Airmail of the Soviet Union
Stamps, postal history, cancels and labels related to airmail of the RSFSR and the Soviet Union. Numbering and postage rates according Michel catalogue.
Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR)
[edit]The RSFSR existed as independent state from 1917-11-07 to 1922-12-30.
1922
[edit]First commercial airmail service started 1922-06-04. The first flight departed from Moscow and routed Smolensk-Kaunas-Konigsberg and further by train to Berlin (3 first flight covers known). The rate for registered letters for this service was 60k.
1922-11-08: The RSFSR October Revolution commemorative overprinted with a red airplane. Only sold at the Moscow General Post Office.
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RFSFR 45R - (№ 200x)
Soviet Union (USSR)
[edit]The USSR existed as independent federal state from 1922-12-30 to 1991-12-26.
1923
[edit]October 16, 1923: airmail rate set for international mail, valid to April 30, 1924. Both Soviet and RSFSR stamps could be used, the latter being recalculated at a daily published rate.
- Letters - 50k per 20 grams
1923-08 Prepared airmail set but not issued and later sold to stampdealers. Imperforate, normal (x) or thin (y) paper. Depicting Fokker F.III.
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1R - (№ XV)
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3R - (№ XVI)
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5R - (№ XVII)
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10R - (№ XVIII)
1924
[edit]May 1, 1924: additional airmail rates set for international mail, valid to April 30, 1925.
- Postcards - 32k
- Registered letters - 60k per 20 grams
1924-05-05 issue: 1923 Fokker FIII set surcharged according new currency standard. Originally to be used exclusively for payment of the additional airmail fee but from 1926-09-06 allowed as franking for all mail types.
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5k-20k set - (№ 267-270)
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"Wide 5" variety, pane of 25 - (№ 268II, 10k on 1923 XVIIx type II)
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1924-07-15 registered cover Moscow-Berlin. Correct 60k franking, (reverse 10k).
1925
[edit]May 1, 1925: new increased airmail rates for international mail, valid to April 30, 1926.
- Postcards - 50k
- Registered letters - 70k per 20 grams
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1925-05-21 early airmail cover Leningrad-Basel Switzerland. Correct 50k rate.
1926
[edit]February 11, 1926. Airmail rates set for domestic mail, valid to May 1930. In addition to all other fees:
- Postcards - 10k
- Letters - 15k per 20 grams
May 1, 1926. Opening of the international Moscow – Berlin airline. New international airmail rates:
- To Germany and other countries by airmail to Berlin and then by train or ship - 30k
- To England, France and Holland - 40k
- Registered letters - 58k
1927
[edit]May 1, 1927 Airmail rates, additional fee:
- Postcards to Germany and other countries - 10k
- Postcards to England and France - 16k
- Letters to Germany and other countries - 15k
- Letters to England and France - 26k
- Registered letters - 44k
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First International Air Post Congress at The Hague, initiated by the Soviet Union. 10k, 15k - (№ 326-327)
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10k with broken '7' plate error
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1927-07-12 registered airmail Moscow-Berlin. Correct 44k franking.
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1927-10-04 airmail cover Moscow-Leysin Switzerland. Correct 44k franking.
1928
[edit]May 1, 1928 new airmail rates for despatch from Moscow, depending on destination. In addition to all other fees:
- Postcards
- Danzig, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - 10k
- Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, Romania, Spain, Yugoslavia - 30k
- Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and other
countries via Germany - 20k
- Letters
- Danzig, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - 20k
- Bulgaria, Finland, Italy, Romania, Spain, Yugoslavia - 40k
- Austria, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, and other
countries via Germany - 30k
1930
[edit]-
1930-09-13 cover Moscow-Berlin
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Special biplane cancel for same-day air service Leningrad-Berlin
1930 - Zeppelin
[edit]On 10 September 1930 German airship LZ 127 'Graf Zeppelin' flew from Moscow to Germany, mail for despatch with this flight was accepted at the Moscow GPO, a few hours before take off. In addition to normal rates a fee was imposed and could be paid by stamps that were issued for this event. The rate for postcards was 40k (blue issue) and for letters 80k (red issue). Affixing both stamps on one mail item was not allowed.
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Graf Zeppelin and a depiction of the 'Call to Complete the Five-Year Plan in Four Years'. perforated 40k, 80k - (№ 390-391)
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Graf Zeppelin and a depiction of the 'Call to Complete the Five-Year Plan in Four Years'. imperforate 40k, 80k - (№ 390C-391C)
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40k plate error: stop after '40'
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1930-09-10 uprated postal card shipped by LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin
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1930-09-10 cover shipped by LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin
1931
[edit]-
Zeppelin construction 10k-1R set used - (№ 397-401)
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10k, 20k, 1R blocks of four - (№ 397, 399, 401)
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50k slate blue 'Aspidka' - (№ 400)
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1931-05-15 registered airmail cover Moscow-Berlin, philatelic full set franking
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1931-06-08 registered airmail cover Moscow-Lorch (Germany), philatelic full set franking
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1931-08-04 registered airmail cover Moscow-Stettin Germany. Correct 65k franking
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1931-08-19 registered airmail cover Moscow-Stettin Germany. 75k franking
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1931-09-08 registered airmail cover Moscow-Berlin. Correct 65k franking
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USSR 1931-09-18 registered airmail cover Leningrad-USA, special biplane cancel 'LENINGRAD-BERLIN'
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1931-09-19 registered airmail cover Moscow-Berlin-Vienna, 65k franking
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USSR 1931-09-19 registered airmail cover Leningrad-Berlin-Vienna, special biplane cancel 'LENINGRAD-BERLIN'
1931 - Zeppelin Polar flight
[edit]The polar flight (Polarfahrt 1931) lasted from 24 to 31 July 1931. The Zeppelin rendezvoused with the Soviet icebreaker Malygin. It exchanged 120 kg (260 lb) of souvenir mail with the airship. Fifty thousand cards and letters, weighing 300 kg (660 lb), were flown. The costs of the expedition were met largely by the sale of special postage stamps issued by Germany and the Soviet Union to frank the mail carried on the flight.
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Malygin perforate 30k-2R - (№ 402-405)
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Malygin imperforate 30k-2R - (№ 402B-405B)
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1931-07-25 postcard Graf Zeppelin Polar Flight 1931
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1931-07-25 cover Graf Zeppelin Polar Flight 1931
1932
[edit]Airmail rates from May 1, 1932:
- Afghanistan, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Mongolia:
- Postcards 20k
- Letters 40k per 20 grams / registered 75k
- Austria, China, Czechoslovakia, France, Holland, Ireland, Japan:
- Postcards 40k
- Letters 50k per 20 grams
Domestic express airmail rates from May 15, 1932:
- Postcards 50k
- Letters 80k per 20 grams
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15k - (№ 406)
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50k, 1R - (№ 410-411)
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1932-08-26 Polar expedition cover used for the first polar aircraft flight made in 1932 from Franz Josef Land to Arkhangelsk
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1932-08-26 Polar expedition postcard used for the first polar aircraft flight made in 1932 from Franz Josef Land to Arkhangelsk
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1932-09-15 registered airmail postal cover sent from Leningrad to Berlin, special biplane cancel 'LENINGRAD-BERLIN'
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1932-09-19 registered airmail postal card sent from Leningrad to Basel, special biplane cancel 'LENINGRAD-BERLIN'
1933
[edit]-
Osoaviahim-1 balloon 5k-20k - (№ 453-455)
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1933-06-14 cover Moscow-Zurich. Correct 85k franking.
1934
[edit]-
10 year airmail anniversary 5k-80k - (№ 462-466)
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Osoaviakhim-1 memorial 5k, 10k, 20k - (№ 480-482)
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Zeppelin 'SSSR-B4 Komsomolskaya Pravda' 5k - (№ 483)
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Zeppelin landing 10k - (№ 484)
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Zeppelin 'Klim Voroshilov' 15k - (№ 485)
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Zeppelin engines 20k - (№ 486)
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Zeppelin 'Lenin' 30k - (№ 487)
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1934-07-29 registered express airmail cover Moscow-London
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1934-10-20 registered express airmail cover Moscow-Luzern
1935-1936
[edit]From May 1, 1936 to June 9, 1950 the airmail tariff was set at 1.50 ruble for ordinary airmail and 2.30 ruble for registered airmail.
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Chelyuskin rescue set 1k-50k - (№ 499-508)
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Moscow-San Francisco 1R surcharge on 10k Levanevsky - (№ 527)
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Variety small 'f' - (№ 527II PFII)
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1935-01-15 registered express cover Moscow-Zurich
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1936-10-13 registered cover Moscow-Prague. 2.30R correct franking.
1937
[edit]-
Tupolev ANT-14 unused miniature sheet - (№ 570 / B3)
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Tupolev ANT-14 miniature sheet - (№ 570 / B3)
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Airplane set 10k-1R - (№ 571-577)
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1937-07-13 cover Moscow-Prague.1.50R correct franking.
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1937-07-13 cover Moscow-Prague reverse
1938
[edit]-
Polar expedition set 10k-80k - (№ 584-587)
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40k imperforate - (№ 586U)
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First non-stop transpolar flight Moscow-Portland set 10k-50k - ((№ 595-598)
1939
[edit]Airmail rates from February 6, 1939 (decree number 152, 1 February 1939) to September 16, 1948:
- Postcards:
- Domestic airmail 30K
- International airmail including registration 60K (1940)
- Separate registration for international airmail abolished (1940)
- Letters:
- Domestic airmail 60K
- Registered 30K in addition to all other fees
- International airmail including registration 1R (1940)
- Separate registration for international airmail abolished (1940)
Types of 1938 Regular issue overprinted in red '18 August Aviation day':
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Glider 10k - (№ 709)
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Parachutists 30k - (№ 710)
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Hydroplane 40k - (№ 711)
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Balloon 50k - (№ 711)
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Plane 1R - (№ 712)
1944
[edit]-
10th Osoaviakhim-1 balloon accident, 1R - (№ 892-894)
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10th Osoaviakhim-1 balloon accident, 1R blocks of four - (№ 892-894)
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Lieutenant Talalikhin, 1R on 30k surcharge - (№ 899)
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Captain Nikolai Gastello, 1R on 30k surcharge - (№ 900)
1947
[edit]-
1947-07-28 philatelic cover Leningrad-Bern
1948
[edit]Airmail rates from September 16, 1948 to June 10, 1950:
- Postcards:
- Domestic airmail 60K
- Domestic registered airmail 1.60R
- International ?
- Letters:
- Domestic airmail 1R
- Domestic registered airmail 2R
- International registered airmail 2.30R
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Yakovlev Yak-9 1R - (№ 1297)
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1948-01-07 registered cover Moscow-Prague. 2.30R correct franking.
1949
[edit]-
Ilyushin Il-12 set 50k-3R - (№ 1401-1408)
1950
[edit]Airmail rates from June 10, 1950 to September 1, 1957. Rates for international mail were reduced:
- Postcards:
- Domestic airmail 60K
- Domestic registered airmail 1.60R
- International airmail 1.25R
- International registered airmail 1.95R
- Letters:
- Domestic airmail 1R
- Domestic registered airmail 2R
- International airmail 1.40R
- International registered airmail 2.10R
1951-1954
[edit]-
1951-05-03 cover Moscow-Prague. 2.10R correct franking.
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1954-03-17 cover Moscow-Kopstal Luxembourg. 1.50R franking overpaid 10k.
1955
[edit]-
2R - (№ 1749)
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1R - (№ 1760A)
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2R - (№ 1761C)
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2R - (№ 1762C)
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1R - (№ 1789)
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2R - (№ 1790)
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1955-12-17 cover Moscow-Prague
1956
[edit]-
1R - (№ 1833)
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1R corner block of four - (№ 1833)
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1956-03-09 cover Moscow-Prague. 1.40R correct franking.
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1956-03-21 Cover Moscow-Prague. 1.40R correct franking.
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1956-03-27 cover Moscow-Prague. 1.40R correct franking.
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1956-06-11 cover Moscow-Prague. 1.40R correct franking.
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1956-08-13 cover Moscow-Prague. 1.40R correct franking.
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1956-08-18 registered cover Moscow-Bern. 2.10R correct franking.
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1956-08-28 express cover Solotvino Ukraine-Philadelphia USA
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1956-11-14 cover Moscow-Bern. 1.40R correct franking.
1957
[edit]Airmail rates from September 1, 1957 to January 1, 1961.
- Postcards:
- Domestic airmail 60K
- Domestic registered airmail 1.60R
- International airmail 1.40R
- International registered airmail 2.40R
- Letters:
- Domestic airmail 60K
- Domestic registered airmail 2R
- International airmail 1.60R
- International registered airmail 2.60R
Letters >20 grams were charged one rate for every 20 grams
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1957-01-26 registered cover Moscow-Prague. 2.10R correct franking.
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1957-12-10 registered cover Moscow-Prague. 2.60R correct franking.
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1957-12-26 registered cover Moscow-Prague. 2.60R correct franking.
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1957-12-26 registered cover Moscow-Prague. 2.60R correct franking.
1959
[edit]-
1959-04-16 cover Moscow-Austria. 1.60R correct franking.
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1959-11-05 cover Kalinin-Sarajevo. 1.60R correct franking.
1960
[edit]-
Mil Mi-4 transport helicopter 60k - (№ 2324)
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Mil Mi-4 transport helicopter]] 60k block of four - (№ 2324, 2324I)
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1960-03-04 cover Riga-USA
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1960-04-07 FFC Moscow-Brussels. 1.60R correct franking.