Russia year 1866 – 1 kop MH stamp

Here are some key details about Russian stamps from the period of the Russian Empire, 1850-1918:

• The first Russian adhesive postage stamps were issued on December 10, 1857. These were the first stamps of the Russian Empire.
• Early Russian stamps depicted the coat of arms – a double-headed eagle design. This iconic symbol appeared on most Russian stamps until the end of the empire in 1917.
• In 1858, the first stamps inscribed “Pochtovaya Marka” meaning “postage stamp” in Russian were issued.
• In 1865, the first stamp depicting the portrait of a Russian ruler was released, showing Tsar Alexander II.
• Over time, Russian stamps depicted various rulers like Alexander III and Nicholas II in portraiture or vignette designs.
• Issues from 1904-1917 saw more pictorial designs beyond just rulers, including historic events, monuments, and allegories.
• The last stamps of the Russian Empire were issued in 1917-1918 as imperial rule was collapsing during the Russian Revolution.
• After 1918, stamp designs changed significantly under the new Bolshevik revolutionary government.

So in summary, the classic imperial Russian stamps from 1850-1918 primarily featured coats of arms, imperial portraits and some later pictorial commemoratives before the end of the Romanov dynasty.