Estonian Stamps

Nice stamps and cover vayolene!

Shown here is Estonia's second revenue series. The 10p, 50p, 1M and 20M values appeared in July 1919, and the 10M and 100M values appeared in 1921. The J. Barefoot Baltic States Revenues catalog lists these as #s 255-60. The catalog also lists the 1M value perforated "rough perf approx 11 1/2 as #261, with date of issue/first appearance unknown.

The document pic shows a bill/invoice of Th. Seiboth & Co. (Tallinn) from January 3, 1927. This company dealt in "petroleum products, machine oils, and technical & colonial goods." The addressee is being billed for one box of table salt (100 one half kg packs).

The 50p stamp of this series pays part of the 2.50M documentary fee. The two 1M stamps are from the next revenue series (1923-8).

Nice mixed issue receipt. When you collect these first two issues off-document (ie, as loose stamps), keep an eye out for the many different kinds of paper used.

The most commonly used papers in the first issue (1919-1923) are wove, with either vertical mesh or horizontal mesh. Hold the stamp up at a low angle to the light to see the mesh pattern, although it isn't always obvious. The 50 penni is also found horizontally ribbed.

The commonest paper in the second (1923-28) issue is wove, with no visible mesh pattern, possibly the so-called Ligat paper which was used in the Weaver and Smith postage stamps at the same time. Lower values (1m-20m) can also be found with vertical ribbed paper, and so far I've found horizontally ribbed on the 1m and 10m duties. The same variation is seen in the Smith and Weaver stamps too, and it should be possible to identify the date of the printings from the studies of the paper used for the postage stamps.

By the time you get to the third issue (1928), the paper is simple wove.

Ants Kulo's book on Estonia revenue stamps is the best reference, although he only hints at the use of different paper types. Plenty of room for research here, in a dusty corner!

Thanks Tim!

I am hoping someone can help me to identify/understand several modern Estonian stamps I acquired in some kiloware a few years ago. They are the 2010 International Children's Day 5.50kr/.35euro self-adhesive stamp which was issued as a pane of 10 (2 x 5) in a quantity of 1 million stamps. So, I received quite of few of these in the kiloware.

Two of the stamps have what appears to be a "101" counting, or control number in the upper right corner over the sun. One stamp has a Parnu cancel, the other a Tallinn cancel.

Does anyone else have this variety, and if you know, please, what is it?

1993
21 stamps & sheet
1 semi postal, not listed back of book.

As in listed, but not as 'back of book' but as stamp within the normal set?

In Europe, we do not consider these 'semi-postals' but ordinary franking and avoid them like the plague as it is a waste of money to pay extra on postage for charities you cannot select yourself.

Yes, not afforded a "B" prefix, as used for semi postals.
Listed in the general sequence.

Can you name all the countries shown on the shields, without cheating?

With one more country (Belarus)

Interesting, I thought there was 10.
Lithuania caught me out, looked like India to me
so I was lost.
Interesting designs.

10 indeed.
Belarus participated in the 1997 Baltic Sea Games,but is not bordered by any sea

Nor is Norway bordered by the Baltic Sea.

Wiki suggests "near"
The Baltic Sea Games was a multi-sport event between countries near the Baltic Sea. It was held on two occasions: first in 1993 then for a final time in 1997

From the Library.

Philately and Postal History Catalogue
Hurt / Ojaste

Brimming over with images and information
in split page Bi Lingual

Bravo! producers, a fabulous monograph!

FREE gift from SCF member CALSTAMP
Unbelievable generosity.

Rod, like you I was amazed at their posting this on line. There are several other late 20th century catalogues available, each with their own level of detail but Hurt and Ojaste is the benchmark, and contains surprisingly few errors (an addenda with these errors and updates is also available online). My hard copy is very heavily annotated! H&O don't cover revenues but there are a couple of good sources out there from Barefoot and Ants Kulo.

That surprises me Tim,
I wanted to post a few other pages, explaining the contents,
but was put off by their stringent copyright paragraphs.
I had no idea it was online.

However agreed, it is a wonderful study, that can only increase
the collection of Estonia as a discipline.