Russian 1890 – 1909 Postal cards used in Finland

This article was first published in The Finnish Philatelist in February 2007

Russian stationery cards were valid franking in Finland from 1891 to 1918. These cards are listed in several catalogues listing Russian stamps used in Finland. They are, of course, also listed in catalogues dealing with Russian stationery. To the best of my knowledge no catalogues listing these stationery used in Finland are complete. This also includes those listing Russian stationery in general. It appears that they have never been widely collected or studied as used in Finland. There might be several reasons to this. Fagerholm publishes the only study I know about in 1969. Fagerholm used the Ascher catalogue when classifying the different stationery cards. According to Ascher the 1890 to 1909 cards can be split into several types. Fagerholm reports several cards from the various types, also card types not listed in Ascher. Even though there are quite many cards he have not found used in Finland.

This study includes Russian stationery cards from model 1890, 1906 and 1909. All these cards have been sold from Finnish post offices. Russian stationery cards valid franking in Finland, but not sold from Finnish post offices has not been included in this study.

When I first started to classify my cards I weren’t aware all types existing, and therefore concentrated on address line types I and II as listed in Facit. Later on, after purchasing the Ascher catalogue, I discovered the existence from type III and the different headings on 1909 4 kopek card.

As used in Finland in the period from 1891 to 1918 Russian stationery cards model 1890 and 1906 exists in two types. Model 1909 exists in four types.

The Norma catalogue lists all cards except the 1906 4/4 kopek double card. Norma does not split cards into various types.

Below you can find a description of those types I am aware of existing. In addition we can find a 3 kopek 1909 single card produced for the Russian army. This can also be found used. The printing on this card is blurred and the paper is of a much poorer quality than those meant for ordinary civil postal use.

Below you can find a catalogue of those stationery cards found used. Note that this list does not comply with listings found in Norma, Facit, Michel, Standard Collection or Ascher catalogues. My listing is based upon the examination of 326 cards in addition to those described in the survey by Fagerholm in 1969.

When ether all these types are sold at Finnish post offices or at Telegraph stations we don’t know.

Delivery and amount

Facit Special edition 1980 reports the amount of cards sold at Post offices in Finland. In later editions of Facit Special these are removed from the listings. These listings are incomplete and not accurate. For the time being any data regarding deliveries to The Finnish Post or accurate figures on how many sold at Finnish post offices is not available.

Printing and types

Cards from 1890, 1906 and 1909 issues are printed in typography at the Russian State Printing In St. Petersburg. They all have size 140 x 90 mm and printed with red text, value stamp and address lines only. Variation in cardboard size, thickness and color nuances has not been a part of this study.

All cards are made with address lines in two types; type I 25 dots/2cm on address lines, type II 32 dots/2cm on address lines. From the 1909 issue we also find cards with address lines combined from type I and II. These are listed as type III. 1890 3/3 and 4/4 kopek double cards have two types of text lines each, type a and b. Additionally, 4 kopek single cards from the 1909 issue has two types of text lines, type a and b.

Period of validity

Russian stationery cards came into sale from Finnish post offices from late 1899. The 3 kopek 1890 single card was the first to be delivered to The Finnish Post, already in March 1899. Russian stamps and stationery became valid franking in Finland from May 1^st 1891, but then only when delivered in mailboxes. For general use they became valid franking from April 5^th 1899. The 3 kopek postal cards “open letter” issued 1890 and 1906 were demonetized on January 14^th 1911. Domestic, Russian postal cards were valid until November 29 1917. To Russia they could be used until early May 1918 from Red Finland. To abroad they were valid until March 12^th 1918.

Tables and data’s

1890 Open letter
	#	Used in Finland
3 k	1I	√
3 k	1II	√
3/3 k a) ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО = 56 mm b) ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО = 54 mm	2Ia	√
	2Ib	Not found
	2IIa	Not found
	2IIb	√
4 k	3I	√
4 k	3II	√
4/4 k a) ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО = 43 mm b) ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО = 42 mm	4Ia	√
	4Ib	Not found
	4IIa	Not found
	4IIb	Not found

Table 1

The 3 kopek single card have been found in both type I and II, with type II in high numbers (>350) and relatively few from type I (10), including Fagerholms survey. Period of usage is 1891 – 1917.

From the 3/3 double card a total of 7 cards have been found, including half cards and complete cards. The types Ib and IIa have not been found. Period of usage is 1893 – 1907. According to Standard Collection catalogue type b appears on printings from 1900. I have found a type b card used already in 1895, bearing both departure and arriwal postmarks.

From the 4 kopek single card both type I and II have been found. From type I 15 cards have been found and from type II only one card. This don’t include Fagerholms numbers as he reports 62 cards not separating between type I and II. Period of usage is 1899 – 1910.

From the 4/4 double card a total of 9 cards have been found, including only one complete double card. Both type I and II have been found, but only one from type II. Whenether this card is type a or b can not be stated. Period of usage is 1902 – 1911.

1906 Open letter
	#	Used in Finland
3 k a) ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО = 66 mm. b) ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО = 64.5 c) Vignette open d) Distance between ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО and upper address line is 20 mm. e). Distance between ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО and upper address line is 21.5 mm.	5Ia	√
	5Ib	√
	5IIa	Not found
	5IIb	Not found
3/3 k	6I	Not found
3/3 k	6II	√
4 k a) Length of first address line is 80 mm. b) Length of first address line is 89 mm	7Ia	Not found
	7Ib	Not found
	7IIa	√
	7IIb	Not found
4/4 k	8I	Not found
4/4 k	8II	√

Table 2

The 3 kopek single card have been found in type I with a total of 19 cards. From these 17 are type Ia and 2 are type Ib. Fagerholm reports 4 cards type I and 36 cards type II not separarting type a and b. Regarding the types listed as c), d) and e) in the table these are known to exist and have been found used in Finland. Still the amount of cards are very low and I have sofar not been able to state possible combinations with the other types. Period of usage is 1907 – 1917.

From the 3/3 double card a total of 4 cards have been found, including half cards and complete cards, with only one complete double card. All cards found are type II. In addition to this Fagerholm reports 2 cards, not separating type I and II. Facit is the only catalogue listing type I. The existence from this type can be questioned. Even though, type I is listed in the table. Period of usage is 1908 – 1912.

From the 4 kopek single card only type IIa have been found in an amount of 12 cards. Type I and b have not been found. This don’t include Fagerholms numbers as he reports 7 cards not separating between type I and II. The Ascher catalogue separate only between type I and II, not a and b. SC catalogue separate between type a and b. Period of usage is 1909 – 1915.

From the 4/4 double card a total of 6 cards have been found, 3 of these are complete double cards. All cards found are type II. Facit is the only catalogue listing type I. The existence from this type can be questioned. Even though, type I is listed in the table. Period of usage is 1911 – 1915.

1909 Post card
	#	Used in Finland
3 k	9I	√
3 k	9II	√
3/3 k	10I	√
	10II	√
	10III	√
4 k a) Length of РОССІЯ – RUSSIE is 35.5 mm b) Length of РОССІЯ – RUSSIE is 41 mm	11Ia	√
	11Ib	Not found
	11IIa	√
	11IIb	√
	11IIIa	√
	11IIIb	Not found
4/4 k	12I	√
	12II	√
	12III	√

Table 3

The 3 kopek single card have been found both in type I and II in quite high numbers, with more than 100 type I and more than 200 type II including numbers from Fagerholms survey. Type III is not listed in any catalogue and is not found on this card. Period of usage is 1910 – 1918.

The 3 kopek single card is also produced and delivered to The Russian Army. These cards are simmilar to the ordinary 3 kopek single cards, but printed in a poor and blurred quality on poorer paper. These cards have never been sold from Finnish post offices and is not included in the table. Possibly they have been sold at Russian field post offices in Finland. Even though, 5 copies have been noted and all in type I and used in 1917.

From the 3/3 double card a total of 13 cards have been found, including half cards and complete cards, with 2 complete double cards. One complete double card type II and one type III. In addition to this Fagerholm reports 4 cards type I and 4 cards type II. Period of usage is 1910 – 1918.

From the 4 kopek single card we have found over 100 cards spread over type I, II and III. Types Ib and IIIb have not been found and they are not listed in Ascher catalogue. The existence from these types can be questioned. Even though they are listed in the table. Period of usage is 1909 – 1918.

From the 4/4 double card a total of 6 cards have been found, only one of these are complete double card. They have been found in type I, II and III. The existence of type III is questioned in Ascher catalogue. Period of usage is 1916 – 1917.

Endnotes

This survey is not complete in any matter, but hopefully with help from other collectors the above listings can be made more complete and accurate. Anybody who can provide addtional information or find used cards not listed or listed as not known is encouraged to provide this either directly to TFP or to the author. The result of this study would be a lot less worth if it hasn’t been for the kind help from other collectors. Many thanks to Jon Iversen, Dirk Vorwerck and ecspessially to Roger Quinby!

References:

Ascher catalogue, Norma catalogue, Michel catalogue, Facit Special catalogue, Standard Collection 1845 – 1917 Specialized catalogue. Circulärs from the FGPO. Roger P. Quinby’s exhibit ”Russian postal cards used in Finland”. Natalie Krasheninnikoff’s exhibit “Cards issued by the Russian Postoffice 1872-1918 and their reuse” as shown at Nordia 2006.

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October 8 2007

Additional information
November 24th 2007	Lape Special 2007 no’s added to conversion table.

1890 Open letter
	Ascher #	Norma #	Lape #	Michel #	Facit special #	Standard Collection #
3 k	13	SVK3	23	P13	RP1	12
3/3 k	15	SVK4	24	P15	RP2	14
4 k	14	SVK5	25	P14	RP3	13
4/4 k	16	SVK6	26	P16	RP4	15
1906 Open letter
3 k	17	SVK7	27	P17	RP5	16
3/3 k	19	SVK8	28	P19	RP6	18
4 k	18	SVK9	29	P18	RP7	17
4/4 k	20	NL	30	P20	RP8	19
1909 Post card
3 k	21	SVK10	31	P21	RP9	20
3/3 k	23	SVK11	32	P23	RP10	22
4 k	22	SVK12	33	P22	RP11	21
4/4 k	24	SVK13	34	P24	RP12	23

Table 4: Stationery catalgues conversion table.

Ill 1: 1890 Open letter 3/3 kopek complete double card. Additionally franked with 1 kopek to meet foreign post card rate. From Helsinki 20.VIII.04, to Christiania (Oslo), Norway. Type II address lines. Lenght of ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО is 54 mm making it type b.

Ill 2: 1906 Open letter 3 kopek single card. Domestic use from Kannus 18.VI.10, to Helsinki. Type I address lines. Lenght of ОТKРЬІТОЕ ПИСЬМО is 66 mm making it type a.

Ill 3: 1906 Open letter 4/4 kopek double card – reply half. Returned from Firenze 12.11.1914, to Helsinki. Censored in Russia. Type II address lines.