- The first stamp, begin of the Estonian post
- Types of cancellations
- Tallinn
Other places:
- Aseri
- Kihelkonna
- Kuressaare
FIRST POSTAGE STAMP, BEGIN OF THE ESTONIAN POST
Estonia nr. 1
(jpg-picture resized 50 %)
The declaration of independence of Estonia is dated February 14, 1918. November 10, 1918 Jaan Paska, State Minister, commissioned Hindrek Rikkand to set up a management of the post. Also he was commissioned to take over the main post office in Tallinn from the Germans.
On November 13, 1918, eight older postal workers formed the management of Eesti Post: the start of the Estonian Post. November 19 the main post office was in operation. There were no stamps, but people had of course to paid: this was noted on the item. Old Russian date-stamps were used or provisional rubber stamps.
Hindrek Rikkand and Eduard Laaban came on november 18 to Bernhard Mäns Printing house: was it possible to print here the first Estonian postage stamp? The leader of the printing office, Rudolf Zero, convinced them that lithography was more suitable for the printing of postage stamps (instead typography) and composed a little original printing-form fot the first stamp. The conclusion was also that it was better to go to an lithography-printing office for the printing: Georg Böau Reljeef-ja Kivitrükikoda in Nômme.
THe first stamps were printed in the period 22-28 November in Nomme and were first sold on subday 24 november in Tallinn ans around Tallinn. The sheets: 4 x 100 stamps, lithography, the forerunner of offset printing. Estonia number 1 is a 5 kopek. postage stamp. From July 1, 1926, not longer valid for franking.
- first printing november 22-28, 1918: 514.00 postage stamps
- second printing december 11-17, 1918: 509.000 postage stamps
- third printing march 5-6, 1919: 304.500 postage stamps
- fourth printing april 2-4, 1919: 614.500 postage stamps
Total is 1.942.000 postge stamps.
The first postage stamp of Estonia is also forged by Jaan Lubi from Viljandi. He has produced forgeries of almost all early stamps of Estonia. Erik Sjôgren has described the forgeries of Jaan Lubi (see literature here below).
More information about this subject:
- Estland nr 1, de postzegel die Estland op de kaart van Europa plaatste / Elmar Ojaste ; vert. uit het Zweeds Fred Geers. - In: Het Baltische Gebied 2000 ; 36. - p. 8-11. - [=Estonia nr 1 the stamp which set Estonia on the map of Europe. - Article in Dutch language]. - Transl. from: Estland nr 1 : Frimärket som placerade Estland pä Europas karta. - In: Filatelisten : Svensk Filatelistik Tidskrift 1999 ; 10. - p. 617-619
- Distinguishin features of Jaan Lubi forgeries of Estonian stamps ; Part I / Erik Sjôgren. - In: Eesti Filatelist 1982 ; 28. - p 3-32. - Part II : 1983 ; 29. - p 1-38. - Part III : 1987 ; 31. - p. 3-27
- Vervalsingen van Estse postzegels : overzicht / Peter G. Gleason en Erik Sjôgren, Heldur Alver en Elmar Ojaste ; bewerking Jan Kaptein. - [Forgeries of Estonian postage stamps : survey, article in Dutch, adapted by Jan Kaptein. - In: Het Baltische Gebied 2001 ; 38. - p. 6-12
TYPES OF CANCELLATIONS
In the Handbook 'EESTI' you can find a good classification of the Estonian cancellations. The main types are the provisional cancellations (1918-1920) and the double circle postmarks (1919-1944).
The provisional cancellations According
EESTI main type stamps former Russian period A main type manuscript B main type locally presumanly C 
single line, capital first letter C1 main type uniform presumably, single or two or three line D
The double circle postmarks (1919-1944) According
EESTI main type former Russian date-stamps:
month in arabic numeral A 
former Russian date-stamps: month in arabic numeral,
between circles also two crosses
A1 
former Russian date-stamps: month in arabic numeral,
between circles also six pointed starlets
A3 main type Estonian double circle date-stamps,
month in Roman numerals B 
Estonian double circle date-stamps,
month in Roman numerals,
also Maltese crosses between circles B4 main type Estonian circle date-stamps, introduced the end of 1937,
month in Roman numeralbetween circles code letter and two pentagons C
Roller cancellers According
EESTI .. subtypes D1-D9 
rectangular date-stamp, month in Roman numeral, wavy lines D5 
circular date-stamp, month in Roman numeral, wavy lines D8
Machine cancellations (only in Tallinn) According
EESTI .. subtypes E1-E4 
wavy lines, time shown by 24-hours system E2
TALLINN
The postoffice of Tallinn is opened November 16, 1918. In the period 1918-1919 provisional Estonian cancellations were used. On this cover 1920 is an early Estonian double circle date-stamp used, code 'D': a former Russian date-stamp with the month in Arabic numeral. It is the subtype with two crosses between the circles (type A1 above). The same subtype is reported with code 'b', 'B', 'C' and 'E', 'F', 'G'.
Original print size of this image: 15,528 x 12,505 cm (is something more as the postal item)
This picture and all pictures below on this page, if not mentioned otherwise: scanned about 300 dpi. Then set right and cut out - noted the actual print size-, resized 25 % of this image and saved as jpg.
The 'Baltische Bahnhof' (Baltic railway-station) is the main railway-station of Tallinn.
The station was build in 1870 after the finishing of the Baltic Railway (Paldiski-Tallinn-St.Petersburg railway).
The station is opened oktober 24, (according new calender 5 november) 1870.
The station building is set on fire by retreating Soviet troops in 1941 and almost complete destroyed. After the war the building is partly rebuilt. The present station is built between 1960 an 1966 in 'Soviet-style'.
Original print size of this image: 13,928 x 8,797 cm (is something more as the postal item)
The roll canceller, type D5,
used 1920/1922
The postcard is sent to Riga, but insufficiently stamped: a to pay postmark of Riga. Resized 50 %:
Machine postmark of Tallinn, type E2 according EESTI-handbook (wavy lines, 24-hours system, no text).
Original print size of this image: 15,071 x 10,677 cm (is something more as the postal item)
On the picture the ancient town-walls.
Machine postmark of Tallinn, type E2 according EESTI-handbook (wavy lines, 24-hours system, no text).
Original print size of this image: 13,801 x 8,696 cm (is something more as the postal item)
The postmark, resized 50 %:
On the picture-side of this postcard: statue 'Russika'. This statue .......
Tallinn or Revel in the tsaristic period
Here a nice picture of Tallinn.
It is is the picture-side of a card, send from Aseri (see here below)
ASERI
Original print size of this image: 14,080 x 9,254 cm
(is something more as the postal item)
Card, sent from Aseri The nice picture-side: see here above.
Aseri (Estonian: Aseri vald) is a municipality in the County Ida-Virumaa, northern Estonia The parish has -according Wikipedia- 2238 inhabitants (2005).
The postmark, not so clear, resized 50 %:
KIHELKONNA
Original print size of this image: 17,509 x 9,864 cm
(is something more as the postal item)
A letter from Kihelkonna. The post-office of this place is opened February 2, 1918.
It is a very little parish,according Wikipedia 891 inhabitants (in 2006). The municipality is part of the Saara County, the island Saaremaa.
The postmark, resized 50 %:
This postmark is from 1924 and an Estonian circle date-stamp, month in Roman numeral, and Maltese crosses, so type B4 of the handbook. Here code 'B', but also code 'C' is used.
There are two provisional postmarks of this place used in 1919: a double circle date-stamp with Russion place name and a single -line stap with capital of the first Letter.
After these postmarks are used Estonian double circle cancellations, first a former Russian date-stamp, code 'A', month in Arabic numerals and 'EESTI' between circles. In the handbook type A1.
Later the type above on this letter.
KURESSAARE
On November 19, 1918, The Estonian post opened the doors in the city hall of Kuresaare.
Also in Kuressaare the Estonian post started with provisional cancellations, type C1, place in single line and with capital first letter. In 1918-1919 is also the date added with another stamp, as in this cancellation.
Kuresaare is the most important place of the island Saarema. In the tsaristic time the place was indicated as Arensburg and a famous health resort. With the independence of Estonia the name sounds too much 'German', so the name changed in Kuresaare. The name 'Kurre-saare' was already existing: with this names the mainland-Estonians indicated the island. The islanders called their island 'Saare-ma' , that means 'Island-land'.
The place name is 'KURESSAAR' from November 29, 1918, up to August 31, 1933. Then the spelling changed: from September 1, 1933, it is KURESSAARE.
Original print size of this image: 13,801 x 8,949 cm
(is something more as the postal item)
Card, sent from 'Kuressaar' in 1929. This type cancellation is a former Russian cancellation, Arabic numeral, and code letter 'A', used 1919-1932: type A3 (see above).
Also is used another former Russian cancellation, but with two Maltese crosses between the circles: used with code letter 'b' (1920-1933): type A4.
The postmark with the indication 'Kuressaar', resized 50 %:
The postmark, resized 50 %:
On this card is still -1932- the indication 'Kuressaar' used in the postmark. .
Original print size of this image: 14,182 x 9,153 cm
(is something more as the postal item)
Here the othe side of the card, a Christmas card.
The cancellation has code letter 'b' and it is -according the Handbook EESTI type A4, a former Russian postmark with Maltese crosses between the rings. Normally this type has Arabic numerals, but here the month is in Roman numerals.
I suppose because it is a very late use of this type postmark.
Card, 1940, the postmark not so clear, but codeletter 'A' in 1940: so type B4 according EESTI.
Original print size of this image: 14,029 x 8,949 cm (is something more as the postal item)
The postmark, resized 50%:
Card, sent from the postal agency in the castle of Kuressaare. The postal agency used a own postmark -see below- and an additional postmark.
Original print size of this image: 8,848 x 13,894 cm (is something more as the postal item)
On the other side - the card is used, but the handwritten message and address is very light and difficult to read-the postmark of the post-office in the castle, resized 50 %:
Kuressaare or Arensburg in the tsaristic period
Kuressaare or Kingissepa in the soviet period
- The first stamp, begin of the Estonian post
- Types of cancellations
- Tallinn
- Aseri
- Kihelkonna
- Kuressaare
Other places:
FIRST POSTAGE STAMP, BEGIN OF THE ESTONIAN POST
Estonia nr. 1 (jpg-picture resized 50 %) |
The declaration of independence of Estonia is dated February 14, 1918. November 10, 1918 Jaan Paska, State Minister, commissioned Hindrek Rikkand to set up a management of the post. Also he was commissioned to take over the main post office in Tallinn from the Germans. On November 13, 1918, eight older postal workers formed the management of Eesti Post: the start of the Estonian Post. November 19 the main post office was in operation. There were no stamps, but people had of course to paid: this was noted on the item. Old Russian date-stamps were used or provisional rubber stamps. Hindrek Rikkand and Eduard Laaban came on november 18 to Bernhard Mäns Printing house: was it possible to print here the first Estonian postage stamp? The leader of the printing office, Rudolf Zero, convinced them that lithography was more suitable for the printing of postage stamps (instead typography) and composed a little original printing-form fot the first stamp. The conclusion was also that it was better to go to an lithography-printing office for the printing: Georg Böau Reljeef-ja Kivitrükikoda in Nômme. |
THe first stamps were printed in the period 22-28 November in Nomme and were first sold on subday 24 november in Tallinn ans around Tallinn. The sheets: 4 x 100 stamps, lithography, the forerunner of offset printing. Estonia number 1 is a 5 kopek. postage stamp. From July 1, 1926, not longer valid for franking.
The first postage stamp of Estonia is also forged by Jaan Lubi from Viljandi. He has produced forgeries of almost all early stamps of Estonia. Erik Sjôgren has described the forgeries of Jaan Lubi (see literature here below).
More information about this subject:
TYPES OF CANCELLATIONS
In the Handbook 'EESTI' you can find a good classification of the Estonian cancellations. The main types are the provisional cancellations (1918-1920) and the double circle postmarks (1919-1944).
| According EESTI | ||
| main type | stamps former Russian period | A |
| main type | manuscript | B |
| main type | locally presumanly | C |
| single line, capital first letter | C1 |
| main type | uniform presumably, single or two or three line | D |
| According EESTI | ||
| main type | former Russian date-stamps: month in arabic numeral | A |
| former Russian date-stamps: month in arabic numeral, between circles also two crosses | A1 |
| former Russian date-stamps: month in arabic numeral, between circles also six pointed starlets | A3 |
| main type | Estonian double circle date-stamps, month in Roman numerals | B |
| Estonian double circle date-stamps, month in Roman numerals, also Maltese crosses between circles | B4 |
| main type | Estonian circle date-stamps, introduced the end of 1937, month in Roman numeralbetween circles code letter and two pentagons | C |
| According EESTI | ||
| .. | subtypes | D1-D9 |
| rectangular date-stamp, month in Roman numeral, wavy lines | D5 |
| circular date-stamp, month in Roman numeral, wavy lines | D8 |
| According EESTI | ||
| .. | subtypes | E1-E4 |
| wavy lines, time shown by 24-hours system | E2 |
TALLINN
|
The postoffice of Tallinn is opened November 16, 1918. In the period 1918-1919 provisional Estonian cancellations were used. On this cover 1920 is an early Estonian double circle date-stamp used, code 'D': a former Russian date-stamp with the month in Arabic numeral. It is the subtype with two crosses between the circles (type A1 above). The same subtype is reported with code 'b', 'B', 'C' and 'E', 'F', 'G'. Original print size of this image: 15,528 x 12,505 cm (is something more as the postal item) This picture and all pictures below on this page, if not mentioned otherwise: scanned about 300 dpi. Then set right and cut out - noted the actual print size-, resized 25 % of this image and saved as jpg. |
|
The 'Baltische Bahnhof' (Baltic railway-station) is the main railway-station of Tallinn. The station was build in 1870 after the finishing of the Baltic Railway (Paldiski-Tallinn-St.Petersburg railway). The station is opened oktober 24, (according new calender 5 november) 1870. The station building is set on fire by retreating Soviet troops in 1941 and almost complete destroyed. After the war the building is partly rebuilt. The present station is built between 1960 an 1966 in 'Soviet-style'. Original print size of this image: 13,928 x 8,797 cm (is something more as the postal item) |
|
The roll canceller, type D5, used 1920/1922 |
The postcard is sent to Riga, but insufficiently stamped: a to pay postmark of Riga. Resized 50 %: |
Machine postmark of Tallinn, type E2 according EESTI-handbook (wavy lines, 24-hours system, no text).
Original print size of this image: 15,071 x 10,677 cm (is something more as the postal item) On the picture the ancient town-walls. |
|
Machine postmark of Tallinn, type E2 according EESTI-handbook (wavy lines, 24-hours system, no text).
Original print size of this image: 13,801 x 8,696 cm (is something more as the postal item) |
|
The postmark, resized 50 %: On the picture-side of this postcard: statue 'Russika'. This statue ....... | |
Tallinn or Revel in the tsaristic period
| Here a nice picture of Tallinn. It is is the picture-side of a card, send from Aseri (see here below) |
ASERI
|
Original print size of this image: 14,080 x 9,254 cm (is something more as the postal item) | Card, sent from Aseri The nice picture-side: see here above. Aseri (Estonian: Aseri vald) is a municipality in the County Ida-Virumaa, northern Estonia The parish has -according Wikipedia- 2238 inhabitants (2005). The postmark, not so clear, resized 50 %: |
KIHELKONNA
Original print size of this image: 17,509 x 9,864 cm (is something more as the postal item) |
A letter from Kihelkonna. The post-office of this place is opened February 2, 1918. It is a very little parish,according Wikipedia 891 inhabitants (in 2006). The municipality is part of the Saara County, the island Saaremaa. The postmark, resized 50 %: |
This postmark is from 1924 and an Estonian circle date-stamp, month in Roman numeral, and Maltese crosses, so type B4 of the handbook. Here code 'B', but also code 'C' is used.
There are two provisional postmarks of this place used in 1919: a double circle date-stamp with Russion place name and a single -line stap with capital of the first Letter.
After these postmarks are used Estonian double circle cancellations, first a former Russian date-stamp, code 'A', month in Arabic numerals and 'EESTI' between circles. In the handbook type A1.
Later the type above on this letter.
KURESSAARE
| On November 19, 1918, The Estonian post opened the doors in the city hall of Kuresaare. Also in Kuressaare the Estonian post started with provisional cancellations, type C1, place in single line and with capital first letter. In 1918-1919 is also the date added with another stamp, as in this cancellation. |
Kuresaare is the most important place of the island Saarema. In the tsaristic time the place was indicated as Arensburg and a famous health resort. With the independence of Estonia the name sounds too much 'German', so the name changed in Kuresaare. The name 'Kurre-saare' was already existing: with this names the mainland-Estonians indicated the island. The islanders called their island 'Saare-ma' , that means 'Island-land'.
The place name is 'KURESSAAR' from November 29, 1918, up to August 31, 1933. Then the spelling changed: from September 1, 1933, it is KURESSAARE.
Original print size of this image: 13,801 x 8,949 cm (is something more as the postal item) |
Card, sent from 'Kuressaar' in 1929. This type cancellation is a former Russian cancellation, Arabic numeral, and code letter 'A', used 1919-1932: type A3 (see above). Also is used another former Russian cancellation, but with two Maltese crosses between the circles: used with code letter 'b' (1920-1933): type A4. The postmark with the indication 'Kuressaar', resized 50 %:
|
The postmark, resized 50 %: |
On this card is still -1932- the indication 'Kuressaar' used in the postmark. .
Original print size of this image: 14,182 x 9,153 cm (is something more as the postal item) Here the othe side of the card, a Christmas card. |
The cancellation has code letter 'b' and it is -according the Handbook EESTI type A4, a former Russian postmark with Maltese crosses between the rings. Normally this type has Arabic numerals, but here the month is in Roman numerals.
I suppose because it is a very late use of this type postmark.
| Card, 1940, the postmark not so clear, but codeletter 'A' in 1940: so type B4 according EESTI. Original print size of this image: 14,029 x 8,949 cm (is something more as the postal item) The postmark, resized 50%: |
|
Card, sent from the postal agency in the castle of Kuressaare. The postal agency used a own postmark -see below- and an additional postmark. Original print size of this image: 8,848 x 13,894 cm (is something more as the postal item) On the other side - the card is used, but the handwritten message and address is very light and difficult to read-the postmark of the post-office in the castle, resized 50 %: |
Kuressaare or Arensburg in the tsaristic period
Kuressaare or Kingissepa in the soviet period
