A.

Epstein

POSTAL STATIONERY OF RUSSIA

AND ITS DEPENDENCIES
(1845 - 1922)

Vol. I
Issues of the Central Postal Administration
For the Russian Empire

and

Vol. II
Issues of For Specific Areas

ROSSICA
Society of Russian Philately

2006
© 2006 A. Epstein
 A. Epstein

POSTAL STATIONERY OF RUSSIA

AND ITS DEPENDENCIES
(1845 - 1922)

Vol. I
Issues of the Central Postal Administration
For the Russian Empire
FOREWORD
The postal stationery of Imperial Russia, as well as that of the early post-revolutionary period, is in
many respects the ‘poor kinfolk’ of Russian philately. It was listed in its entirety for the first time in the
general worldwide stationery catalogue by Ascher [C7], published in the twenties of the last century,
and this listing still seems to remain the best one in this field. Various previous catalogues listed this
material before the end of the Russian Empire, and are thus incomplete. All subsequent worldwide and
country-specific postal stationery catalogues, although based mainly on Ascher, yield, nevertheless, to
the latter in completeness and exactness; these include the English-language catalogue Higgins & Gage
[C1], the Russian catalogue(s) by Chuchin [C13-C17], and the modern German Michel Ganzsachen-
Katalog [C10], (as well as some sections of postage stamp catalogues). However, even Ascher can no
longer be considered a model from the modern point of view, as it does have a number of errors and
omissions. A specialized listing of Imperial postal stationery cards, letter-cards and wrappers was
proposed by Sklyarevski [J29-J32]. More recent studies of Imperial postal stationery can be found in
numerous journal articles published both in Russia and western countries, as well as in postal stationery
catalogues published recently in Russia [C19, C20], and they need to be systematized.

Such an attempt is made in the present specialized catalogue of postal stationery of Russia and its
dependencies, created for both for postal stationery and postal history collectors. It is the first catalogue
of this kind and, hopefully, the most detailed and complete. Contrary to most postal stationery catalogues,
this catalogue considers postal stationery not only on its own merits, but, as it also deals with postal
history, also with its postal usages, which in many cases were very diverse.

The catalogue consists of two volumes, the first dealing exclusively with the Central Postal
Administration [CPA] issues for use throughout the Empire. The second volume includes several parts,
most of them divided into sub-sections, dealing with more specialized items for local post or events. A
list of literature sources concerning the postal stationery of Russia and its dependencies is included as
an appendix. These sources were used when compiling the present catalogue. Another appendix lists
the postal rates in force when the postal stationery described here was legitimately in use for mail.
Some of these rates are based on official information found in the literature or archives; others are
tentative, having been deduced from the available postal history material.

Of course, any approach chosen by an author as a system for describing and pricing postal stationery
may be subject to critics, and that is no doubt inevitable in this case as well. The author expects such
criticism, and will gladly listen to any suggestions which will improve the quality of this work.

This book could not have been written without the help of numerous collectors, who assisted with very
useful information and advice, and by sharing photocopies and scans of the most interesting items in
their collections. I am very grateful to them all. In particular, the following persons should be noted:
Ashford, Peter England Sarkisyan, Arkadi Russia
Bergholm, Timo Finland Speeckaert, Antoine Belgium
Bettner, Dieter Germany Steinkamp, Peter, Dr. Germany
Ercolini, Michael U.S.A. Tann, Leonard L., Rabbi England
Greis, Ortwin, Dr. Prof. Germany Taylor, Robert U.S.A.
Ilyushin, Alexander, Prof. Russia Walton, Jean U.S.A.
Krasheninnikoff, Nathaly Denmark Warr, Noel England
Pantyukhin, Vladimir Russia Zagorski, Valeri Russia
and Larisa Ryl’kova and Natalia Andreeva of the A.S. Popov Communications Museum in St. Petersburg.
My special gratitude to Jean Walton for her enormous efforts in editing the original typescript of this work.

A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 i
INTRODUCTION
Scope of the Catalogue
The present catalogue includes all postal stationery (henceforth, for the most part, just PS) issues, i.e.
envelopes, cards, letter-cards, wrappers, money transfer cards and advertising letter-sheets, printed by
the Central Postal Administration (henceforth, CPA) of Imperial Russia for the Russian Empire and
Russian post offices abroad (Levant and China), as well as those of the Provisional Government and
Soviet Administration in its early period, when PS of former issues and designs were in postal use.
The issues of the CPA for Finland are also included, i.e. PS of Russian design (from 1891 on), although
most of them are in Finnish currency, while the earlier, purely Finnish issues made by its independent
postal administration are out of the scope of this catalogue. Besides stamped PS, official PS formula
cards and letter-cards (blanks), issued by the CPA, are also listed, while only a brief overview is
provided for similar local postal administration issues, as the basic information necessary for listing
them is still lacking. The same applies in general to semi-official advertising overprints on the CPA PS
cards; they, as well as address-bureau PS cards and letter-cards etc., can be considered separate entities,
only indirectly connected with the State Post. On the other hand, this catalogue includes all issues made
during the Civil War years by the postal administration of the Central Soviet Government, or locally by
various Soviet, “White,” national and occupation administrations, created by overprinting, surcharging
or applying control or other cachets to the basic CPA PS. Finally, all known private and bogus
overprints and those of uncertain status made on the basic CPA PS are listed in a separate section.
However, the postal stationery issued by the Zemstvo posts, as well as private blanks for the St.
Petersburg [SPb] Artificial Mineral Water House and SPb Telegraph forms listed in some catalogues,
are also outside of the scope of this catalogue.

Numbering System and Varieties

Each postal stationery item listed in the catalogue is given a separate number. The basic number
consists of several elements arranged in the following sequence:
1. Kind of PS designated by a capital letter:
E = envelope
P = postcard
L = letter-card
W = wrapper
M = money transfer card
S = letter-sheet
For formula PS cards or letter-cards the letter (F) (in parentheses) is placed before the main letter
designation.
2. A standard designation consisting of two or three capital letters - used only for the special purpose
PS (e.g. SRE = South Russian Exhibition).
3. A standard designation consisting of two letters (capital and small or two capitals) and indicating a
place (area, town) or occasion of issue or/and use of the PS (e.g. Dn = Don, FE = Far Eastern
Republic). If this is insufficient for identification, i.e., both area and town are required, a second
designation follows after a dash (e.g. Uk-Kv = Ukraine-Kiev).
4. Identifying number
For the basic CPA PS issues (Volume I), elements 2 and 3 are not used. Items which were printed in
noticeable quantities but not released for use are indicated with the number in brackets.

ii A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
The PS varieties are identified by an additional element (capital or small letter, Roman numeral) after
the cardinal number. While postage stamps are printed in sheets, and by studying the complete sheets
available, one can identify particular printings or positions of stamps with plate varieties in the sheet,
little is known about the printing process of postal stationery. There is reason to believe that, for
example, PS cards were also printed in sheets, but such sheets were cut to individual size when still in
the manufacturing stage, and then sold over the postal counter as such. Thus, it is almost impossible to
judge whether a variety is inherent to a separate printing, or to a particular position in the sheet of the
given printing. In this catalogue, only plate varieties which are believed inherent to a particular printing
or part thereof are listed separately, as well as varieties characterised by the shade of the imprinted
elements (stamp design, text, address lines), by varieties in the card/paper or by the watermark (for PS
envelopes). Some sources differentiate between smooth and rough card of postcards, but we have
avoided doing this because of the lack of an objective means for assessing this property. However, the
grade of card stock is sometimes mentioned in the notes of a particular PS card issue. Varieties which
are regarded as occasional, such as double printing, broken letters, etc., or where the origin is not
ascertained, are only mentioned in the notes because of scarcity of the material.

As a rule, capital letters are used for what are considered principal plate varieties. These include: size
(for PS envelopes and wrappers), dotting of the address lines, and dimensions and relative position of
the headings or other inscriptions (this latter concerns mainly PS cards of the first three issues), but
sometimes also for occasional varieties that are of importance to collectors (e.g., an incorrectly printed
stamp design on PS envelopes of the earliest issues). Varieties in the shade of printed elements, or the
color of overprints/surcharges, as well as in the dimensions of less important elements are designated
by small letters. Roman numerals (separately or after a capital letter) are used to distinguish varieties in
the shade, and sometimes the thickness or quality of the paper/card, as well as the relative position of
the watermark or imprinted stamp design (for PS envelopes), and some plate varieties that are
considered as errors or other deviations from the normal state (for PS cards). For individual halves of
the double postcards, their number ends with a capital letter in brackets, either “M” for the message
half or “R” for the reply half.

Valuation
As an exact valuation of postal stationery is today a rather complex problem, depending on a variety of
factors, we prefer not to give fixed prices but to establish them within certain ranges, as is done by A.
Kiryushkin & P. Robinson in their well-known handbooks [M3], using 16 price categories, as follows:

Price (in US dollars) Category Price (in US dollars) Category

to $3 1 over $75 to 100 9
over $3 to 6 2 over $100 to 125 10
over $6 to 10 3 over $125 to 150 11
over $10 to 15 4 over $150 to 200 12
over $15 to 20 5 over $200 to 300 13
over $20 to 30 6 over $300 to 400 14
over $30 to 50 7 over $400 to 500 15
over $50 to 75 8 over $500 16

When there are only a few items known to exist or valuation is considered impossible for any other
reason, it is indicated by CP (= Collector's Price) or shown in dashes (-.-). In the case of some PS with
two or even three overprints, when that same item with the primary overprint alone is not known
without that overprint but may exist, a question mark is used. The same applies to cases when there are
doubts as to the actual existence of some particular item.

A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 iii
Our attempt at valuation takes into account not only the actual scarcity, but also the market value and
the demand for particular items. The left column is for mint postal stationery in average collectable
condition. The right column indicates the value for items of standard quality which are commercially
used as ordinary mail, in accordance with their intended use, with the commonest postmarks and
without additional franking by adhesives. The latter may add value to an item, if franked in strict
accordance with the corresponding postal rates in the area and/or under conditions different from those
prevailing at the time of issue. In the case of rare or scarce adhesive(s) but common PS, the price of the
latter is determined, first of all, by the adhesives. Contrarily, they may reduce the value if the PS was
used for a purpose different from that which the PS was intended. Also, an unintended use of PS (e.g. a
reply card used in another way) reduces the price, sometimes rather markedly. Registered items, as well
as those having cancellations of special interest (e.g. those of railway stations, railway and ship
travelling post offices, field post offices, rural administration postal agencies, local forwarding
agencies, numerical cancellations of SPb and Moscow town posts, as well as from some particular
regions, etc.), should generally be placed nearer to the upper limit of the proper pricing class or in a
higher pricing class. In the majority of such cases the valuation depends on the particular postmark
rather than the PS itself. Those interested should consult the corresponding literature, e.g. Kiryuskin &
Robinson [M3]. On the other hand, PS with CTO cancellations are generally valued as mint items or
less, if the mint PS is in a lower price category than the item commercially used, or they are in the next
lower price category relative to the commercially used PS, if the mint items are valued higher than used
ones.

Of course, any pricing of collectable items in catalogues will always find opponents, who do not agree
with the catalogue values, with or without good reasons. So, this pricing is also open to criticism, as it
is based not only on prices given in other PS catalogues, auction realizations, and dealers' price lists,
but reflects our own opinion and experience as well.

Arrangement of Text and Illustrations

Each issue begins with a standard description that includes the date of issue, an indication to the sort of
paper/card and the color/shade of print and paper/card, and standard designations (letters in italics) for
the basic characteristics of the PS item, such as size, headings, imprinted stamp design, coat-of-arms,
perforation (for letter-cards), and watermark and knife (for envelopes). If these are different for various
items of the same issue, some of these characteristics are indicated under the corresponding items.

The characteristics designated as standard are illustrated separately at the beginning of the catalogue.
This allows the basic illustrations within the listings to be minimized, being replaced by the standard
designations with reference to the corresponding summary tables. Only the elements of PS, which give
a general idea about a particular PS piece, and include supplementary information, are illustrated in the
corresponding issues. As a rule, the illustrations are shown full-size, or near full size; however, there
are also some exceptions where illustrations are either reduced or enlarged.

The listing is accompanied by notes, as necessary, and historical information that includes pertinent
data about the purpose of the issue, the printing(s), any peculiarities of its postal use, etc. These follow
the listings rather than precede them. In most cases, cross-reference tables of catalogue numbers for
various known PS catalogues are included at the end of each section.

The Russian orthography used in the text of this catalogue is the modern [post-1917] alphabet. Occasionally
the reader will note that the pictured item and the printed text differ, because of orthographic changes that were
made in 1917. We have not attempted to introduce the old Russian characters into the text.

iv A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
Vol. I:
VOLUME I
Foreword ................................................................................................................ i

Introduction ............................................................................................................ ii

Contents.................................................................................................................. v

Standard Designators for Regular State Post Issues ..................... 1

Part I: Issues of the Central Postal Administration for the Russian

7
Empire..............................................................................................
PS envelopes 7
PS stamped cards 33
PS formula cards 64
PS stamped letter-cards 69
PS formula letter-cards 79
PS wrappers 80
PS money transfer forms 84
PS money transfer formulas 87
Charity PS letter-sheets with advertisements 89

Appendix ............................................................................................................ 95
I: Quantities of Imperial PS officially sold over postal counter 95

TABLE OF CONTENTS Page

VOLUME II Vol. II:

Part II: Issues for specific areas..................................................................... 1

Section I Issues for Russian post offices in the Ottoman Empire................. 1
PS cards 1
PS letter-cards 4
Section II: Issues for Russian post offices in China ........................................ 5
PS envelopes 5
PS cards 6
PS letter-cards 7
PS wrappers 8
Section III: Issues for Grand Duchy of Finland................................................ 9
PS envelopes 9
PS stamped cards 10
PS return receipt cards 17
PS formula card 18
PS letter-cards 19
PS wrappers 20
A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 v
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
VOLUME II Vol. II:
Section IV: Issues for Kingdom of Poland (PS envelopes) .............................. 21
Part III: City post issues................................................................................... 22
Section I: St. Petersburg city post .................................................................. 22
PS envelopes 23
PS letter-sheet issue 25
PS combined letter-sheet/envelope issue 25
Section II: Moscow city post (PS envelopes).................................................. 26
Section III: Warsaw city post (PS envelopes) .................................................. 29
Section IV: General PS envelope issue for city posts....................................... 31

Part IV: Special issues using CPA postal stationery..................................... 32

Section I: Local issues for special events (PS cards) ..................................... 32
Section II: Special issues for address bureaux ................................................ 34
PS cards 34
PS letter-cards 36
Section III: Advertising PS cards, letter-cards & envelopes ............................ 37
Section IV: PS formula cards issued by local postal/telegraphic
administrations............................................................................ 39

Part V: Use of CPA postal stationery after 1917 ......................................... 43

Section I: General........................................................................................... 43
Section II: Soviet revaluation surcharges on PS stamped and formula
cards ............................................................................................ 45
Section III: Local postal/telegraph administration and office cachets on PS
cards used as blanks .................................................................... 49
Section IV: PS formula cards issued by local postal/telegraph
administrations in1918-1923 ...................................................... 54
Section V: Semi-official issues........................................................................ 55

Part VI: Overprints/ surcharges on CPA postal stationery applied by

‘White’, National or Occupation authorities during Civil War years ... 56
Section I: Don Cossack Republic (PS stamped cards) .................................. 56
Section II: Far Eastern Republic..................................................................... 57
PS cards 57
PS wrappers 57
Section III: Ukrainian Hetmanat and People’s Republic ................................. 59
Kiev 60
Kharkov 66
Odessa 71
Podolia 72
Poltava 74
Ekaterinoslav 76
Chernigov, Elisavetgrad 78
Novobelitsa, Sarny, Zdolbunov 79
Formula cards with cachets 81
vi A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS Page
VOLUME II Vol. II:
Section IV: Southeast Ukraine (PS stamped cards) ......................................... 86
Section V: Republic of Armenia..................................................................... 87
PS envelopes 87
PS cards 88
Section VI: Batum (PS cards) .......................................................................... 93
Section VII: Estonia under German occupation (Dorpat local PS card) ........... 95
Section VIII: Republic of Estonia (local issues of PS envelopes and cards)...... 96
PS envelopes 96
PS cards 96
PS wrappers (used as adhesives) 97
Formulas and locals 97
Section IX: Republic of Latvia (PS formula cards) ......................................... 99
Section X: Central Lithuania (PS stamped card) ............................................ 100
Section XI: Polish Corps .................................................................................. 101
PS envelopes 101
PS cards 102
PS letter-cards 104

Part VII: Varia .................................................................................................. 105

Section I: Private issues having had postal use ............................................. 105
Section II: Private issues having had no postal use ........................................ 110
Section III: Bogus issues or issues of uncertain origin with no postal use ...... 111

Appendices:........................................................................................................... 112
II. Number of St. Petersburg city-post PS envelopes manufactured and sold over
112
the counter .............................................................................................................
III: Bibliography .......................................................................................................... 113
IV: Postal rates ............................................................................................................ 118

A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 vii
viii A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
PART I: ISSUES OF THE CENTRAL POSTAL
ADMINISTRATION FOR THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE
STANDARD DESIGNATORS FOR REGULAR STATE POST ISSUES
All postal stationery [PS] issues of the Central Postal Administration [CPA] of Russia were printed at
the State Printings Works (Экспедиция Заготовления Государственныхъ Бумагъ) in St. Petersburg
(which became Petrograd as of September 1914). Almost all of these seem to have been printed by
typography, and all have some common features that can be considered as standard. These features are
given a standard designation, which saves the necessity of a detailed description within each issue. The
principal differentiating characteristics are: stamp design; heading (or main text); coat-of-arms; size (in
overall dimensions); watermark, knife, perforation, and address line dotting. Illustrations, where
necessary, follow below.

1. STAMP DESIGN imprinted on the stationery: D1 - D42 (D28 - D42 are found in Volume II.)
The illustrated design is meant to show the type, not the face value. The same design type may be
used for other values.

Some stamp designs are very similar:

a. The wide tail eagle, D1a and D1b: the main difference between these two stamp designs is
that the face value in D1a is followed by КОП, while in D1b it is followed by the abbreviation
К. The same applies to D2a and D2b.
b. D4 and D6a: note that D4 is made up of three words, D6a of two. The difference between
D6a and D6b is that D6a has unseriffed letters, and D6b has serrifed letters.
c. Note whether the posthorns under the eagle are unadorned, or whether they are accompanied
by thunderbolts, as often this differentiates one stamp design from another. D8, D9 and D10
are differentiated from D11, D13, D15 and D16 in this manner, with the addition of
thunderbolts on the latter. D13, similar to D11, has a dark background behind the words in
the arc, while the former has a light background.
d. Note that D10 has posthorns in the upper corners and values in the lower corners, while D16
has values in all four corners.
e. On D17 and D27, both use a banner instead of the full oval used formerly; in the latter
however, the eagle is no longer a symbol of the Tsarist Empire - it is simpler and has no orb or
sceptre.

2. HEADING or main text at the top (H) with small letters for subheads (a, b, etc.) for PS cards,
letter cards, money transfer cards, and letter-sheets with advertisements:

H1 ОТКРЫТОЕ ПИСЬМО = Open Letter = Postcard (in Russian only)

H2 ОТКРЫТОЕ ПИСЬМО/CARTE POSTALE = Open Letter = Postcard (in Russian & French)
H3 ПОЧТОВАЯ КАРТОЧКА = Postcard (in Russian only)
H4 ПОЧТОВАЯ КАРТОЧКА / CARTE POSTALE (in Russian & French)
H5 ЗАКРЫТОЕ ПИСЬМО = Closed Letter (= Letter-Card) (in Russian only)
H6 ЗАКРЫТОЕ ПИСЬМО - Carte-Lettre (in Russian & French)
H7 ПИСЬМО = Letter (= Letter-Card) (in Russian only)
H8 ПИСЬМО - CARTE-LETTRE (in Russian & French)
H9 ПИСЬМО - LETTRE (in Russian and French)
A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 1
 H10 ПЕРЕВОДЪ / ПО ... = (MONEY) TRANSFER / BY...
H11 РУССКАЯ ПОЧТА НА ВОСТОКЪ/ POSTE RUSSE DU LEVANT = Russian Post in Levant
a ВСЕМIРНЫЙ ПОЧТОВЫЙ СОЮЗЪ = Universal Postal Union (in Russian only)
b ВСЕМIРНЫЙ ПОЧТОВЫЙ СОЮЗЪ/UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE ( Russian & French)
c РОССIЯ - RUSSIE = Russia (in Russian and French)
d с оплаченнымъ отвътомъ = with reply prepaid (in Russian only)
e с оплаченнымъ отвътомъ / avec reponse payee (Russian & French)
f для отвъта = for reply (Russian only)
g для отвъта / reponse (Russian & French)
h с объявлениями = with advertisements

3. COAT OF ARMS - for PS cards, letter-cards, money transfer cards, and letter-sheets with
advertisements: C1 - C6

4. SIZE in overall dimensions (S, plus E for envelopes, P for postal cards, W for wrappers, M for
Money Order cards) - dimensions are based on the catalogues of Ascher [C7] (without
parentheses) and Chuchin or the Soviet Philatelic Association [C13] (in parentheses):

A. For PS envelopes: B. For PS cards

SE1 145 x 120 mm (144 x 120 SP1 92 x 128 mm
mm) SP2 88 x 123 mm
SE2 139 x 113 mm (139 x 111 SP3 90 x 140 mm
mm)
SE3 145 x 81 mm (143 x 81 mm) C. For PS wrappers
SE4 113 x 73 mm (113 x 73 mm) SW1 376 x 88 mm
SE5 146 x 60 mm (145 x 60 mm) SW2 376 x 134 mm
SE6 140 x 58 mm (140 x 57 mm) SW3 444 x 177 mm
SE7 115 x 80 mm (114 x 83 mm)
-------------------------------------------------- D. For PS money transfer cards
- SM1 185 x 130 mm (narrow coupon)
SE8 110 x 70 mm * SM2 205 x 140 mm (wide coupon
SE9 95 x 68 mm *
SE10 86 x 68 mm *
*These are not standard dimensions. Such
envelopes were manufactured by special order.
5. WATERMARK - only for PS envelopes: W1 - W4

6. KNIFE - only for envelopes: K1 - K9

7. PERFORATION - only for PS letter-cards:

P1 Separate crosswise perforations
P2 Continuous perforation with rounded corners

8. ADDRESS LINE DOTTING – for PS cards, letter-cards and money transfer cards). From the
1890 PS card issue on, there were 2 types of line dotting used, differing by the number of dots
per unit of length, e.g. thin (31 dots per 2 cm) and thick (24 to 26 dots per 2 cm).

2 A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
 IMPRINTED STAMP DESIGNS
(only typical designs are shown irrespective of face value)

D1a D1b D2a D2b D3

D4 D5 D6a D6b D7

D8 D9 D10 D11 D12

D13 D14 D15 D16 D17

D18 D19 D20 D21 D22

D23 D24 D25 D26 D27

A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 3
 COATS-OF-ARMS

C1 C2 C3

C4 C5 C6

WATERMARKS

W1 W2

W3 W4

4 A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
 KNIVES

K1 K2 K3

K4a K4b K5

PERFORATIONS

P1

P2

ADDRESS LINE DOTTING

Thick (31 dots per 2 cm)

Thin (24 or 26 dots per 2 cm)

A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 5
The Russian orthography used in the text of this catalogue is the modern [post-1917] alphabet. Occasionally the
reader will note that the pictured item and the printed text differ, because of orthographic changes that were
made in 1917. We have not attempted to introduce the old Russian characters into the text.

6 A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russia and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006
 CPA: PS ENVELOPES

1. PS ENVELOPES
General notes:
1. The listing of the 1st through to 8th issues is based on the study by Lobachevski [J88].
2. The paper of the majority of these PS envelopes is found with noticeable shade variations; only
the principal variations are listed as separate varieties.

1st Issue: 1848, December 1

On thick or medium brownish-, yellowish- or greyish-white coarse paper (0.11 – 0.15 mm thick),
produced at the Ropsha mills; W1, K1.

E1 10(+1) kop, 133-142 x 106-112 mm, D1a

a grey-black .................................................................................................... CP 14
b black ............................................................................................................ CP 14
I watermark in mirror image.......................................................................... CP 15
II watermark inverted...................................................................................... CP CP

E2 20(+1) kop, 133-142 x 106-112 mm, D1b

a blue ...............................................................................................................13 16
b deep blue.......................................................................................................14 16
c blackish-blue.................................................................................................13 16
d greenish-blue ................................................................................................14 16
I watermark in mirror image...........................................................................16 CP

A. Epstein ~ Postal Stationery of Russian and Its Dependencies 1845-1922, Vol. I ©2006 7
CPA: PS ENVELOPES

E3 30(+1) kop, 141-145 x 113 x 118 mm, D1b

a rose ............................................................................................................... 12 CP
b carmine-red................................................................................................... 12 CP
c brownish-lilac red......................................................................................... 13 CP
d carmine ......................................................................................................... 12 CP
I watermark in mirror image........................................................................... 15 CP
II watermark inverted...................................................................................... CP CP
III stamp design both inverted and double ...................................................... CP CP

Notes:
1. The value in brackets is the price of the envelope itself.
2. The normal position of the watermark coincides with the position of eagle on the imprinted
stamp design if the upper flap is lifted and the watermark is viewed from inside of the envelope.
3. In the 1st through to 6th issues, the imprinted stamp design was normally placed on the upper
back flap of the envelope. If it was placed by error on the lower flap, the watermark appears to
be inverted. If the stamp design was placed on the reverse side of the paper, the watermark is
seen as a mirror image.
4. As the envelopes were folded manually, there are considerable fluctuations in the overall
dimensions.
5. The imprinted stamp design of PS envelopes of the 1st through to 7th issues was designed and
engraved by engraver Kirchner.

Historical information
This and the following issues (through the 12th issue, with exception of the 10th and 11th issues)
were made to correspond with the postal rates in force at that time for inland ordinary letters (10 kop, 20
kop, and 30 kop for letters weighing 1 lot, 2 lots, and 3 lots, respectively). These PS envelopes were
intended for private intercity mail within Russia itself and to Finland, but not within Finland and the
Kingdom of Poland, which issued their own envelopes. They were also not intended for use abroad.
They were sold to the public at a price equal to the corresponding lot rate (10, 20 or 30 kop), shown on
the imprinted stamp design, plus 1 kop for the envelope itself.

2nd Issue: 1848, December

On thick or medium brownish-, yellowish- or greyish-white coarse paper (0.09 – 0.17 mm thick),
produced at the Ropsha mills; W1, K1.

E4 10(+1) kop, D2a, 133-142 x 106-112 mm, black........................................................ -.- CP

E5 20(+1) kop, D2b, 133-142 x 106-112 mm

a light blue....................................................................................................... 12 16
b bright blue .................................................................................................... 12 16
c deep blue ...................................................................................................... 13 16
d blackish-blue ................................................................................................ 13 16
e deep greenish-blue........................................................................................ 12 16
I watermark inverted...................................................................................... CP CP
II watermark both inverted and in mirror image............................................. CP CP
III watermark in mirror image and turned about 90° ....................................... CP CP

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 CPA: PS ENVELOPES

E6 30(+1) kop, D2b 141-145 x 113 x 118 mm

a rose ...............................................................................................................13 CP
b carmine-rose .................................................................................................13 CP
I watermark in mirror image...........................................................................15 CP
II watermark inverted...................................................................................... CP CP

Note: The entire printing of E4 has the watermark in mirror image.

3rd Issue: 1849, beg.

On thick or medium brownish- or greyish-white coarse paper (0.09 – 0.17 mm thick), produced at the
Ropsha mills, 133-142 x 106-112 mm; D3, W1, K1.

E7 10(+1) kop
a grey-black .......................................................................................................9 7
b black ...............................................................................................................9 7
I watermark in mirror image.............................................................................9 7
II watermark inverted....................................................................................... -.- 14
III watermark both inverted and in mirror image .............................................. -.- 14
IV watermark turned about 90°to the right........................................................ -.- 15
V watermark turned about 90°to the left on. .................................................... -.- 15
VI watermark in mirror image turned about 90° to the right............................. -.- 16
VII watermark in mirror image turned about 90° to the left............................... -.- 16
VIII imprinted stamp design inverted .................................................................. -.- CP

Essays with a Mercury head instead of the Imperial coat-of-arms in the 10-kop index were produced
in 1854 but were not accepted for regular issue .......................................................... (CP).

4th Issue: 1855, December

On moderately thin or thin yellowish-, bluish or greyish-white smooth paper (0.07 – 0.11 mm thick)
(No. 9III on thick bluish-green coarse paper), produced at the Ropsha mills; W1, K1

E8 10(+1) kop, D3 133-142 x 106-112 mm

a grey-black .......................................................................................................9 7
b black ...............................................................................................................9 7

E9 20(+1) kop, D2b 141-145 x 113 x 118 mm

a light blue.........................................................................................................8 13
b greenish light blue ..........................................................................................8 13
I watermark in mirror image.............................................................................8 13
II watermark inverted...................................................................................... CP CP
III light blue...................................................................................................... CP CP

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5th Issue: 1861

On medium or thin white, grayish- or yellowish-white smooth hard paper (0.065 – 0.105 mm thick;
E10IVa & b on blue-greenish paper, E10V on ribbed paper) produced at the Ropsha mills; W2, K1

E10 10(+1) kop

A D3, 133-142 x 106-112 mm
a grey-black................................................................................................. 7 6
b black ......................................................................................................... 7 6
I watermark in mirror image....................................................................... 7 6
II watermark inverted................................................................................. 13 13
III watermark turned 90° to the left ............................................................ 15 15
IVa grey-black.............................................................................................. CP CP
IVb black ...................................................................................................... CP CP
V grey-black.............................................................................................. CP CP
B D1a, 133-142 x 106-112 mm, grey-black ................................................... CP CP

E11 20(+1) kop

A D2b, 141-145 x 113 x 118 mm
a light blue................................................................................................... 8 16
b blue ........................................................................................................... 8 16
c deep blue .................................................................................................. 8 16
d ultramarine ............................................................................................... 8 16
e greenish-blue ............................................................................................ 9 16
I watermark in mirror image....................................................................... 8 16
II watermark both inverted and in mirror image....................................... CP -.-
B D2a. 141-145 x 113-118, blue .................................................................... CP -.-

E12 30(+1) kop, D2b, 141-145 x 113 x 118 mm

a brick-red ......................................................................................................... 7 -.-
b brown-red ....................................................................................................... 7 -.-
c carmine-red..................................................................................................... 7 -.-
I watermark in mirror image............................................................................. 7 -.-
II watermark inverted....................................................................................... 15 -.-

6th Issue: 1862, December

On medium or thin greyish- or yellowish-white smooth paper produced at the Ropsha mills (No. E13AI
on thick paper); D3

E13 10(+1) kop

A grey-black, 142-145 x 82-86 mm, W1, K2 ................................................... 14 12
I grey-black (thick paper) ......................................................................... 15 13
B 132-137 x 84-86 mm, W1, K2
a grey-black............................................................................................... 15 13
b black ....................................................................................................... 15 13

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E14 10(+1) kop

A 142-145 x 82-86 mm, W2, K2
a grey-black .................................................................................................9 8
b black .........................................................................................................9 8
I watermark in mirror image....................................................................... 9 8
II watermark inverted................................................................................. 16 16
III watermark both inverted and in mirror image ........................................16 16
B 132-137 x 84-86 mm, W2, K2
a grey-black .................................................................................................9 8
b black .........................................................................................................9 8
I watermark inverted................................................................................. 16 16

E15 10(+1) kop, 132-137 x 84-86 mm, W2, K3 (watermark in mirror image)
a grey-black .......................................................................................................9 8
b black ...............................................................................................................9 8
I watermark inverted....................................................................................... 16 16

Note: The entire printing of Nos.E13B and E14B have the watermark in mirror image; some are also
inverted.

7th Issue: 1863

On medium or thin white, greyish-, bluish- or blue-greenish-white smooth paper (0085 – 0.125 mm
thick), produced at the State Document Dispatch Office; W3.

E16 10(+1) kop

A 112-123 x 70-80 mm, D3, K2
a grey black ...............................................................................................13 12
b black .......................................................................................................13 12
I watermark in mirror image..................................................................... 13 12
II watermark inverted................................................................................. 13 12
III watermark both inverted and in mirror image ........................................16 15
IV stamp design inverted ............................................................................. -.- CP
B grey-black, 112-123 x 70-80 mm, D2, K2.................................................... -.- CP

E17 10(+1) kop, 143-142 x 106-112 mm, D3, K1

a grey-black .....................................................................................................12 11
b black .............................................................................................................12 11

E18 20(+1) kop

A D2b, 141-145 x 113 x 118 mm, K1
a light blue.................................................................................................16 -
b bright blue...............................................................................................16 -
B D1b, 141-145 x 113-118 mm, K2.................................................................16 -
I watermark in mirror image..................................................................... 16 -

Note: The entire printing of E17 and E18A has the watermark in mirror image; E17
exists with the watermark in mirror image rotated about 90° to the right , and E18A
exists with it placed diagonally; both: ...................................................................... - - CP.

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8th Issue: 1868, December 1

On yellowish-white smooth paper without watermark, SE4, D4 (in the upper left corner), K4 (pointed
flaps).

E19 10 kop, brown.............................................................................................................. 12 10

E20 20 kop, blue ................................................................................................................. 11 14

E21 30 kop, carmine-rose (shades)..................................................................................... 10 14

Notes:
1. There are proofs of PS envelopes having an imprinted stamp design similar to D4 but with
slightly larger figures of the face value and a little different embossed framed design. The 10-
and 20-k proofs are extremely rare, but those of 30 k were purchased from the CPA by a
Petersburg collector, a part of them having been used by him for mail in the 1880s.
2. From this issue on, the PS envelopes were sold to the public for the value shown in the imprinted
stamp design plus ½ kop. This surtax was raised to 1 kop as of 1 January 1917.

9th Issue: 1868

On yellowish-white or white smooth paper without watermark, D4 (in the upper left corner), K4
(rounded flaps).

E22 10 kop, brown

A SE2 ................................................................................................................. 4 4
B SE3 ................................................................................................................. 5 6
C SE4 ................................................................................................................. 6 7
D SE6 ................................................................................................................. 5 6

E23 20 kop, blue

A SE2 ................................................................................................................. 6 10
B SE3 ................................................................................................................. 7 11
C SE4 ............................................................................................................... 10 -
D SE6 ............................................................................................................... 10 -

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E24 30 kop, carmine-rose (shades)

A SE2..................................................................................................................5 10
B SE3..................................................................................................................6 10
C SE4................................................................................................................10 -
D SE6................................................................................................................10 -

Notes:
1. The varieties (C) and (D) of E23 and E24 were never released for use as they were too small to
contain sheets of paper weighing 2 or 3 lots. Cancelled-to-order copies have been found (priced
as mint).
2. In this issue, the flaps of S4 are always rounded at their ends. There are 2 sub-types of S4,
differing by the edges of the upper flap: 1) S4a – concave edges, used for small-size envelopes
(from SE3) and 2) S4b – straight edges, used for larger-size envelopes (SE1 and 2).

10th Issue: 1870

On white smooth paper without watermark, D5 (in the upper left corner), K4

E25 5 kop, carmine-rose

A SE2..................................................................................................................5 11
B SE3..................................................................................................................6 11
C SE4..................................................................................................................9 12
D SE6..................................................................................................................5 12

Historical information
This and the following, 11th issue were intended for use for city post for ordinary letters, the face
value of the imprinted stamp design (5 kop) corresponding to the postal rate in force. These envelopes
could also be used for inland intercity or for foreign mail if franked additionally with adhesives.

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