Russian Post Horn Stamps

This page is dedicated to my collection of Russian post horn stamps. It is the latest in my posts featuring post horns. You can check out more information about post horn stamps from around the world on my hub page for the topic. It features stamps from many different countries and links to specific collections and topics.

Post horns are small brass brass instruments that were used as signals for mail carriers. They blew these horns to announce the arrival and departure of mail riders and coaches. Eventually, the instruments became symbolic of the entire mail system. The instruments today appear on all kinds of postal items: uniforms, post boxes, logos, etc. They also appear on postage stamps. Indeed, lots and lots of postage stamps. That link can also take you to other articles about my stamp collection including issues from various countries.

Russian Postal System

It is possible that there was an organized system of messengers carrying written messages as early as the tenth century. By the seventeenth century, Russia was regularly exchanging mail with Poland, establishing a regular international mail route. Peter the Great lead a postal reform creating more uniform operations across the country. The first postage stamps began circulating in December of 1857. Importantly, these stamps had a big influence on neighboring countries where they were sometimes in use or otherwise were inspiration to the design of stamps in Finland, Poland, and Mongolia.

4th Definitive Issue of Russian Empire – 1865

The earliest stamp in my collection is from 1865, but its design is from earlier and it is similar to designs in use to the present day. The classic features are all present on this stamp. The main feature is a large central crest or coat-of-arms featuring a double eagle, a heraldic symbol of Russia. Notice that below the double eagle in the center are small post horns with their lead pipes crossed. You can see them a little clearer in a close up above. Cyrrilic text fill a dark band around the crest and above that sits a crown. Draping flows from the crown and surrounds the central shield. In each corner of the stamp is a number designation for the value of the stamp.

Due to the fact that the design of the stamps is very similar, we must rely on other details to date the early Russian post horn stamps. As with other posts, I welcome comments about any inaccuracies or fallacies on this post. I am learning and looking at a variety of sources to identify the pieces in my collection and I welcome further knowledge!

I bought the example above as an 1865 Scott Number 15 as it is on woven paper (not laid), with no watermark and has a 14 1/2 perforation. To understand how that works with other stamps check out this site.

Fifth Definitive Issue of Russian Empire 1866

In 1866, the type of paper used was changed. Instead of using wove paper, the stamps were printed on horizontal laid paper. On the backs of these stamps you can see faint horizontal lines which date them clearly to 1866. All four examples above are on laid paper. Notice that while the 10 kopeck is the same design, the lower denominations have several differences. There is no drapery. A roman numeral of the value sits below the post horns. The corner denominations sit in a white circle.

Also notice the background – I’ll blow it up to give greater detail. I think this is the coolest thing, the lower denomination stamps have very tiny numbers forming the background. They are a mix, as you can see on the 3 it is an Arabic numeral whereas on the 5 it is a Roman numeral V.

Seventh Definitive Issue of Russian Empire 1875

In 1875, a few new denominations were added including the 2 kopeck stamp above and the 8 kopeck stamp on the cover below.

Ninth Definitive Issue of Russian Empire 1884

In 1884, the designs changed a bit again. All of my examples are of the lower denominations and they are now single color stamps. No longer is it black print on a background color, now the entire stamp is one color. The backgrounds of the stamps are no longer the cool numbers either, now they are miniature dots in a kind of mesh pattern.

1889 Reissues – Thunderbolts through Horns

In 1889 more changes. However this is really important, in that year the post horn design changes and arrows or “thunderbolts” now cross over the horns. This very easy to notice detail helps to separate all stamps from this moment on. No thunderbolts, the stamp dates before 1889, thunderbolts and it dates 1889 or after. Check above for a close up of the thunderbolts if you need.

Twelfth Definitive Issue of Russian Empire

Here you can see my 1889 stamps, notice they all have the thunderbolts through the horns. Notice the two upper denomination stamps – the 14 and 70 kopeck stamps. Those denominations were introduced earlier, but these are the only examples I have. Notice that they are still two colors and there is a curved banner with text below the oval.

Eleventh Definitive Issue of Russian Empire

Yes, I know that this is the eleventh set and above was the twelfth. These new designs came out a little earlier than the above set in 1889, but I wanted to point out the changes to the more traditional design before discussing this pretty radical new definitive stamp design.

First, notice that these stamps keep some of the same iconography. There is the double headed eagle and the post horns. However, they are a smaller proportion of the stamp. I love the decorative design around this oval and the solid verses open alterations in the background. The 4 and 50 kopeck stamps and the 1 ruble stamp are completely new denominational definitive stamps. The 10 and 20 kopeck stamps replace the earlier designs.

The higher denominations of this design, here the 20, 50, and 1 ruble, are two colors, just like the upper denominations of the alternate design. The ruble design is more square than the others, I don’t know if that proportion comes off well here.

Siberia Stamp with a Surcharge

Following the Russian revolution, anti-Bolshevik forces in Siberia created a separate government. After a brief war with European Russia, the Siberian government was overthrown in 1920. However, during this short period, Siberia issued many stamps. These included ten Russian stamps that were surcharged, such as this example above, Scott Number 96.

1922 Cover

I also have a postal cover from 1922, an important year in the history of Russia. That was the year that the revolution came to an end and at the very end of the year, Russia along with the Ukraine, Belorussia, and Transcaucasia became the USSR. That only officially took place in December, this cover from Chpola, Russia was sent on June 30 of 1922. The letter was sent to a Mr. S. Saslavsky c/o J. Cromow at 348 Roebling St., in Brooklyn, New York.

Notice on the front, the 4 kopeck stamp is quite a bit different from stamp of the same denomination from the earlier series, although it retains some of the same iconogrphy. Most noticeably, it retains the double eagle in the middle with the crossed post horns below.

The back of the envelope is covered with 1 ruble stamps. This design seems to be the same (or very similar) to the 1889 stamp. It is two colors, with the center featuring the double eagle and post horns motif. Every stamp has a cancel (eat your heart out all of you complaining about modern pen cancels). In addition, in the lower left corner is a stamp that shows the envelope was received in Brooklyn, NY on July 29, nearly a month after the letter was sent.

Twenty-first Century

After the fall of the Soviet Union, Russia was once again an official country ad a postal issuing entity. Some of the stamps have referenced stamp designs from the nineteenth century, such as the examples below. Notice on the 1994 stamps how similar the design motifs are to the earlier stamps. These celebrate Russian Post Day.

On the 2020 stamps below the overall design is much different, with the double eagle motif a much less prominent part of the stamp. In a way, it kind of mirrors the second 1889 design where the foliage and decoration takes over more of the stamp. At least the post horns are more prominent.

**The original post dates to December 9, 2021. It was updated on April, 7, 2022.