclude completely the possibility that The criticism of a cover with this postmark by M.
this date stamp actually was manufactured lo- Ercolini is based on statements of the late A.
cally for postal use, since all the assets of the Rosselevich (Russian Philatelist No. 3, 1963, p.
Yamburg post office, like those of Gdov, were 3) that the fantasy (according to Rosselevich)
taken away by the Reds during their flight from oval date postmark was allegedly fabricated by
the advancing OKCA troops in May 1919. the authors from a forged type of the NWA
Postmarks from Zadvor'e (fig. If) can also be overprint in Estonia to postmark the forgeries
found on loose OKCA stamps. Covers belonging and, therefore, make it easier to sell their material
to category 3 may exist as well, since stamps abroad, and there never existed a postal wagon at
having the NWA overprint are known (see fig. 5). the NWA where such an FPTO was ostensibly
It appears that this postmark is similar to that of located. However, let us look at the facts.
Moloskovitsy relative to its status and destiny of Documents of the Estonian Main Postal Ad-
never being used during the period under consid- ministration found in the Estonian State Ar-
eration at the post office of its origin, chives at Tallinn (fund 54, inventory 4, file 27,
66 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995





















;I. ft.,W ag














Figure 5. Cover bearing stamp with the NWA overprint with postmark from Zadvor'e (fig. If).

items 42-44, 48 & 73; fund 1D119-478, file 5, a later date. However, the FPTO had to have a
item 946) clearly indicate that a field post-and- device for postmarking the mail it handled, and
telegraph office of the NWA existed. The office the oval one is the only specimen of that kind
functioned from about 10 July 1919 until 10 known to us. The oval form may be explained
January 1920 and was located not in a postal simply by a guess that a useless device of some
wagon, but in a building in what is now a town, TPO was re-engraved creating the FPTO device.
but then was a part of Narva on the right bank of Of course, forgeries of this postmark do exist and
the river Narova, which was under Estonian that is quite another matter.
administration. This FPTO was established to There are covers with the OKCA- or NWA-
handle postal communications between military stamps postmarked by this date stamp, which can
staffs, institutions, and individuals of the NWA. undoubtedly be assigned to category 2 (maybe,
Shortly thereafter, it became a sorting point for even 1). However, there is an important feature of
the mail coming from those areas occupied by the such covers. For example, the catalog of the 1-2
NWA. Additionally, it handled mail to and from August 1990 Cherrystone auction describes a
Estonia, exchanging with the Estonian post- registered cover with a pair of the 50-kop. OKCA
and-telegraph office at Narva. stamps (i.e., franked 1 ruble, which conforms to
According to documentation, from at least the corresponding rate) postmarked by this oval
the beginning of August 1919 the FPTO had no postmark dated 28.9.19. The cover addressed to
device for marking postal items. This does not Tallinn, Estonia also is franked with Estonian
mean, however, that one was not manufactured at stamps for a total of 65 sents (the current rate for
Rossica Journal Number 124 67
April 1995







registered letters in Estonia) postmarked at the though the addressee on the cover in fig. 2 is
state post office at Narva on 24 September. There different, they all belong, nevertheless, to the
are also hand stamped registration markings of same family of covers called Sturm's covers.
the NWA FPTO and the Estonian post office. It remains now to determine the true origin of
Such duplication has an explanation. The the Sturm covers. It seems evident that they did
OKCA stamps, as well as any other foreign not pass through the post in the normal way. The
stamps, had no franking value in the territory of Sturm covers postmarked with the oval FPTO
the Republic of Estonia, a sovereign state with its postmark have no additional Estonian franking,
own postal system and administration. The Main which they would have if registered legally. The
Postal Administration of Estonia gave its consent "registration marking" consists only of a hand-
for the functioning of the NWA FPTO at Narva, written ordinal number and (the covers with the
an Estonian town, on the condition that the FPTO "Polna" postmark) the town name, Gdov. We
would handle only the army mail or, at least, know the NWA FPTO had a registration cachet
would accept private postal items only if franked and the postal clerks at Gdov designed an "R-
with Estonian stamps at the corresponding rate. marking" by hand (see the two covers depicted
Information found in the Estonian State Archive by R. Ceresa in parts 19-21 of his series).
at Tallinn states that, besides unspecified Rus- The covers were not manufactured by the
sian stamps, stamps of Estonia also were sold dealer himself either at the proper time (when the
over the counter at the NWA FPTO. At best, datestamps were at the corresponding post of-
items mailed at the FPTO and franked with the fices) or at a later date with antedated postmarks.
OKCA or NWA stamps could be delivered only Why write "Gdov" instead of "Polna" on the
to localities within the area occupied by the covers with the "Polna" postmark, which would
NWA-i.e., to Gdov or Yamburg. Genuine cov- be much more convincing, or bother indicating
ers may exist, but none have been found to date. another postal address on the covers postmarked
In light of the above, let us now turn to the FPTO at later dates, if the covers were no more
cover depicted in the Ercolini article and to than products of the stamp dealer?
similar items. The cover is addressed to Mr. F. Taking into consideration all the available
Sturm, a well-known stamp dealer in Tallinn of facts and circumstances, it is most probable that
that time (his guarantee signs on the back of Sturm's covers were actually produced by an
stamps with the NWA-overprint still rank among individual or individuals in the NWA staff at the
the most reliable), whose office was located at dealer's request. The technology of producing
the end of November 1919 at 2 Bol'shaya and delivering the covers to Tallinn, where an-
Mikhailovskaya (Suur Karja) Street. A great other corrupt postal clerk applied arrival post-
number of similar covers franked with sets of marks to the covers closing the chain arranged
OKCA stamps used as singles, pairs, or blocks of ahead of time is not essential. The covers could
four with various dates of postmarking are known either be carried by the producer or his assistant
to exist. For example, the cover shown in fig. 6 is or a dealer's agent in person or, maybe, delivered
postmarked 21.10.19, a month earlier. Note the in packages sent through the Estonian post. Any-
address: 2 Bol'shaya Rosenkrantskaya (now way, they are purely philatelic products, some
Roosikrantsi) Street. Mr. Sturm had moved to type of souvenirs made at the proper time with
another place in the meantime [or the name of the genuine stamps and postmarking devices. In some
street had changed-Ed.]. way they are similar to modern "first-day" or
If we compare both covers, the one in the "special occasion" covers. Therefore, they should
Ercolini article and the one in fig. 6 with the one be neither under- or overestimated, as is done by
in fig. 2, we note that all were written by the same M. Ercolini and the auctioneers, respectively.
hand and two of them have the same address as It should be stressed, however, that the OKCA
the cover in fig. 5 with the NWA stamps. Al- stamps postmarked NWA FPTO, even on cat-

68 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995

















/j k /Z#1u'V e-T s













Figure 6.



egory 1 or 2 covers, have only a decorative individuals after disbandment of the Northwest-
function, since such covers had to be franked in ern Army. Additionally, there are covers franked
any case with Estonian stamps and postmarked at with genuine or forged OKCA stamps bearing
the Narva state post office to be delivered to the postmarks applied by forged FPTO postmarking
addressees. devices-clearly category-5 covers. All that is,
Of course, the FPTO and other postmarking however, quite another story.
devices might be used illegally later by private


[Mr. Epstein also wishes to point out an error in his article in issue No. 123 of the journal. On page 32, the left-
hand column under Dvinsk Military District, the wording should be changed to reflect the following: instead of
"502 to 504-Taps" the text should read "502 to 504-Veisenshtein, 509 to 510-Taps." This was an oversight in
his article-Ed.]












Rossica Journal Number 124 69
April 1995









Once Again On Ordinary Paper

by N. Petrov
translated by Dave Skipton (from
"Filateliya SSSR" #7, 1989, p.42)

Beginningin 1973,USSRstampswereprinted souvenir sheets, the upper right corer of the
only on chalky paper. The exception to this was frame of each stamp has no breaks (Type 2). The
a portion of the 12th Standard Issue and the small difference is easily seen in the illustration from
souvenir sheets (4x2) of the 5-kop. "Red Death Filateliya on the bottom..
Cap" (SFA #5725 [Scott #5455]) and the 15-kop. These postage stamps of the general issue
"Bitter Mushroom" (SFA #5727 [Scott #5457]), and their varieties can be classified as follows:
which were printed on ordinary offset paper.
Unlike the miniatures issued on chalky, lumines- #5725 5-kop.: "Red Death Cap," Type 1.
cent paper, these do not luminesce under ultra- I. Type 2.
violet light. There is nothing in the annual USSR IA. On ordinary paper.
Catalog of Postage Stamps on these varieties.
In addition, the 5-kop. "Red Death Cap" #5727 15-kop.: "Bitter Mushroom."
regular stamp has one other interesting feature A. On ordinary paper.
that distinguishes it from the stamps in the small
souvenir sheet. In 6x6 sheets, the upper right In the notes, as usual, the difference between
corner of the frame has breaks between the dots #5725 Type 1 and Type 2 would have to be
and lines (Type 1). On the stamps of the small mentioned.









Si rlAineii'~ w ,.\ I ,'/l_ ,"_'_ _

Left, 5-kop. "Red Death Cap," Scott No. 5455; Right, 15-kop. "Bitter Mushroom," Scott No. 5457.












Filateliya illustration showing two different corners.

70 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








When Does Common Become Scarcer?


by Melvin Kessler

An ordinary cancellation? Tchilinghirian and T&S and Robinson illustrate eight different
Stephen (T&S)1 rated it common and Robinson cancellations, slightly different in letters and
in his 1986 edition of Siberia Postmarks .. rated numerals, but having the same serial letters.
it moderately high, an "E." In his second edition Have fewer examples surfaced since T&S wrote
of 1990, he rated it as an "F."2 about the marks of route 264 thus commanding a
The postcard itself, made in Japan and show- higher rating by Robinson?
ing five Japanese women in an idyllic garden,
caught my eye, as did the cancellation of origin. References:
The card is addressed to Madame S.P. Rosenberg 1. Tchilighirian, S.D. and W.S.E. Stephen.
in Yur'ev, Liflyand Province-now Tartu, Esto- Stamps of the Russian Empire Used Abroad,
nia. The 3-kop. stamp is canceled with a double published by the British Society of Russian
oval TPO mark "Vladivostok 264 Kharbin" dated Philately, Part V, 1959, pp. 471-2.
25-9-15, serial letter "zh," T&S sub-type 2H. 2. Robinson, P.E. SiberiaPostmarks andPostal
The Yur'ev arrival mark is dated 10-10-15, indi- History of the Russian Empire Period, 1st
rating 15 days' transit time on the Chinese East- Edition 1986, p. 147. Second Edition 1990, p.
ern and TransSiberian Railways. Apparently, the 175.
cover was not delayed because of the war.




J U "' Carte postal 7:rTstkir- Poqt Card
'a& ^.t H -rt p" iFI h-1,ll r L. ; i .rt i r L VI i




i "2 ,. ,t/- ... /- ......












Postcard canceled with a double oval TPO mark "Vladivostok 264 Kharbin"
dated 25-9-15, serial letter "zh," T&S sub-type 2H.



Rossica Journal Number 124 71
April 1995
April 1995








Life of the Society

by David M. Skipton

Another three-year term has begun, with a dissemination of information is the primary pur-
new slate of officers. Since that term began on 1 pose of this Society. Right now, we have an
January 1995, it seems appropriate in the New updated Voikhansky Azerbaidjan handbook that
Year's tradition to look both back and forward. is nearing completion, thanks to the tremendous
Something rather astounding happened dur- efforts of George Shaw. Then there's the
ing the elections over the summer-a bit more Blekhman Tannu Tuva handbook, on the transla-
than 140 members exercised their vote, about tion of which Dick Dallair had been doing an
41% of the Society. Given past elections, where excellent job, but could not continue do to out-
70-80 members would cast a ballot, this is a side demands on his time-any volunteers?. The
tremendous increase in participation. We had first supplement to the Rossica Library Subject
lively contests for the offices of Vice-President, Index is well underway, and there are some
Auditor, and the Members of the Board of Direc- monographs in progress that may become Ros-
tors. This is a very encouraging sign, and my sica publications. Publishing all of this will take
thanks to those who took the time and trouble to money, and right now the Rossica Treasury is in
vote, regardless of for whom: no shape for a major endeavor all by itself. Thus,
Sincere thanks and appreciation are also due "Plank 2."
to our past President, Adolph Ackerman. Two With more members, we increase our dues
noteworthy innovations introduced during his base, and that can be plowed into books, the
tenure were the Rossica Award and the Rossica Journal, and monographs. (Dues have held steady
President's Award, and I would like to continue at $20 since the mid-'80s, and that's where I'd
them. Underhis leadership, the membership rolls like to see them stay.) Mike Carson's efforts in
of the Society swelled to their highest level since advertising our presence to APS members last
Rossica's Shanghai days in the early '40s. term brought in a substantial number to our
The retiring slate of officers can also be proud ranks, and he has graciously consented to head up
of their service to the Society. In many ways, we another recruiting drive this year. Rossica will
are at our healthiest: a first-rate journal and an also show the flag at some major national and
outstanding bulletin, both of which are reaching international shows over the next three years, so
the members on a regular basis; a burgeoning with your help, we should attract more members.
number of contacts with other Russian philatelic Adding some "pink" to the cheeks of the
societies; a library expanding in all directions; an Rossica Treasury can be achieved with sales of
excellent fund of Rossica publications in hand; the books listed above and increased member-
two handbooks in the works, and over 370 mem- ship. The short-term reduction in costs for back
bers. issues of the Journal has been very successful,
Looking ahead, here's my "platform" for the and with this issue of Rossica we introduce the
next three years. There are only three major "Three-Package Deals" for the Society's fund of
planks: non-Journal publications. (See page 76 for de-
tails.) Costs keep going up for postage, paper,
I) Publish, publish, publish, printer cartridges, and the like, so to keep dues at
2) Increase membership to 400+. their present level, we're going to try a few
3) Improve the health of the Treasury. things.

All of these planks are interdependent, but I put
publications at the head of the list because.the
72 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








Finally, this term is only three months old, Member-to-Member Adlets
but already we have a goodly number of volun-
teers helping out. In alphabetical order, they are: Rossica cannot assume any liability for trans-
actions resulting from member responses to adlets
Steve Alushin, who has taken on the burden nor get involved with mediating disputes. Mem-
of storing the Society's stock of bers are cautioned to be fair in offering and in
Bazileviches, Philatelist's Guides, responding. Any material considered to be of
Prigaras, Reverse Sorts and Subject In- value by the sender sent through the mails should
dexes, and taking care of the mailing be insured or registered for your own protection.
chores when orders come in. Steve has The regulations and prices are as follows:
also volunteered to coordinate the Balti- Member adlets are free with the follow-
more-Washington Chapter's activities, ing limitations: they must not exceed 480
Mike Carson, who graciously consented to characters. A character is defined as a
head up the society's recruiting drive this letter, number, space, or punctuation
year. mark. The member's name and address
Dick Dallair, already mentioned above, has are NOT included in this 480-character
no doubt ruined the early days of his limitation.
retirement in Alabama working on the For adlets that exceed the 480-character
edit of the Blekhman Tannu Tuva trans- limitation, the price is 10 cents per word,
lation. no matter how long the word may be.
Ged Seiflow, with continued computer sup- Each adlet must include the name and
port on the Library Subject Index. address of the member placing the ad.
George Shalimoff, who continues to produce No dealer ads will be accepted as adlets.
a first-class RossicaBulletin twice a year. The journal makes other provisions for
George Shaw, still cleaning out the Stables strictly commercial advertisements.
on the Voikhansky Azerbaidjan project Adlet service is available to Rossica
in between numerous business trips, and members only.
still serving on the Journal's Editorial All adlets exceeding the 480-character
Board. limitation must be accompanied by a
Howard Weinert, serving on the Editorial check for the correct amount made out to
Board and helping with some of the ar- the Rossica Society.
tide-rewrite and historical research Adlets for the April journal must reach
chores. the Editor by 15 February.
Dave White, deep into a massive translation Adlets for the October journal must reach
project on the serialized catalog in the Editor by 15 August.
"Filateliya." Mail all adlets and checks to:

Then there are the unsung heroes of the local Rossica
chapters: Midwest ChapterNewslettereditorTom c/o Gary A. Combs
Chastang and coordinator Jim Mazepa, and North- 8241 Chalet Court
ern California Newsletter "Ne Chitat Pisma" Millersville MD 21108
editor Mike Renfro. USA
The Rossica Society would be a dull place
without these guys, so if you should bump into W: MW cs pr
Wanted: MOSCOW cancellations prior to
one of them, give him a kind word of thanks.
hey deserve it. 1918 for research article. On cover, loose stamps
or CSQ. Send xerox or photo. Gary Combs, 8241
Chalet Ct., Millersville MD 21108, USA.
Rossica Journal Number 124 73
April 1995








FOR SALE: Illustrated Briefmarken Journals Expertization
from 1889 to 1899 (10 vols.). 1891 and 1897
have torn pages. Edges of spines worn, otherwise One of the privileges of membership in Ros-
goodcondition.US $20each.MargaretHudspith, sica is one free expertization per membership
Rt. 1 Box 69, Hardy AR 72542, USA. year. Policy on these free expertizations is as
follows:
WANTED! Russian ship mail, especially from
the Baltic Sea area. All materials of interest. Also Only one free expertization per mem-
Russian stamps used in Finland on cover and bership year.
card. Cash payment. Martin Holmsten, PB 432, The privilege must be used during the
FIN-65101, Vasa Finland. membership year. It cannot be accu-
mulated. The service was begun in the
Wanted: OSTARBEITER MAIL. Dur- 1978 membership year, and prior mem-
ing WWII, the Nazis used workers from the bership in the Society has no bearing.
SovietUnion and called them OSTARBEITERS- The item must be submitted on an offi-
Eastern Workers. I will gladly buy covers, post- cial expertization form available from
cards, Ostarbeiter cloth patches, or related mate- Gary Combs or to be determined.
rial. Send offer (with photocopy or preferably a Return postage must be included.
photo) to: George G. Werbizky, 409 Jones Road, Only one item per expertization form.
Vestal NY 13850-3246, USA.
IN LIGHT OF THE FACT THE CHAIR-
Wanted: Romanov stamps and stationery used I I T OE CA
MAN OF OUR COMMITTEE PASSED
in 1913, also covers with cancels that include A A I RIC E T P
AWAY, THIS SERVICE WILL BE TEMPO-
posthorns, except Moscow. Please contact M. RARY DISCONTINUED UNTIL A NEW
Ercolini, Box 778, Daly City CA 94017, USA. CHAIRMAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.
CHAIRMAN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.

INFORMATION SOUGHT about current MEMBERS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED
whereabouts of strip of 3 essays for an unissued ITEMS FOR EXPERTIZATION AND HAVE
7-kop. stamp in the Vladivostok set. Last seen in NOT RECEIVED AN ANSWER ARE RE-
Chenakalo collection and Robson Lowe auction QUESTED TO SEND PERTINENT
in London. Please contact I.J. Steyn, Postbus INFORMATION INCLUDING ANY PHO-
16636, 1001 RC Amsterdam, The Netherlands. TO COPIES TO THE PRESIDENT. WE ARE
WORKING WITH MRS. TORREY TO LO-
WANTED: Covers prior to the opening of the CATE AND RETURN ITEMS SUBMITTED.
NikolaevskRailway (1851). Buy/sell/trade. Con- WE REQUEST YOUR PATIENCE AND
tact Hans Kupec, Jurastr. 30, D-93161 Sinzing 3, UNDERSTANDING DURING THIS PER-
Germany. IOD OF TIME.

U m








74 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995








Membership Status

Our membership now stands at 340-18 new 1555 Dr. William C. Stoten
tentative members since the October Journal! 2A Birkbeck Road
The new applicants are heartily welcomed and, if Enfield, Middlesex
you happen to live near one, personally welcome EN2 ODX
that person to our favorite hobby. England
Please review the list of names. If for any 1556 Ihor V. Rudyk
reason you feel that an individual should not be P.O. Box 22103
granted full membership, please write the Trea- Bankers Hall
surer with your reasons. If no negative comments Calgary, Alta T2P 4JS
are received on the individuals listed below by Canada
31 July 1995, they will be granted full member- 1557 Carl F. Cerco
ship status. P.O. Box 1316
Clinton MS 39060-1316
The new applicants are:
USA
1548 Leif Shepherd 1558 Bernard J. Edwards
260 E. Flamingo #309 1331 South Wind Drive
Las Vegas NV 89109 Northbrook IL 60062
USA USA
1549 Michael Hancock 1559 Oleg Kushelev
5 Heath Road 2348 80 St., #3R
Kennebunk ME 04043 Brooklyn NY 11214
USA USA
1550 Henry Antanaitis 1560 Edward D. Paule
4 Robert Street 1102 Delmar Court
North Balwyn Vic. Absecon NJ 08201
Australia 3104 USA
1551 Igor Vassiliev 1561 Society for the Study of the New
Foreign Stamp Service Republics of the Former USSR
P.O. Box 1005 c/o Michael Padwee
Great Neck NY 11023 P.O. Box 023138
USA Brooklyn NY 11202
1552 Leo DE Roeck USA
Klaaye, 5 1562 Hartmut Gerhard Huettel
B-9660 Brakel-Everbeek Schelmenweg 14
Belgium D-75443 Oetisheim/Wttbg
1553 Anne Klejment Germany
2018 Stanford Avenue 1563 Professor You-Im Chang
St. Paul MN 55105 Dept. of Chemical Engineering
USA Tunghai University
1554 Eugene J. Dreger Tichung Taiwan 40704
KEP-DRE Associates Republic of China
P.O. Box 27050 1564 Mrs. Warene C. Ence
Las Vegas NV 89126-1050 1600 E. Vista Way, Sp. #15
USA Vista CA 92084
USA
Rossica Journal Number 124 75
April 1995








1565 Guillermo Perdomo, Jr. Special Offer to Rossica Members
ITT/FSIC (KARATAS)
PSC 94 Box 3235 To lower our stock levels and make room for
APO AE 09824 new items, Rossica members are offered this
USA special offer to purchase publications at a
reduced rate. The rates listed below will be in
All applicants listed in the October Journal effect until 31 August 1995. These prices are
have been granted full membership. not applicable to dealers purchasing in quan-
tity, who must use the normal pricing struc-
The following resignations have been re- ture.
ceived and approved:
Ronald A. Czaplicki, 3-Package Deal
Donald M. Fiene, Package 1-Bazilevich($45) and Prigara ($35).
William W. Fischer, Jr., @20% discount, you pay $64 + postage.
Fred A. Scheuer. Package 2-Reverse Sort ($40) and Michalove's
Philatelist's Guide ($20).
Two members have moved on to the great @20% discount, you pay $48 + postage.
exhibition "up there": Package 3-All of the above ($140).
Dr. Gordon Torrey, @25% discount, you pay $105 and WE
Dr. Heinz von Hungen. pay the Book Rate Postage.

The following members have not renewed their Back issues of the journal will continue at $6 per
membership as of 1 April 1995: single and $12 per double issue until 31 July
1995. Thereafter, prices revert to their normal
George Brady, George Burney, Jeremy Busch, amount.
Charles Carrier, Michael Cimmino, Chris
Clayton, Howerd Crane, Raymond DeCorte, Issues still available are:
Michael Derry, Albert Duncan, WalterFrauenlob, Single issue:
Curtis Gidding, Hugh Goldberg, Peter Gorday, 44-45, 48, 54, 62-75, 78-82, 84-85, 88-89,
James Gorton, Brad Gougeon, Andrew hall, Tom 93, 110-112, 115-123.
Kassell, Betty Kemp, Robert Klancko, William
Lester, Vittorio Mallegni, L.D. Mayo, Jr., Double issue:
Dhirubhai Mehta, Thomas Mills, George 46-47, 76-77, 94-95, 96-97, 98-99, 100-101,
Peterson, Dr. Stephen Press, Jeffrey Radcliffe, 102-103, 104-105, 106-107, 108-109, 113-
Floyd Risvold, Richard Popiak, William Shinn, 114.
Paul Shirochensky, Baltimore Philatelic Society, Please make checks payable to Rossica drawn
Please make checks payable to Rossica drawn
Diana Syvertsen, John Teat, Jr., Richard Thomp- on a US bank and send to:
on a US bank and send to:
son, Daniel Tourtellot, Dragan Udovicic, Dr.
David Vigor, Allan Watton, Jr., William Gary A. Combs
Whiteman, Jr. 8241 Chalet Court
Millersville MD 21108
If any member knows one of these individ- USA
uals, please ask them if they forgot to submit their
1995 dues. To those who recently took advantage of the
sale, a big "Thank You" is in order. The good
news is the sale generated money for the trea-
sury. The bad news is many of the editions are
now out of stock.
76 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995









Submitting Articles for the Journal



Submitting articles for the journal has never If you use your personal scanner, save the
been easier. I can accept floppy disks 3-1/2 inch files as gray-scale TIFF files, NOT as PICT
only-created on Macintosh computers OR MS- (unless it is simple line art requiring no manipu-
DOS computers, lation) or plain TIFF or EPS. Check to make sure
The text for your article must be typed if a they are of good quality before sending them.
computer is not available. When using a com- When submitting tables, charts, or pictures,
puter, please attempt to print the article on a laser please let me know how you think they should
or ink jet printer. If a dot matrix printer is used, appear in the finished article relative to place-
make sure that you print it as close to letter ment. I will try to honor your layout as far as
quality as possible. This saves me an enormous possible. Besides, it may save me some time.
amount of time since I can simply use the scanner Thanks.
and an OCR package to bring the text of your If you send covers, pictures, or photocopies
article into the computer for manipulation. Long of items, please let me know what part of the
articles (over 2 pages) WILL NOT be accepted item-or the entire item-illustrates the point
if hand written. The more time I spend on typing you wish to make. As you may already know, I
the article, the less time I have for anything else. sometimes crop pictures to show only the salient
Please understand and cooperate. For files that parts. Please send actual size or larger copies.
are sent on a floppy, I have both Microsoft Word There is no way you nor I can know exactly what
and MacWrite. You may also submit them in size they need to be until the final layout begins.
"text file" format or RTF. I reduce covers if they are general in nature and
Pictures can be high-quality photocopies, or still show what the author intended to say. The
prints taken with a camera. Be sure the contrast is final size varies with every item included.
balanced so that the picture is not washed out or If you have any comments (positive or nega-
overly dark. If you cannot see the image, neither tive), want to know more about what equipment
can I. You may also send the original item. If this or software capabilities I have, or any general
method is chosen, please take any measures you information relative to the process, please feel
deem necessary to safeguard your material. I will free to write and I will attempt to answer your
return them with the same safeguards in place. questions. If anybody wants to volunteer to help
If you wish to include drawings in the article, with any typing, etc. that may arise, please let me
please ensure they are neat and legible. If you know.
draw them on the computer, save them as PICT Deadline for the October journal is 1 August
or TIFF images. I can handle either. EPS images 1995. This will give me time to enter the article
are a bit harder to work with if any corrections are and get the next issue to the printer by September.
needed. If you have a Macintosh, I can handle Thanks in advance and SUBMIT ARTICLES
MacDraw II and Canvas files. for your journal!
Spreadsheets should be in Excel or Lotus
format. I have Excel on the computer. If you have
any embedded macros or calculations built into
the spreadsheet, please tell me what and where
they are.




Rossica Journal Number 124 77
April 1995








Reviews fIOITA The Journal of the Australia & New
Zealand Society of Russian Philately, Issue 16,
5IMIHK The Post Rider, No. 35, Novem- July 1994, Editor Dr. Ross Marshall, P.O. Box 7,
ber 1994. The Canadian Society of Russian Otorohanga, New Zealand.
Philately, Box 5722 Station 'A,' Toronto, On-
tario, Canada M5W 1P2, Editor A. Cronin. In this issue the following articles are pre-
sented:
This issue contains: Some Puzzles in the Inland Postal Rates of
Andy's usual interesting Editorial.. Russia 1917-22, by A. Epstein.
Highlights of the Mail to "Der Staate-Anzeiger," Lithuania: The "Angel" Issues, by John R.
by Matt Hedley. Tollan.
Appeals to the International Committee of the Local Issues in Pskov under German Occupa-
Red Cross in Moscow, by Ivo Steyn. tion, by George G. Werbizky.
Famine in Ukraine, by Andrew Cronin. Russian Revaluation, by A.R. Marshall.
The Russian Field Posts in Finland during WWI, Local Administration Handstamps on Postal
by Alexander Epstein. Forms (addenda), by A. Epstein.
More Ovals, by Rabbi L.L. Tann. Moscow Town Post XVII, by Terry Archer.
Georgia: More of what's happening, by John R.
and the usual interesting material at the back of Tollan.
the issue. Georgia Postal Rates, by Andrej Muchaidze.
Another Unusual Letter, by George G.
Werbizky.
Postal Rates Ukraine, by A.R. Marshall.
The British Journal of Russian Philately, TPO: Chardzhui 205 Tashkent 206 -
No. 77, publication of the British Society of Chardzhui, by Norman Banfield.
Russian Philately, December 1994, Editor I. Late Romanoff Usage, by Leonard Tann.
Steyn. Aviation Labels, by V. Pritula.
The Origin of a Fake, by George G. Werbizky.
Ian L.G. Baille provides his rationale for a New Issues and Literature.
classification system aimed at bringing order to
the plethora of information published on Russian Another issue with quality articles.
railway marks.
Leonard Tann presents an interesting article I
on the development of the "Odessa MKV" rail
line with some good illustrations.
P.T. Ashford and Robert Taylor present some
excellent information on the 60-kop. surcharge
locally issued at the Caucasian town of Sochi in
late 1918.
Ivo Steyn presents two articles on postal
material from the Ukraine in 1992-1994.
In his article "Current Events in the F.S.U.,
Ivo covers postal forgeries of Russian definitive,
the last ? postcard of the USSR, Ukrainian forged
postmarks, and how to detect a forged cover. A
brief discussion of the new (alleged) stamps of
Georgia finishes the article.

78 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995







Postal Cancellations of the Transcaucasian Postmarks of Russian Empire (pre-adhesive
Railway, by Peter Ashford. 84 pages. Available period). by Manfred Dobin. 544 pages, hard-
fromthe author at 9Pentre Close, Ashton, Chester back. Published by Standard Collection, Kanal
CH3 8BR, England. Price 12 (approximately Griboedova 27, 191186 St. Petersburg, Russia.
US $20). Priced at US $75. Information on availability
will be provided at a later date.
Finally, Mr. Ashford has published a most
anticipated update on the topic. For those of you Mr. Dobin spent over 20 years researching
familiar with his previous works, the outstanding this book, which covers the main steps of Russian
quality of this book will come as no surprise. His postmark development from 1765 to 1865. Over
research is impeccably thorough and the coordi- 2,000 distinct postmarks have been cataloged
nation with other world-class philatelists speaks and the information rendered in nicely done
for itself. This book is a must for any serious tables. The book is richly illustrated. Several
collector of the railways. For those just getting outstanding covers are shown near the front of
started, it serves as a primer, the book, which will have many collectors pant-
The book is divided roughly into 6 sections as ing with desire.
follows: 1) history and background, 2) the Poti- A sensible classification system is provided,
Tiflis line, 3) the numbered routes (95-96, 97- which contains information by location, size,
98,229-230,269-270,333-334), 4) the unnum- periods of use, and valuation with add-on points.
bered routes, 5) branch lines on which there were Mr. Dobin presents the information by geographi-
no postal wagon facilities, 6) notes on postage cal clusters based on the Russian postal organiza-
due and handstamps. tion circa 1850. Explanations are presented in
The mandatory valuation is also covered fol- Russian and English. Thank you Mr. Dobin!
lowed by an excellent bibliography. The majority of the postmarks illustrated
The amount of information in this book is reveal information new to collectors in the West.
staggering, considering how hard it is to find I was simply amazed at the number of marks for
quality material to study. I found it most refresh- Moscow which are not listed any place else in
ing to see so many illustrations of postmarks philatelic literature. The marks appear to be accu-
instead of drawings, which so many authors rate, but there will inevitably be material that
seem to have turned to as of late. There is some- does not fit every description. Perhaps a second
thing about seeing it "in the flesh" (albeit a book in the future will be published?
picture and not the actual item) that is very This book is a must for any collector of the
exciting. Drawings are prone to errors on the part period covered and an outstanding reference
of the artist, either intentional or inadvertent, source for a philatelist's bookshelf.
The book is well defined, the thoroughness of The only drawbacks to this otherwise out-
the researcher is excellent, and the overall layout standing work are its construction and lack of
is very appealing to the eye. One can easily read original pictures-almost all are hand-drawn
it from cover to cover without putting it down. illustrations. The covers on my copy are already
A job well done, Mr. Ashford! I highly rec- warped and the ink shows signs of coming off the
ommend this publication to any philatelist inter- page. Unfortunately, Soviet printing establish-
ested in the Russian railway system, ments have not been modernized. I urge any
-G. Combs purchaser to immediately photocopy all perti-
nent pages.
-G. Combs




Rossica Journal Number 124 79
April 1995









30ro aflgnefrial anir(|t.
..atD rina ftIegeijeviu a
3 A K A Z C i rinn unb -bilb Crrt derin lt lfflRn,


.. #-/

ai ti atr bea e btS eCburte 3tbro Radpvt
..--- ------:'o ----- I-n aefhldt" unfree 21 nadbigft" Vo


25ptn bte Nravorprrb in Uprif Tonatd ju t.rcgr.

We will be pleased to send selections for 30 days of the following:

Check

O Russia Locals 1919-1920 (mint or used)
O Russia & States, Locals 1992-1994 (mint and covers)
O Ukraine Tridents 1918-1920 (covers)
O Ukraine.Locals 1992-1994 (mint and covers)
C Baltic States (mint, used, covers)
O Livonia Church Administration Letters 1793 to 1850 (see above)
EO Others (please indicate your interests)....................................
Foreign Stamp Service, P.O. Box 1005, Great Neck NY 11023, USA






Comprehensive Stock of Russian Material:
stamps
covers
errors
yearly units
collections
wantlist service
"approvals
wholesale


Free price list

Loral
Box 521
Rego Park, NY 11374
Fax (718)271-3070

80 Rossica Journal Number 124
April 1995







RUSSIAN POSTAL HISTORY

What Do You Collect?


I stock Russian Postal History items from the Imperial and
Soviet periods
including:
Airmails, Republics, Space, Zemstvos
Semi-Postals, Inflation, Stations, TPOs,
Interventions and Offices Abroad.

I also stock the Baltic Countries.
Let 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 & New
Zealand Society of Russian Philately, APS, ASDA, PTS
and others.
Webster F. Stickney
7590 Windlawn Way
Parker, CO. 80134








SOne of a kind

(from the Archives of Souren Serebrakian)

Russia. Scott type A-5, 5-kop. red-violet on cigarette
paper. One stamp full design, one background only.
Government printing office imprint in black. No gum.
$150.00 each

SRussia. Scott No. 27, horizontally laid paper, two
color trials: Green center with violet background; red
center with blue background. Mint, no gum. Very
difficult to find.
.L ^ i $250.00 each

S'Russia. Scott No. 34, horizontally laid paper, mint,
Shined, full gum. Orange instead of red. Trial print.
F6 ,$120.00





I Russia. Scott No. 525a, Lenin's Tomb
1 on Red Square. Used block of four,
,,. .. ,, ,,,,imperforate, wide margins, extra fine.
$350.00



Russia. Collection of WWI covers and postcards, all censored. Many different censors' marks
from various cities; 35 items. Sold as a unit at $330.00.
Russia. Early 1920's covers sent from abroad, all with three-triangle cancel. Condition: average
to fine. 11 items. Sold as a unit at $100.00.
Russia. WWII covers and postcards, all with military censorship marks: 2 internal postcards and
2 internal covers, 4 covers to the USA. 8 items. Sold as a unit at $40.00.


S. SEREBRAKIAN, INC.
P.O. Box 448 Monroe, New York 10950