Russian Stamps.

Evaluation please!!
Are these worth anything at all?!

From the original thread...

In nice condition, the first would have a catalogue value of several dollars, and the second, a few dollars. I believe the others are more common.

There is something going on with the condition of a couple of them. The first, in particular, appears to have heavy staining, which might reduce the value to near zero. A couple of them have small issues with the perforations, as well.

One thing that is often surprising to people who are new to stamps is that the early Russian material exists in huge quantities. The supply far outstrips the demand.

To me, these appear to be (in order shown):

Scott # and catalog value (in reality, you can't get catalog value

37 - 6.00
43 - 6.00
28 - 1.00
36 - .75
227 - .30

On the first one, the pattern of the "discoloration" is that of the overprinted Burelage?? Is that the right term? It was a security measure, I think.

The first stamp isn't Scott #37 (which didn't have thunderbolts on the post horns). Instead it's Scott design A11.

The staining is actually the varnish lozenge pattern on the 1900 issue which has discoloured with age. The stamp is Scott #84 or #84a or #84b.

The second stamp is also type A11 so isn't Scott #43.

Nice detective work Nigel!

Further:
The postage design ink was printed over the varnish,
and any attempt to wash a postmark off would also
was the print off.

Example from when I was a newbie with Austria, when
I washed the gum from this stamp with similar but lined varnish.