Russian Collectors Imperial

Is there anyone here that collects Russian stamps imperial to 1916,
Came across a album in a thrift store that selling it through a silent auction, appears to have a scott #40 in it as well as a bunch of other early stuff. this is not a photo of the stamps but these stamps are in the album, they are hinged and appear to be unused.

Sorry the 2 stamps in the centre on the bottom row are in the album and also the first 4 in the top row. they dont have any cancelles on them I only used they photos as the lady in the thrift store doesnt like when you start to photograph stuff in the auction

While I do not actively collect this area, I intend to in the future, and have about a dozen from this time period. I do find them to be attractive.

Nice specimen stamps. First time I've seen Russian specimen stamps from that era. Thanks for posting the pics!

k

The auction is at $15 at the moment think I will wait till the auction date which is in a couple of weeks and place a bid on the day.
It seems to be a interesting subject to collect, but I heard a lot of fakes. I know the Scott #40 is made with vertical laid paper might head to the store and ask for a real good look at the stamps. You got to love the thrift store that ran by the church, if you put a few dollars into the donation jar they will let you take them out of the album and do a good study

hi there guys.
Nice stamps, but this question comes to my head right away.
Why would the russian write specimen not using their alphabet ( the cyrillic one ). Is that due to some U.P.U regulations or.
Perhaps someone have the answer. It would not be nice if they turned out to be fake or forgeries.

Yes, specimen stamps are stamps that have been demonetized and usually given as samples to other postal authorities and organizations, such as the UPU.

Since these are specimens, you CANNOT go by the standard catalog values. Some specimens are cheaper than the normal stamps, some specimen are more expensive; I do not know of any general rule of thumb. Some are overprinted "SPECIMEN", some have other overprints or perfins, some have obliterating blocks/dashes/slashes. And of course, forgeries exist as well.

I don't collect specimens and only know a little, but find them rather interesting.

Just so everyone know, the photo I POSTED is not from the album at the auction but these stamps are in the album I didn't have a camera with me but got good photo memory. When I went home I started to look up old Russian stamps till I found similar ones printed of a photo and went back to the store to study the stamps, The photo again is not of the album , when I went to the store I was able to match up these stamps, The stamp second from the right on the bottom row may be a Scott # 40 or a 54 or a 70 I will only be able to tell by the watermark(note to self always carry a Morley bright)so I could be looking at a stamp with a CV of a few grand or just a few bucks . If anyone would like to check out the value of a mint hinged that would be great. Seems the 40 and 70 are horizontal laid paper and the 54 is vertical

OK, now I understand what you meant. It didn't click in when I read your original post.

irishjack,

Russia Scott #40 is easy to tell apart and difficult to find. Its characteristic is the absence of thunderbolts above the posthorns in the lower part of the emblem and the larger size of the posthorns:



Its 2009 MH value is $1000.

Both Scott 54 and Scott 70 have thunderbolts above the posthorns, as below:



Scott 54 is on horizontally laid paper, Scott 70 on vertically laid paper. You can easily tell them apart by placing them face down on a black piece of paper:



Scott values for hinged are: $200 for Scott 54 and $10 for Scott 70.

Going to head down to the store later this week and have a good look, a lot of old Russian stamps come up for auction around here the area was settled by Russian mennonites, and they use to correspond with the old country. They often donate old stamps etc to the churches which end up for auction. Fingers crosses it will be a 40 but my luck a 70. Thanks Vasia

Not sure if these are what you are referring to. Here are a few classic Russian stamps.

Well its not a Scott #40,, Its a 54 MLH , I was bad and removed the stamp from the page so I could see if it was a 54 or 70.

Bad irishjack. As your punishment, go sit in the corner and don't touch any stamps for the next 10 minutes. I know that a long punishment, but I'm sure you'll make it through.

Hi Gentlemen, I have 15 Russian Imperial stamps , could you please help with value of them ?

Regards
Farazdak

irishjack::I think you should buy those stamps...don't look at the lady.
http://www.cherrystoneauctions.com/...89-92+Issues