Russia Kingdom postage stamps year 1908/19 – Unused MNH lot
The Russian postal history from 1908 to 1919 covers a fascinating and turbulent period, including stamps from the late Russian Empire (before 1917) and the early issues of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR).
Here are the key stamp series and their main features during this timeframe:
👑 Russian Empire Issues (1908–1917)
The stamps from this part of the period belong to the Russian Empire, often referred to by collectors as “Imperial Russia.”
- 1908–1909: Definitive Issues
- This was a major series, sometimes called the 19th Issue, and replaced the old ‘Post-Horns’ designs.
- Design: The stamps featured the Imperial Double-Headed Eagle (State Coat of Arms) or a postal department logo, typically printed in a single color for lower values and two colors for higher values.
- Key Features: They were printed on unwatermarked wove paper with a pattern of varnish lines or lozenges on the face to prevent reuse. The perforation was usually a harrow perf.
- 1913: Romanov Tercentenary Commemorative Issue
- This was Russia’s first commemorative stamp issue and celebrated the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty.
- Design: The 17 stamps in the series featured portraits of various Tsars (including Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, and the current Tsar, Nicholas II) and views of historical places like the Kremlin, Romanov Castle, and the Winter Palace.
- Value: This series is highly popular among collectors due to its historical significance and artistic merit.
- 1915–1917: Currency Stamps (Definitives)
- Due to paper and resource shortages during World War I, stamps were often hastily printed and saw numerous minor variations, like different papers, printings, and perforations.
- Overprints: The later issues (especially in 1917) began to reflect the monetary instability with stamps being overprinted with new denominations to adjust for inflation.
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