TPO -> TPOs of Russia
TPOs of Russia
By Phil Densham
RAILWAYS
Imperial Period
The leading English language reference work "Russian Railway Postmarks" (published 1994) by Anatoly Kiryushkin and Philip Robinson, states that small numbered postmarks (17mm) including the word "poezd" (train) are recorded used 1872-1904. Between 1900-1904 larger postmarks (20mm) with the word "pochta" (dispatch) were used.
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 |
| Poezd 3 | Pochta 3 |
|---|
From 1892 distinctive oval "DOPLATIT" (to pay) marks were issued to railway post offices and from 1903 these included the word "VOKZAL" (railway station) or an abbreviation and postmarks "POCHTOVY VAGON" (postal wagon = travelling post office) with a route number.
 | ||
| Doplatit | Postal wagon 40 | Postal wagon 57 |
|---|---|---|
Route numbers in single-ring TPO postmarks, from 1861, were allocated showing the routes both, down and up, from and to the capital St Petersburg (St Pbg). In 1903 double-oval numbered TPO postmarks appeared. Postmarks were struck twice so the date could be read more readily. In addition there were un-numbered TPO postmarks.
 |
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| Numbered TPO | Un-numbered TPO |
|---|
There were also circular postal hand stamps used in army hospital trains.
 |
| Hospital train |
Railway Station Post Offices
Single ring postmarks were issued in the 1860s to railway station post offices. A separate Railway Post Office department created in 1869 introduced a variety of postmarks, when until 1903 double-oval postmarks appeared stating "VOKZAL", or an abbreviation, with serial letters. These are not TPO postmarks but commonly form part of Russian TPO collections.
|
| Vokzal |
Non-Railway Post Offices
Confusingly some offices administered by the General Post, not the Railway Post Office, used postmarks including the word "VOKZAL" or abbreviation. Such marks can be of single, double-circle or double-oval design. Examples from Vilna (now Vilnius) and Khar'kov are more commonly found.
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|
| Non-railway Vokzal | Non-railway Vokzal |
|---|
Soviet Period
Rampant inflation meant that postage stamps of the correct denominations were frequently not available in 1918-1922. Postal items were frequently unfranked and although pre-paid the postage cost was not evident from the items themselves. New TPO postmarks were introduced bearing the star/hammer and sickle motif at top, although some old imperial period postmarks were still used for a time.
|
|
| Soviet TPO | Still in use |
|---|
RIVERBOAT & SHIP POSTMARKS
Imperial Period
Many postal services operated on the extensive waterways system, mainly on r. Volga and the Black Sea. Typically such marks included the word "parokhod" (steamship) or an abbreviation.
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| Parokh r. Volga | Parokh Black Sea |
|---|
Soviet Period
Post-WW2 cruise liners in the Black Sea and research vessels operating in polar regions carried illustrated postmarks stating ships name. Postmarks can include "Teplekhod" (motor ship) and "Ledekol" (ice-breaker).
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|
| Teplekhod | Ledekhol |
|---|
References and More Covers
1873 Cover from Odessa to Marseilles with six TPO and/or transit marks.
Russian Postvagons TPO cancel
Russian Moscow - Kaliningrad TPO cancel
The following site by the WORLDWIDE SOCIETY OF RUSSIAN PHILATELY
has an excellent article on
St. Petersburg Suburb Postmarks
by Timo Bergholm, with links to fine illustrations of railway TPO and station postmarks.
Here is an article on
Railway mail under the Russian Czars,
dealing with the Vilnius - St. Petersburg railway, from the
PHILATELY OF LITHUANIA site.
Thanks to Phil Densham for bringing these to the webmaster's attention.
[As they are 'deep links' they may break, so please let us know if you find any links are broken].
