Lanarkshire Philatelic Society

"From Russia with Love"

Alan Wishart

Members of the Lanarkshire Philatelic Society were treated to a wonderfully interesting evening last Friday, 24th April, when, Alan Wishart, displayed "From Russia with Love."

Alan began with the first cancellation made on a letter – from Moscow – in 1794. He continued with various cancellations through the years from different cities of Russia. On 1st January, 1858, the first stamp was issued showing the Arms of Imperial Russia – and with posthorns below the design. This was issued during the time of Tsar Alexander II. In 1889 thunderbolts were added to the posthorns. Many stamps for these years were shown.

In 1872 the first postal stationery appeared with the stamp imprinted on. Various examples of such postal stationery were shown. A postcard showing a bridge – was, in fact, the frontier between Germany and Russia.

In 1883, Tsar Alexander III died and a "mourning envelope" was displayed. His sudden death meant that the marriage of Nicholas and Alexandria – the engagement of which was displayed on postal stationery – had to be brought forward. In 1896, an interesting envelope commemorating the visit of the Tsar and Tsarina (Nicholas and Alexandria) to France was displayed.

After the break Alan continued with some postcards depicting the Imperial Royal Family of Tsar Nicholas II. In 1905 stamps were issued for the War Orphans Fund (Russo-Japanese War). These depicted various monuments – to Admiral Kornilov at Sevastopol, to Minin and Pozharsky, Moscow, to St Peter the Great, St Petersburg, and also, on the 10k and 13k, the Moscow Kremlin.

In 1913, to commemorate the Tercentenary of the Romanov Dynasty, special stamps were issued – these depicted members of the Romanov dynasty throughout the centuries and some showed The Winter Palace and Romanov House, Moscow. Special postcards issued for this were also displayed.

Throughout the First World War years various War Charity stamps depicting, amongst others, the Russian hero, Ilya Murometz, and also St George and the Dragon!

Raymond Baldock, giving the Vote of Thanks, remarked that it had been most enlightening to be taken through the development of the Russian Post Office from the first cancellation in 1794 through to the War Issues of 1914 and gave warm thanks to Alan Wishart for his display.

Our next meeting in St Andrews Parish Church Hall is on Friday, 1st May, 2009 at 7:30pm when Club members will display ‘5 Sheets – or pay 50p’! 

Anyone with an interest in stamps, postal history, postcards etc is very welcome to attend.