Geometric Numeral Cancels Saint Petersburg and Moscow - 1880-1904

In December of 1880, branch offices (Otdels) of the Saint Petersburg and Moscow City Posts began use of numbered handstamp devices with geometric designs to identify mail from postboxes or submitted directly to clerks. These numeral devices are often mistakenly described as being used by sub-offices.

1880 Saint Petersburg

1893 1894 1880 Moscow

Initially devices 1 through 9 in Saint Petersburg and 1 through 3 in Moscow were issued. Near the end of 1893, offices, 11-17, were added. A device for office 10 was never issued, 16 and 17 are thought not to exist and 31 was used on telegrams - not mail. In early 1894, devices 1, 2, and 9 had their numeral designs altered slightly and are readily identifiable.

From 1901-1903, the post consolidated branch and sub-offices and devices were transfered to new offices. In mid-1904, these numerical devices were replaced by datestamp cancelers.

Exhibit Plan Saint Petersburg Origin St. Petersburg to Toronto, Canada, 12 October 1895 from the American Legation Moscow Origin Received 5 November 1895, Toronto backstamp 1. 1880 - 1894 1894 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Montpellier, France, 10 June 1890, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Transit Paris 20 June, Received Montpellier 21 June 1890

St. Petersburg to Berlin, Germany, 15 July 1898, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Berlin 29 July 1898 (Red Cross post card) 2. 1880 - 1894 1894 - 1904

St. Petersburg local mail, 2 February 1885, 3 Kopeck Domestic post card rate

St. Petersburg to Helsingfors, Russia, 10 October 1897, 7 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Received Helsinki 23 October 1897 3. 1880 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, 21 May 1890, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Luxembourg City 11 June 1890

St. Petersburg to Prag, Czechoslovakia, 12 November 1895, 7 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Received Prag 26 November 1895 4. 1880 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Zug, Switzerland, 9 September 1894, 2 Kopeck Domestic newspaper rate Received Zug 24 September 1894 (Newspaper wrapper)

St. Petersburg to Washington, D.C., USA, 11 February 1902, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Washington 8 March 1902 5. 1880 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Riga, Russia, 14 February 1883, 3 Kopeck Domestic post card rate

St. Petersburg to Berlin, Germany, 7 August 1903, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Berlin 22 August 1903 6. 1880 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Warsaw, Russia, 17 February 1886, 3 Kopeck Domestic post card rate Transit St. Petersburg February 1886, Received Warsaw 20 March 1886

St. Petersburg to Helsingfors, Russia, 21 September 1892, 7 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Received Helsingfors 4 October 1892 7. 1880 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Warsaw, Russia, 27 February 1888, 7 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Received Warsaw 28 February 1888

St. Petersburg to Leipzig, Germany, 10 January 1896, 5 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Received Leipzig 24 January 1896 8. 1880 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Reichenau on the Knezna, Austria, 27 March 1900, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Reichenau 14 April 1900

St. Petersburg local delivery, 26 October 1893, 1 Kopeck Local newspaper rate (Newspaper wrapper) 9. 1880 - 1894 1894 - 1904

St. Petersburg to London, England, 8 March 1884, 3 Kopeck Foreign post card rate

St. Petersburg to Doliny by Jaroslau, Austria, 17 April 1898, 10 Kopeck Foreign folded letter card rate Received Doliny 3 May 1898 11. 1893 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Schwalbach, Germany, 6 September 1899, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Langenschwalbach 20 September 1899, Forwarded to Bryn Maur, Pennsylvania Received Bryn Maur 4 October 1899

St. Petersburg to Anvers, Belgium, 18 March 1902, 5 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Anvers 2 April 1902 13. 1893 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Torino, Italy, 10 December 1901, 5 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received Torino 28 December 1901 Assessed 5 centesimi short paid (2 Kopecks)

St. Petersburg to Warsaw, Russia, 7 April 1903, 3 Kopeck Domestic post card rate Via Dubinski Railroad 14. 1893 - 1904

St. Petersburg to Riga, Russia, 7 February 1902, 3 Kopeck Domestic post card rate Received Riga 8 March 1902

St. Petersburg to New York, USA, 7 December 1899, 4 Kopeck Foreign post card rate Received New York 30 December 1899 (Red Cross post card) 1. 1880 - 1904

Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia 15 March 1885 5 Kopeck Domestic letter rate

***Moscow to Dorpat, ???, 27 ??? 1887 7 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Transit St. Petersburg 28 ??? 1887 Received Dorpat 31 ??? 1887

Moscow to St. Petersburg, Russia, 1 October 1888, 5 Kopeck Domestic letter rate Received St. Petersburg 31 October 1888 2. 1880 - 1904

Moscow to Dorpat, ???, 30 ??? 1888, 7 Kopeck Foreign letter rate Transit ??? 31 January 1888, Received ??? 1 February 1888 3. 1880 - 1904

Moscow, Russia, local mail, 30 June 1889, 5 Kopeck Domestic letter rate