Postmarks of the Russian Empire (pre-adhesive period)

1799 Cary Map of the Russian Empire

Royal coat of arms of the Russian Empire (1856)

English: Postmarks of the Russian Empire (pre-adhesive period). Classification and numbers according Dobin catalogues:

• Postmarks of Russian Empire (Pre adhesive period).
• From the history of the Saint-Petersburg post. Numbers taken from this catalogue indicated by 'HSP'.

Specific usage of the postmark is indicated:

• D - for money correspondence
• E - for foreign mail
• G - for stamp cancellation
• K - for official mail
• P - Receiver postmark
• T - as a transit mark

See also related page: Entry and transit postmarks of Germany.

Interpretation of markings

Pre-adhesive covers can be difficult to analyse, especially when they have many different markings. The example below could prove helpful.

• 1864-01-28, St Petersburg to Bordeaux pre-adhesive cover.

• 
  Front
• 
  Reverse
• 
  Content

• January 28, 1864 (Julian) a letter dated January 25 posted at St. Petersburg by Gustave Sterky & Fils acknowledging a payment from C.J. van Opstall. Sender wrote 'Porto' in upper right corner. At the post office restated by hand stamp 'PORTO' (unpaid). The circular postmark 'St. PETERSBURG * VII. EXP. / 28 JAN 1864' was applied backside.

Dobin: 02.02 type 01a. Applied by the office for accepting and dispatch of foreign correspondence, postmark was used between 1859-1866, Rarity 1.

• Red 'Aus Russland' applied. Mark used as a German entry/transit mark aboard the Königsberg-Bromberg T.P.O.

Vandervelde: 'Aus Russland' marking type Ry3a.

• Black 'KÖNIGSBERG Pr 10 2 II BROMBERG' mark applied at reverse.
• Prussian accountancy mark 'P.33.'('P.' means PRUSSIA), used on Prussian transit mail from Poland and Russia, with destination France. By treaty of 1858-07-01 between Prussia and France the usage of accountancy markings was agreed. This marking originates from the second account period which was from January 1, 1862 to December 31, 1865. Article allowing Prussia 77.5 centimes per 15 grams of mail. Single rate was 11 decimes (1.1 francs) due. France paid for Prussian transit.
• February 12, blue 'PRUSSE ERQUELINES 12 FEVR 64 3'. French entry mark at Erquelines. 3's show the postmark was struck at Paris. Rate was assessed at double weight: 22 decimes, and mediaeval manuscript '22' applied.
• February 13, 'PARIS 13 FEVR 64 (60)' transit mark at reverse.
• February 13, 'BORDEAUX 13 FEVR 64 (32)' receiver at reverse.

St. Petersburg Government (01)

Map of the St. Petersburg Governorate in 1792

1854-1859, postmark № 01.02 type 3.07T

Reception Expedition for Foreign Correspondence

• 
  1838, St. Petersburg - Berlin (№ 01.02 type 3.04K)
• 
  1838, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.01 type 1.07ED)
• 
  1846, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.06)
• 
  1848, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.06)
• 
  1849, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.06)
• 
  1851, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.06)
• 
  1854, St. Petersburg - Stettin (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1855, St. Petersburg - Paris (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1855, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1856, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1856, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1856, St. Petersburg - Reims (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1858, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1858, St. Petersburg - Montpellier (№ 01.02 type 3.07T)
• 
  1864, St. Petersburg - Paris (№ 02-02 type 01a HSP)
• 
  1864, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 02-02 type 01a HSP)
• 
  1864, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (red № 03-00 type 01B HSP, black № 02-02 type 01a HSP)

Dispatch and Transit of Foreign Mail

• 
  1766, St. Petersburg - Pernov (№ 00.00 type 01aET HSP)
• 
  1807, St. Petersburg - Riga (№ 00.00 type 01B HSP)

Railway mail postmarks

Postoffice of the St. Petersburg - Warsaw Railway

From February 1, 1861 mail started to be conveyed by the Warsaw Railway in St. Petersburg.

• 
  1864, St. Petersburg - Bordeaux, postal wagon №6.
• 
  1864, St. Petersburg - Paris.
• 
  1866, Moscow - St. Petersburg - Bordeaux (№ 06-02 type 02 HSP).

Moscow Government (2)

Map of the Moscow Governorate in 1792

Moscow (02.02)

Reception of incoming and dispatch of foreign correspondence.

• 
  1853, Moscow - Bordeaux (№ 02.02 type 3.04DT)

Vladimir Government (7)

Map of the Vladimir Governorate in 1792

Suzdal (7.2.13)

• 
  1825, Suzdal - Dmitriev (№ 07.2.13 type 1.01)

Yekaterinoslav Government (14)

Map of the Yekaterinoslav Governorate in 1792

Mariupol (14.2.08)

• 
  1845, Mariupol - Odesa - Genoa (№ 14.2.08 type 1.02)
• 
  1848, Mariupol - Odesa - Genoa (№ 14.2.08 type 1.04)

Taganrog (14.2.15)

• 
  1845, Taganrog - Odesa (№ 14.2.15 type 1.02E)

Kovno Government (22)

Map of the Kovno Governorate in 1888

Tauroggen (22.1.01)

• 
  1855, Taurogen - Pernau (№ 22.1.01 type 1.04)

Estlandia Government (39)

Map of the Estlandia Governorate in 1792

Reval

• 
  1850, Reval - Pernov (№ 39 type 1.14E)
• 
  1855, Reval (№ 39 type 1.16G)

Liflandia Government (40)

Map of the Liflandia Governorate in 1792

Riga

• 
  1822, Riga - Bordeaux (№ 40 type 1.03bE)
• 
  1823, Riga - London (№ 40 type 1.03bE)
• 
  1824, Riga - Narva (№ 40 type 4.01EKT)
• 
  1833, Riga - Wenden (Riga № 40 type 2.04) and (Wenden № 40.2.04 type 1.04K)
• 
  1843, Riga - Bordeaux (№ 40 type 1.12TE)
• 
  1844, Riga - Wolmar (№ 40 type 2.06, Wolmar POLUSHENO № 40 type 4.01K)
• 
  1848, Riga - Burtnieki (№ 40 type 2.06)
• 
  1848, Riga - Bordeaux (uncatalogued type)
• 
  1849, Riga - Bordeaux (№ 40 type 1.18E)
• 
  1849, Riga - Cette (№ 40 type 1.19EG)
• 
  1856, Riga - Bordeaux (№ 40 type 1.19EG)
• 
  1868, P.38., Riga-Bordeaux

Walk - Wolmar (40.2.03)

• 
  1845, Walk- Wolmar - Marienburg (№ 40.2.03 type 4.03KT and 40.2.06 type 1.06KP)

Wenden (40.2.04)

• 
  1841, Wenden (№ 40.2.04 type 4.03K)
• 
  1852, Wenden (№ 40.2.04 type 1.07K)

Pernov (40.2.09)

• 
  1850, Reval - Pernov (№ 40.2.09 type 1.04PG)
• 
  1855, Tauroggen - Pernov (№ 40.2.09 type 1.04PG)

Kherson Government (57)

Map of the Kherson governorate in 1821

Odesa

• 
  1842, Odesa - Genoa (№ 57.1.01 type 1.03DET)
• 
  1845, Mariupol - Odesa - Genoa (№ 57.1.01 type 1.04ET)
• 
  1846, Odesa - Grenoble (№ 57.1.01 type 1.03DET)
• 
  1848, Odesa - Genoa (№ 57.1.01 type 1.03DET)
• 
  1848, Odesa - Genoa (№ 57.1.01 type 1.03DET)
• 
  1853, Odesa - Marseille (№ 57.1.01 type 1.05ET)
• 
  1856, Odesa - Bordeaux (№ 57.1.01 type 1.07DE)
• 
  1856, Odesa - Marseille (№ 57.1.01 type 1.05ET)
• 
  1861, Odesa - Bordeaux (№ 57.1.01 type 1.10EGT)
• 
  1865, Odesa - Marseille (№ 57.1.01 type 1.10EGT)
• 
  1873, Odesa-Marseille

Postage Rates

A stampless cover generally refers to any item of mail sent before the issuance of postage stamps but it can also refer to mail sent, after the introduction of postage stamps (December 1857 in Russia), unpaid (as was permitted in many countries) or without the pre-payment being indicated by the affixing of a postage stamp; it could have been pre-paid in cash and marked paid.

14th November 1783

By decree standard postage rates were established for the Russian Empire. Letters weighing 1 lot, (12.7974g / 0.451 oz), were charged per 100 versts distance (the verst was 1.0668 km / 0.6629 mile). 31 different rates were defined but few are known:

Up to 100 versts – 6 kopeks
Between 100 and 1500 v – 2 kopeks per 100 v
Up to 3100 v – 1 kopek per 100 v or part of* 
Over 3100 v – 50 kopeks

• It is unclear if this means 1k per 100v for the entire distance or if the charge was 2k for the first 1500v then 1k thereafter.

1830

100 to 200 versts - 20 kopecks
300 to 600 v - 30k
600 to 800 v - 40k
800 to 1100 v - 50k
1100 to 1300 v - 60k
1300 to 1600 v - 70k
1600 to 1800 v - 80k
1800 to 2100 v - 90k
2100 to 2300 v - 94k
2300 to 2600 v - 96k
2600 to 2800 v - 98k
2800v and above 100k