Provisional Postal Stationery of Estonia 1991-1993

Clicking on each illustration will produce a blow-up	Provisional Postal Stationery of Estonia 1991-1993
The first step towards postal independence for Estonia was taken when the domestic postage rates were increased from 5 to 15 kopeks on January 1, 1991. That decision was made unilaterally by Eesti Post without asking Moscow and from that time the Estonian Postal Authorities were de facto independent. It soon became evident that the supply of stamps was running out. The USSR did not ship more stamps to Estonia, probably with the view that the shortage was not of their making. Although stamp supplies were running out, there was ample stock of postal stationery, mainly covers. This was the start of the transition period, when various surcharges on USSR postal stationery were made. It lasted from April 1991 up to July 1, 1993, when all provisionals were declared invalid. No items were sold after August 25, 1992. The imprinted Soviet value stamp lost its validity on January 1, 1992 after which date only the surcharges had validity. The main types are listed below. Numbering according to Eesti Lisafrankotemplid 1991-1992
1-T Tallinn Type 1-N Narva Type	1. USSR Metal Meter Type Eesti Post ordered two Soviet postal meter plates to be used for surcharges. They were used in Tallinn and Narva. All prints are in black. 1-T. Tallinn Type Size: 13.5 x 19.5 mm Issued: May - August 1991 Values: 010, 013, 015, 016, 055, 063, 065, 070 1-N. Narva Type Size: 15 x 21.5 mm Issued: June - August 1991 Values: 010, 013, 015, 016, 060
2 Paide Local	2. Paide Local Metal Meter Type The Post Office in Paide made their own surcharges between June 26 and September 20, 1991 using a postal meter from an insurance company. Issued: June 26 - September 20, 1991 Values: 013, 015, 016, 060, 065
3 Haapsalu Local Type	3. Haapsalu Local Rubber Stamp Type The very primitive rubber stamp surcharges made at the Post Office in Haapsalu were soon stopped by order of the postal authorities. Issued: June - July, 1991 Values: -10K, 15, -15
4 Eesti Post kop	4. Eesti Post Kopek Rubber Stamp Type The lilac rubber stamp surcharges were struck manually in Tallinn by order of Eesti Post. The first were made in April (10 and 60 k) and new ones were introduced on July 1 when postal rates changed (15 and 65 k). Issued: April - July, 1991 Values: 10 kop, 15 kop, 60 kop, 65 kop
5 Eesti Post Metal Meter Type	5. Eesti Post Metal Meter Type Black metal meter surcharges made in Tallinn in December 1991. The surcharges were necessitated by various postal rate changes in December 1991 and January 1992. The 079 value is a mistake that was sold nevertheless. Issued: December 1991 Values: 001, 020, 060, 079, 100, 150, 420, 450
6-T Tallinn Octagonal Metal Stamp Type 6-Tu Tartu Octagonal Metal Type	6. Eesti Post Octagonal Metal Stamp Types The Tartu Post Office devised the original surcharge plate of this type. They were used by both the Tallinn and Tartu post offices, each one catering for their part of the country. 6-T. Tallinn Type Issued: July 1991 Values: 13, 15 Colour: Black 6-Tu. Tartu Type Issued: July 1991 - January 1992 Values: 15, 60, 65 Colour: Red
7 Octagonal Rubber Stamp Type 7 Tartu Octagonal Rubber Stamp Type	7-8. Eesti Post Octagonal Rubber Stamp Types The octagonal rubber stamps were distributed to country post offices to enable them to cater for the various rate increases. The usual ink colour was lilac, but Tartu used a red ink that had a curious effect on their stamps. They gradually increased in size! 7. Octagonal Rubber Stamp Type Issued: December 1991 Values: 60, 90, 4.20 Colour: Lilac (with variants off-black and strongly blueish) 8. Tartu Octagonal Rubber Stamp Type Issued: December 1991 Values: 90, 4.20 Colour: Red
5 Eesti Post PPA sent to New Zealand	9. Eesti Post PPE, PPR, PPI and PPA Rubber Stamp Type Lilac rubber stamp surcharges with letter E, R, I and A. Uncertainty about rate increases in the spring of 1992 led to a new stamp shortage. Stamps with letters were finally released, but Eesti Post also issued stationery as a precaution. Now the district post offices took delivery of both stamps and stationery at the same time. For each category 25 rubber stamps were distributed. All remaining stock of prepared stationery were returned to Tallinn in the autumn. Issued: March 1992 Values: E (Domestic letters) R (Registered letters) I (Letters to Europe) A (Overseas letters)
Jõgevamaa Provisional Type	Jõgevamaa Provisional Type A lilac rubber stamp "Paid Jõgevamaa Post" that was used in the Jõgeva district. Issued: Unknown Value: None
Tartu Pidgeon Type	Tartu Provisional Pidgeon Type A red metal plate stamp showing a postal emblem depicting a pidgeon issued by Tartu Post Office. Issued: March 1992 Value: 1
Postimaks Tasutud Type	Postimaks Tasutud Type An oval lilac rubber stamp "Postage paid" that was used in the Tartu and some other post offices. It is doubtful if this was in fact sold to the public as a postal stationery item. When the further production of provisional postal stationery was prohibited by the Postmaster General, these oval rubber stamps were explicitly mentioned. Issued: July 20, 1992 Value: None
Private Post Card issued by the firm Tarvik	Private Postal Stationery The firm Tarvik in Tartu had a contract with the Tartu Post Office to produce private postcards and envelopes which were stamped with the type 9 rubber stamp. An example is shown here. Issued: February - June 1992
<< Back Sources: Correspondence with Jaanus Järs, Luua Hurt, Vambola, & Ojaste, Elmar: Postal Stationery of Estonia 1991-1993. In: Eesti Filatelist 36. Tallinn: REFS, 1996 Eesti Posti Lisafrankotemplid 1991-1992. Tallinn: Eesti Filatelistide Liit, 1995. Copyright © 1998-99 Bert Hoflund I still miss several covers. Please send offers and other correspondence to