International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Union Of Soviet Socialist Republics

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

• The first meter was installed in 1928. All stamps are inscribed “CCCP” either in the frank or the town mark. The Union collapsed into its constituent states in 1991. For issues since the break-up, see BELARUS, ESTONIA, KAZAKHSTAN, LATVIA, LITHUANIA, MOLDOVA, RUSSIA, and UKRAINE. Some Soviet meter designs continued to be used unaltered for months and even years after the break-up.

• The stamps are grouped according to appearance of the frank and usage:

A - Rectangle with simulated perforation border

B - Rectangle with straight-line border

C - Horizontal octagon

D - Upright octagon

PP - Special stamps for Parcel Post

PV - Public, self-service vending machine stamps

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GROUP A: Rectangle with simulated perforation border

A1. Universal “NZ” (FV-3), 1928.

Central design is hammer and sickle over “CCCP” over globe.

“ПОЧТА” at top and value at bottom.

Value repeated in both bottom corners with “КОП” between.

TM: Wide solid blocks with rounded outer corners above and below date. Date with two curved lines at each side

Values: 2 [$100]

6, 8, 18 [$400]

5, 15 [$600]

a. Used without town mark. Two examples known, used on cover with 20 February and 5 March 1928 date stamps. The former is the earliest known use of a Soviet meter. [$800]

NOTE: Two denominations (3K and 12K) are known only as essays. The essays have different inscriptions at bottom for each denomination and have town mark of six wavy lines with date above “MOCKBA”.

A2. Universal “Midget” (LV-6), 1930. [Extremely rare, value unknown]

Nearly identical to Type A1 but with a double circle town mark and the value set is different.

Values: 1, 2, 5, 10, 15

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GROUP B: Rectangle with straight-line border

B1. Francotyp “A” (MV), 1929. [$5]

Horizontal frank with double line border.

“C C C P ” curved at top without stops, hammer and sickle at bottom, “КОП” at sides above short columns of horizontal dashes.

S# high or centered between TM and frank.

Date without stops.

A. "C C C P" without stops

B. "C.C.C.P." with stops

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

Description of the cover at right:

The large circular marks are no postal cancellations or censor marks. The text says "УСМО * Московская расчетная контора * За счет с оглашения № 4852" and translates as "USMO * Moscow accounting office * On account of agreement number 4852". УСМО = Управления Cвязи Московской Области = Moscow Oblast' Directorate of Communications. An 'Oblast' is the equivalent of a province. УСМО had a factory in Moscow which was evacuated to Shadrinsk in the Cheliabinsk Oblast' in November 1941 because of the war. It is still there. A smaller factory was re-established in Moscow in 1942.

The word "расчетная" in the circular mark relates to "postage-on-account" mail originating from a number of Soviet institutions and enterprises in the 1920's and 1930's. The procedure followed is described in an article in the Post Rider, the journal of the Canadian Society of Russian Philately.

The cover shows an unusual use of this service, combining both a meter frank (15k being the international ordinary letter rate) and the use of the "on account" mark. It is conceivable that the meter frank was applied by an automated machine located on the enterprise's grounds and then the circular cancel applied by a supervisor to validate its use. The meter-franking machine would be periodically checked by the post-office to assess the total sum owed by the enterprise.

B2. Francotyp “B” (MV). [$5]

Nearly identical to Type B1 but wider spacing, 74-75 mm between centers of date and value figures. "C.C.C.P." with stops.

The date has stops after D and M.

TM: DC

V/F: 000

B3. Francotyp “C” (MV). [$5]

As Type B2 but slightly wider (77-79 mm between centers of date and value figures).

"C.C.C.P." with stops. Date without stops and the value figures are somewhat smaller.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

B4. Hasler “F88” (MV). [$10]

Upright rectangle with inner box around value figures.

“CCCP / ПОЧТА” at top, “КОП.” at bottom.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

B5. Postalia (MV). [$15]

Narrow upright rectangle with double-line border.

“CCCP” at top, “ПОЧТА” at bottom.

TM: BIC

V/F: ＊,00

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GROUP C: Horizontal octagon

C1. Francotyp “A” (MV), 1934. [$10]

Frank with double line outside border and shield-shaped inner border.

“ПОЧТА CCCP” flanking star at top. Hammer and sickle at sides.

S# high between TM and frank.

Date without stops.

TM: BIC, SC with date in rectangle

V/F: 000

C2. Francotyp “B” (MV). [$300]

As Type C1 but spacing is wider (74-75 mm between centers of date and value figures), and date with stops after D and M.

TM: DC

V/F: 000

C3. Pitney Bowes “R” (MV). [$5]

Small frank with double outer frame line.

“CC☆CP” above “ПОЧТА” at top.

Date figures raised in relation to value figures.

Value figures with “K” at both sides.

TM: ≋000

C4. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” series (MV).

Very similar to Type C3 but frank is larger, and town mark and date figures are different.

TM: DC, BIC

V/F: ≋000

C5. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” series (MV).

Frank as Type C4 in size but with inner box around value figures and with “ПОЧТА / CCCP” at bottom. “CC☆CP” at top.

Date and value figures on same level.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋000

C6. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” series (MV). [$20]

Frank identical to Type C4 but date and value figures are on same level as with Type C5.

TM lowered.

This appears to be a hybrid stamp, a 5000 series die fitted to a 6300 series meter.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋000

C7. Frama (MV).

As Type C5 but much larger.

“ПОЧТА / CCCP” very small at bottom.

Value figures thick.

TM: DC, SC with date in frame

V/F: 0000

C8. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300 series” (MV).

Small octagon no wider than it is tall.

With single-line outer border.

“K” only at right.

TM: DC with inner circle flat at top and bottom

V/F: ≋000

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GROUP D: Upright octagon

• Stamps of this group that come from Perm machines are usually printed in black with other colors being rare. Red, brown, and light purple stamps are known.

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Sub-group DA: ПОЧТА / CCCP” at bottom

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DA1. Francotyp “C” (MV), 1950. [$20]

Double outer frame line and inner box around value figures.

Small “CCCP” above star containing hammer and sickle at top, “ПОЧТА” curved.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000 (G)

DA2. Perm “C” (MV). [$10]

As Type DA1 but frank is narrower and with single-line outer border.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

DA3. Perm (MV). [$15]

As Type DA1 with double-line outer border, but “ПОЧТА” at bottom is straight.

With or without S# high between TM and frank.

TM: BIC, SC with box around date.

A. Inner box around value figures complete

B. Inner box open at center of sides

V/F: 000 (O)

000 (G) [$15]

DA4. Perm (MV).

As Type DA3A but sides are blank without “K”.

TM: BIC

A. Star at top of frank is solid containing a negative hammer & sickle

B. Star at top of frank is outlined containing a positive hammer & sickle

V/F: 000

DA5. Perm (MV).

As Type DA4 but blank at top as well as sides.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

DA6. Postalia (MV).

As Type DA3 but very narrow spacing between TM and frank.

Value figures thin and narrow.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000 0000

DA7. Krag (MV).

Fairly large frank without inner box around value figures.

TM: SC

V/F: 0000

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Sub-group DB: “КОП” at bottom

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DB1. Perm (MV).

Frank with single line outer border and inner box around value figures.

Hammer and sickle in star at top.

“ПОЧТА” and “CCCP” stacked at sides.

Value figures stacked, and date figures vertical.

Size of frank inner box and inscriptions variable.

TM: BIC, SC

V/F: 000

a. Narrow frank with narrow lettering

DB2. Perm (MV).

As Type DB1 but date and value figures are horizontal.

TM: BIC

V/F: 000

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Sub-group DC: “РУБ” at bottom

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DC1. Perm (MV).

Frank with single line outer border and inner box around value figures.

Hammer and sickle in star at top.

“ПОЧТА” and “CCCP” stacked at sides.

Value figures stacked, and date figures vertical.

Frank shape and inscription size quite variable, as shown.

TM: SC

V/F: 000

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Sub-group DD: Blank at bottom

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DD1. Perm (MV).

Frank with single line outer border and inner box around value figures.

Hammer and sickle in star at top.

“ПОЧТА” and “CCCP” stacked at sides.

Value figures stacked, and date figures vertical.

TM: SC

V/F: 000

DD2. Perm (MV).

As Type DD1 but date and value figures horizontal.

TM: SC

V/F: 000

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GROUP E: Provisional stamps without frank frame

E1. Perm (MV).

Frank without frame used provisionally in Vladavostok a few months before the transition from USSR to Russia in 1991.

Value and date figures horizontal.

TM: SC

V/F: 000

a. Used without town mark

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GROUP PP: Special stamps for Parcel Post

PP1. Unknown (MV), 1929. [Extremely rare, value unknown]

Frank at left and town mark at right.

Square frank with straight double-line border.

“ПОЧТОВ. СБОР." (postage) at top of frank above value figures with five horizontal lines below.

At left of frank is “ЦЕН.” above a number and at right “ПОСЫЛКА” (package) (meaning "ценная посылка" = 'insured parcel') above what appears to be a registration number with “C.C.C.P.” and hammer and sickle below.

One example known.

TM: BIC (inner line under town name at top)

V/F: 00P00K

PP2. Unknown (MV). [Extremely rare, value unknown]

Very similar to Type PP1 but with inscriptions in Ukrainian: “ПОШТОВ.СБIР” (postage) at top of frank, “ЦΙН.” at left, and “ПОКУНОК” (package) (meaning 'insured parcel') at right above what appears to be a registration number with “C.C.C.P.” and hammer and sickle below.

One example known.

TM: SC with text below

V/F: 00P00K

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GROUP PV: Special stamps from public, self-service vending machines

PV1. Undetermined, probably Perm, 1938. [Extremely rare, value unknown]

Small, nearly square frank with saw tooth outer border, straight line inner border, and inner box around value figures.

“C.C.C.P.” at top, “ПОЧТА” at bottom, and “K”s at the sides.

This stamp was generated by an automat machine used for three days during the Exhibition of Socialist Communications in Moscow in 1938.

Only one example is known to survive.

TM: large DC

One value seen: 15

PV2. Perm, 1973. [Extremely rare, value unknown]

Frank is simple upright rectangle, inscribed “10” above “КОП” with “УПЛАЧЕНО” (PAID) across the bottom.

Between the town mark and the frank is a boxed “3” and a vertical number.

Used for self-service registered mail.

Date figures read down.

Two examples known, one with town mark "XAPbKOV" (Kharkov) and the other with post office name unengraved.

TM: SC

One value seen: 10

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References

External Links

• Postage on Account article

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