Soviet and post-Soviet postage rates

Soviet and post-Soviet postage rates in Russia changed multiple times in the period 1917 to present. They have been introduced by the Soviet and Russian Federation governmental organs and agencies and reflected in alteration of stamp denominations.

This article is about postage rates in the USSR and Russian Federation. For other uses, see Postage rate.
Order of the Russian Post announcing new postal rates as of 28 May 2008

Historical notes

The issue of Russian postage stamps is directly related to postage rates in force at given times during the history of the Russian postal service. Stamp denominations were applied to meet a public need to pay postage costs according to the current rates. Issuing values for the revenue generation was not a purpose of the state policy in this area. Change of postage rates is an important aspect in studying the Russian postal history and collecting its items.[1]

Russian postage rates, especially those of the Soviet times, have not been thoroughly researched in philatelic literature. This part of the Russian postal history is less studied, with comments appearing within some other context. Alteration of the postage rates led to the increases in the face value of the stamps as reflected in the numbers printed and overcharged. Thus, the rates were often the reason to revalue current stamps, issue new postage stamps or use various surcharges.[1]

Soviet postal rates for the despatch and delivery of internal mail were changed numerous times. For example, there were about 30 rate changes during the period 1918 to 1966.[1] Only over the first five years when the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic existed as a sovereign state, from the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 until the formation of the Soviet Union in 1922, postage rates changed 23 times. The early Soviet post office struggled to keep them up.[2]

Usually, new rates were introduced by special decrees of the Government. In a few cases, this was done by the circularised orders of the postal administration known as "post office circulars". The rates for international postage were established by the same People's Commissariat for Posts and Telegraphs, later superseding by the Ministry of Communications of the USSR.[1]

Gold Standard issue of the USSR. Rates in currency backed by the gold standard were introduced due to the Soviet monetary reform in the 1920s

During the USSR period from 1923 up to 1967, postal rates were changed ten times. Following the RSFSR practice, there was a special supplementary rate in case of registered mail that was added to the normal postage charge. This procedure was in effect until 1948 when a specific rate was established for registered mail. Also, higher rates for special classes of mail existed from 1923 to 1938 that were used for:[1]

  • “especially important” letters and packets,
  • “express” postal sendings (special delivery mail),
  • “special messenger” (for mail delivery to addresses more than 25 km from the nearest post office).

An additional fee was charged for sending mail by air. Internal airmail rates were fixed in 1932 and those for international airmail in 1939. From 1936, the airmail rates were applied to regular operations all year round.[1]

For underpaid internal mail, there was a charge at the registration rate. Charge for underpaid international mail was double the deficient postage.[1]

Postal rates were based on the following gradation of letters by weight:[1]

  • “ordinary” letters weighing up to 20 g were charged at regular rates,
  • letters weighing between 20 and 40 g were charged at double rates,
  • letters weighing 40 to 60 g were paid triple rates and so forth.

Similar policy and practice of introducing postage rates have been continuing in the Russian Federation since 1992.

Express cover sent from Leningrad 16.3.33 to Moscow, reverse receiver postmark 17 03 33. Black on purple express mail registration label no. 188. Scarce usage of the 80k express stamp, paying the correct 80k rate, which was valid for letters from August 1, 1931.

Historical rates

This table represents an outline of the overall fluctuations of domestic postal rates in the Soviet and post-Soviet times.

History and range of internal postage rates in Russia since 1917
Years Postcards Letters Registered mail letters
Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum Maximum
Russian Republic, RSFSR
1917–1923 5 kopecks, free of charge[a] 20,000 rubles[b] 10 kopecks, free of charge[a] 50,000 rubles[b] 20 kopecks 100,000 rubles[b]
USSR
1923–1991 3 kopecks 25 kopecks 4 kopecks 40 kopecks 6 kopecks 1 ruble
Russian Federation
1992–2015 15 kopecks 650 rubles[b] 20 kopecks 950 rubles[b] 40 kopecks 1100 rubles[b]
a At the government’s expense from 1 January 1919 until August 1921.[1][3]
b Due to hyperinflation.

See also

References
  1. Oliver A. (2007). Russian Postage Rates: A chronological listing (PDF). [Alan Oliver]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  2. Healey, M. (2014-04-03). "Russian cliche pane error in Cherrystone February auction". US: Linn’s Stamp News & Scott Catalogue: Stamp-collecting news, insights and values: Marketplace: Stamp-market-insights: 2014: 04. Linn's Stamp News. Sidney, OH: Amos Media Co. ISSN 0161-6234. Archived from the original on 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
  3. "December, 22 in history". RT projects: Russiapedia: On this day: Russia in a click. Moscow: RT.com; Autonomous Nonprofit Organization “TV-Novosti”, Channel “RT TV”. Archived from the original on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2015-06-26.
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