Paide Railway Station

Estonian Railway Travelling Post Office Cancellations 1991-92

Travelling railway post offices in Estonia were started in 1870 when Estonia and Lifland were a part of the Russian Empire. On the extensive railway network of the first republic many TPO routes were operated. The German occupation authorities also ran TPO's administered by their "Bahnpostamt Riga". The TPOs 1870-1944 are thoroughly documented in Hurt & Ojaste: Estonia Philately & Postal History Handbook. 1986. During the period under Soviet rule 1944-91, Estonian TPO's were integrated with the rest of the USSR state railway system. Below are just some examples of pre-1991 TPO postmarks.
TPO from 1913   TPO from 1925  
TPO from 1944   TPO from 1958   TPO from 1970
The railway travelling post offices were soon closed down after independence. In fact the last trips were on May 31st, 1992. A striking feature is the red ink that was used for these cancels.
 
Estonian TPO cancel
Estonian TPO cancel

Estonian TPO Cancels

Issued by Eesti Post
Route Litera
Tallinn-Leningrad a b c d
Leningrad-Tallinn a b c d
Tallinn-St Petersburg a b c d
St Petersburg-Tallinn a b c d
Tallinn-Moskva a b
Moskva-Tallinn a b
Tallinn-Riga a b
Riga-Tallinn a b
Russian TPO Cancel
Russian TPO Cancel

Russian and Belorussian TPO Cancels

Issued by the Soviet Post and used on Russian and Belorussian trains also for cancelling Estonian mail
Route Litera
Moskva-Tallinn a b g
Tallinn-Moskva a b g
Minsk-Tallinn a b g
Tallinn-Minsk a b g
Source: Raantse, Péeter: Eestin postivaunuleimat 1.10.1991-31.5.1992
Cancels that I want for my collection are indicated in red. Please send offers!

Railway stamps

Top illustration: Picture postcard of Paide Railway Station 1903
Bottom illustration: Stamps issued 1996 to commemorate the narrow-gauge railways centenary

Back

Created December 29, 1998 by Bert Hoflund