SUN Postal Stationary

SOVIET UNION (and independent ex-Soviet countries)
Soviet Postal Stationary used after 1991	Date of issue: 1985 - 1991

Please note: This article is under construction, and new items will be added as they become available. If you have corrections or additional information, it will be greatly appreciated.
Latest update of this page: 3 March, 2025

Un-stamped envelopes
For the last few years of the USSR's existence, the Soviet post office issued a number of unstamped postal stationary envelopes. These were designed as the well-known pre-stamped issues, but with only an indication of where to place a stamp. Though originally not strictly speaking postal stationary items, as they were not pre-franked, they nevertheless represent an interesting addition to collection of Soviet Postal Stationary or to a topical collection. Not least since they can often be found used in post-independence ex-Soviet countries, franked with stamps or post-office franking machines and even converted to provisional PSEs.

Pre-stamped envelopes and cards
This was also the case with a number of pre-stamped envelopes and post cards issued in the Soviet era. They were both valid for postage in some of the newly independent countries for a limited period, and were also overprinted to become provisional postal stationary. These were also later on widely used as envelopes and franked with the new stamps of the respective countries.

DOMESTIC CATS

1989 - Domestic Cats Postal Stationary
SUN19890000 PSE 0_05 89133 Persian Printer's no. 89133 Printed 20.02.89 Issue date: ??? 1989
Back
Uprated to Estonian postal stationary 1991 Rectangular handstamp in violet Inland postage rate from 1 July 1991
Uprated to Estonian postal stationary 1991 Octagonal machine stamp in red (Tartu) Inland postage rate from 1 July 1991
SUN19890000 PSE 0_05 89169 Siamese Printer's no. 89169 Printed 20.02.89
Back
Used in Russia 1993 Provsional pre-stamped envelope, re-franked with post office handstamp in Pskov CIS postage from 23 June 1993, addressed to Kazakhstan
November 1989 - New Year Cards
SUN19891100 PC 0_04 2288 Cartoon cat Printer's no. 1989.3.2288 Printed 14.12.88 Issue date: ?? Nov. 1989
Address side
Used in Ukraine 1993 Overprinted with hand- stamp for registered postage in Melitopol
1990 - Circus
SUN19900307 ENV TIG_CAT Cartoon Cat and Tiger Printer's no. 1990.3.134880 Printing date: 03.07.90 Issued: ???? 1990
Back
Used in Belarus 1992 With provisional handstamps marked "Поцта СССР" from Гродно/Grodno Inland postage 30.11.92 - 31.01.93
Used in Belarus 1992 With mix of provisional hand stamps marked "Поцта СССР" from Гродно/Grodno and (still valid) Soviet stamps Inland postage 30.11.92 - 31.01.93
1991 - Pedigree Cats
SUN19910000 ENV PER 1 Smoke Persian Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991
Back, version A
Back, version B
Used in Belarus 1992 Franked with a mix of provisional post office handstamp, (still valid) Soviet stamp, and a Belarus stamp. Registered letter from Minsk, addressed to Russia.
Used in Belarus 1993 With PO desk meter frank from Мар'іна Горка/Maryina Horka. Inland postage
Used in Belarus 1993 With provisional "stamp" Inland postage
Used in Estonia 1996 Franked with Estonian stamp Inland postage
Used in Ukraine 1993 Franked with overprinted Soviet stamp Registered letter from Chernihiv, addressed to Gatchina in Russia
Used in Ukraine 1997 Franked with Ukrainian stamp Inland postage
SUN19910000 ENV PER 2 Red Persian Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991 Order no. 132650
Back, version A Evenly centered print details with sales price 21 kop.
Back, version B Unevenly centered print details without sales price
Used in Latvia 1993 On postal service
Used in Russia 1996 Franked with Russian stamps Inland rate
Used in Ukraine 1992 Provisional pre-franked envelope, franked with rectangular handstamp in Kyiv International rate, adressed to Belgium
Used in Ukraine 1993 Franked with Ukrainian stamps Inland letter
SUN19910000 ENV PER 3 Tortie Persian Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991
Back, version A Evenly centered print details with sales price 21 kop.
Back, version B Unevenly centered print details without sales price
Used in Belarus 1992 Franked with a mix of provisional post office handstamp, (still valid) Soviet stamp, and a Belarus stamp. Registered letter from Minsk, addressed to Russia.
Used in Russia 1992 franked with (still valid) Soviet stamps Addressed to France
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, franked by meter frank (marked 'СССР'), reportedly at the service PO at the House of Deputies in Stavropol. If you know if this was indeed done by a post office, please let us know. Inland letter, posted to Zheleznovodsk. We do not find a corresponding rate to the franking. Could it be an NGO-rate? If you have further information, please share.
Used in Russia 1994 Franked with Russian stamp
Used in Ukraine 199? Franked with Ukrainian stamps
SUN19910000 ENV PER 4 Cream Persian Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991 Order no. 13ß2560
Back, version A Evenly centered print details with sales price 21 kop.
Back, version B Unevenly centered print details (4 lines) without sales price
Used in the Soviet period Addressed to Romania
Used in Belarus 1992 Franked with a mix of provisional post office handstamp, (still valid) Soviet stamp, and a Belarus stamp. Registered letter from Minsk, addressed to Russia.
Used in Belarus 1993 Franked with provisional post office handstamp Registered letter from Vitebsk, addressed to Russia.
Used in Russia 1992 Soviet stamp overprinted St. Petersburg
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, franked by meter frank (marked 'СССР'), reportedly at the service PO at the House of Deputies in Stavropol. If you know if this was indeed done by a post office, please let us know. Inland letter rate from 1 February 1992, posted to Zheleznovodsk.
Used in Russia 1993 Franked with Russian stamps Inland letter rate
Used in Russia 1994 Military concession
Used in Russia 1995 Franked with meter frank
Used in Russia 1995 Franked with Russian stamps International air-mail rate, addressed to Honduras
SUN19910000 ENV PER 5 Chinchilla Persian Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991 Order no. 132650
Back, version A Evenly centered print details (4 lines) with sales price 21 kop.
Back, Version B Unevenly centred print details (4 lines) without sales price
Used in The Soviet period in 1991 Addressed to Germany
Used in Estonia 1993 Franked with Estonian stamp Inland postage
Used in Russia 1994 Franked with Russian stamps Addressed to Belgium
SUN19910000 ENV TUA Turkish Angora Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991 Order no. 132650
Back, version A Evenly centered print details (4 lines) with sales price 21 kop. (packs of 10)
Back, version B Evenly centered print details (3 lines) with sales price 1 kop. (singles)
Used in Soviet period 1990 Addressed to Germany
Used in Estonia 1992 Franked with 'Taxe perçue' handstamp at Tartu Post Office. Rate added in handwriting Inland postage from 15 January 1992
Used in Estonia 1997 Franked with Estonian stamp Inland postage
Used in Kazakhstan 1992 Franked with over- printed Soviet stamps Addressed to France
Used in Russia 1993 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, franked by meter frank (marked 'СССР'), reportedly at the service PO at the House of Deputies in Stavropol. If you know if this was indeed done by a post office, please let us know. Inland letter rate from 1 February 1992, posted to Zheleznovodsk.
Used in Russia 1997 Military concession, posted from Kaspiysk to local address
Used in Ukraine 1993 Franked with overprinted Soviet stamp and post office handstamp Registered letter from Chernihiv. addressed to Gatchina in Russia
Used in Ukraine 1994 Franked with meter frank Inland postage
SUN19910000 ENV BRI British Shorthair Printer's no. 3.132650 Order no. 1C-17-2250240 Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991
Back, version A Evenly centered print details (4 lines) with sales price 21 kop.
Back, version B Unevenly centred print details (4 lines) without sales price
Used in Belarus 1991 Franked with a mix of provisional handstamp and (still valid) Soviet stamps Registered CIS postage
Used in Belarus 1992 Franked with a mix of provisional post office handstamp and a Belarus stamp. Registered letter from Minsk, addressed to Russia.
Used in Estonia 1992 Provisional postal stationary Inland postage (P.P.E.)
Used in Estonia 1993 Franked with Estonian stamps Inland postage
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, up-franked with a (still valid) Soviet stamp and a provisional handstamped "stamp" Inland postage
Used in Russia 1993 Franked with Russian stamp Inland postage
Used in Russia 1993 Provisional pre-franked envelope franked with a provisional stamp Inland postage from 26 April 1993
Used in Russia 1993 Provisional pre-franked registered envelope franked with a provisional stamp Inland registered postage 26 April 1993
Used in Russia 1993 Pre-franked by Russian Post in Zheleznovodsk, stamped "Оплачено тарифом - МС России" ['Tariff paid - Russian MS' (Ministry of Communication)] Inland postage
Used in Russia 1994 Provisional pre-franked envelope franked with a provisional stamp Inland postage
SUN19910000 ENV EUR European Shorthair Order no. 3.132650 Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991	No scan yet, if you have a scan of a mint copy, please send it to us.
Back, version A Evenly centered printer's details with sales price 1 kop.
Back, version B Unevenly centered printer's details (4 lines) without sales price
Used in the Soviet period Franked with stamp Adressed to China
Used in Azerbaijan 1992 Franked with Azeri radio revenue stamps Adressed to Ukraine
Used in Belarus 1992 Franked with a mix of provisional post office handstamp, a (still valid) Soviet stamp, and a Belarus stamp. Registered letter from Minsk, addressed to Russia.
Used in Estonia 1992 Franked with Estonian stamp. Inland postage.
Used in Estonia 1992 Provisional postal stationary Inland postage (P.P.E.)
Used in Russia 1992 Franked with (still valid) Soviet stamp Inland postage
Used in Ukraine 1993 Franked with a mix of provisional stamps and ordinary Ukrainian stamps Inland postage from 10 September 1993
SUN19910000 ENV BAL Balinese Order no. 3.132650 Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991	No scan yet, if you have a scan of a mint copy, please send it to us.
Back, version A Evenly centered print details (4 lines) with sales price 21 kop. (packs of 10)
Back, version B Evenly centered print details (3 lines) with sales price 1 kop. (singles)
Back, version C Unevenly centered print details (4 lines) without sales price
Used in Belarus 1993 Mixed franking CIS postage (addressed to Russia)
Used in Estonia 1992 Provisional postal stationary Inland postage (P.P.E.)
Used in Estonia 1992 Franked by Estonian stamp Inland postage (P.P.E.)
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, machine franked at PO counter CIS postage (addressed to Estonia)
Used in Russia 1993 Franked with (still valid) Soviet stamps and an over- printed stamp for Barnaul Inland postage
Used in Russia 1993 Pre-franked by Russian Post in Zheleznovodsk, stamped "Оплачено тарифом - МС России" ['Tariff paid - Russian MS' (Ministry of Communication)] Inland postage
Used in Russia 1993 Pre-franked by Russian Post in Zheleznovodsk, stamped "Оплачено тарифом - МС России" ['Tariff paid - Russian MS' (Ministry of Communication)], and up-franked by Russian stamp to registered rate Inland registered postage
Used in Ukraine 1993 Pre-franked by provisional handstamped labels in Odessa International rate, addressed to Germany
SUN19910000 ENV SIA Siamese Order no. 3.132650 Printing date: 23.07.90 Issue date: ???? 1991
Back, version A Evenly centered print details (4 lines) with sales price 21 kop. (packs of 10)
Back, version B Evenly centered print details (3 lines) with sales price 1 kop. (singles)
Back, version C Unevenly centered print details (4 lines) without sales price

Used in the Soviet period 1991 Franked with meter frank, posted from Moscow 4 September 1991 Inland postage
Used in Belarus 1992 Franked with a mix of Soviet stamp, provisional handstamp, and a Belarus stamp, posted from Minsk CPO Registered letter addressed to Russia
Used in Estonia 1992 Franked with Estonian stamp Inland postage
Used in Kazakhstan 1992 Franked with a (still valid) Soviet stamp posted from Taldykorgan 27 March 1992 Inland postage
Pre-franked for use in Russia 1992 Provisional postal stationary, franked with round post office handstamp i Moscow Inland registered postage from 1 February 1992
Pre-franked for use in Russia 1992 Provisional postal stationary, franked with round post office handstamp i Moscow International airmail rate from 18 February 1992
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, franked by meter frank (marked 'СССР'), reportedly at the service PO at the House of Deputies in Stavropol. If you know if this was indeed done by a post office, please let us know. Inland letter, posted to Zheleznovodsk. We do not find a corresponding rate to the franking. Could it be an NGO-rate? If you have further information, please share.
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, franked by a Moscow post office meter frank (marked 'СССР'). Inland letter, posted to Dzerzhinsk. We do not find a corresponding rate to the franking. Could it be an NGO-rate? If you have further information, please share.
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, franked by a Sverdlovsk meter frank (marked 'СССР'). Inland registered letter, posted to St. Petersburg. We do not find a corresponding rate to the franking. Could it be an NGO-rate? If you have further information, please share.
Used in Russia 1993 Provisional pre-franked envelope franked with octagonal PO handstamp in St. Petersburg International postage, addressed to Lithuania
Used in Russia 1994 Provisional pre-franked envelope machine franked at PO counter in Rostov Inland postage
Franked with Russian stamps Addressed to Bulgaria
Provisional military pre- franked envelope Military concession handstamp
Used in Ukraine 1992 Franked with a mixture of overprinted Soviet stamps and Ukrainian stamps Inland postage
Used in Ukraine 1993 Franked with Ukrainian stamps Inland postage
1991 - Russian Folk Tales
SUN19910000 ENV 3_101670 Cartoon Cat Item no. 3.101670 Order no. 1C-15-2250240 Printed 10.04.91 Issued ??? 1991	No scan yet, if you have a scan of a mint copy, please send it to us.
Back
Used in Ukraine 1994 Franked with meter frank Inland postage

WILD CATS

1985 - Soviet Red Book
SUN19850000 ENV PAN Black Panther Issue date: ???? 1985
Back
Used in the Soviet period 1986 - On postal service from Kishniev CPO (currently Chisnau, Moldova)
Used in Ukraine 1993
SUN19850000 ENV TIG Siberian Tiger Issue date: ???? 1985
Back	No scan yet, if you have a scan of a mint copy, please send it to us.
Used in Soviet period 1986
SUN19850000 ENV LEP Leopard Issue date: ???? 1985
Back
Used in Soviet period 1986 on postal service from Pärnu (currently in Estonia)
SUN19850000 ENV SLP Snow Leopard Issue date: ???? 1985	No scan yet, if you have a scan of a mint copy, please send it to us.
Back
Used in Soviet period 1986 franked by meter frank from Kyiv (currently in Ukraine)
1988 - WWF Postal Stationary
SUN19880000 PSE 0_05 1 Siberian Tiger Order no. 88121 Printing date: 26.02.88 Issue date: ???? 1988
Back
Used in Lithuania 1992 Demonetised - franked with Lithuanian stamps. Inland postage February/ March 1992
Used in Russia 1993 Franked with a mixture of Russian and (still valid) Soviet stamps. Inland postage
1990 - WWF Postal Stationary
SUN19900000 PSE 0_05 90180 Cheetah Envelope no. 90180 Printed: 25.07.90 Issued ???? 1990
Back
Used in Belarus 1993 Demonetised and re- franked with a Belarus stamp Inland postage from 1 June 1993.
Uprated for use in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope uprated by PO handstamp in St. Petersburg Inland postage from 10 June 1992.
1990 - Lions Bridge, Leningrad
SUN19900000 PSE 0_05 90470 Lion Statues Lions Bridge in Leningrad (current St. Petersburg) PSE no 90470 Printed 17.05.90 Issued ???? 1990
Back
Used in the Soviet period Up-franked with stamps Addressed to the UK
Used in Russia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope up-franked with PO handstamp in St. Peters- burg Inland postage
1990 - Circus
SUN19900307 ENV TIG_CAT Cartoon Cat and Tiger Printer's no. 1990.3.134880 Printing date: 03.07.90 Issued: ???? 1990
Back
Used in Belarus 1992 With provisional hand stamps marked "Поцта СССР" from Гродно/Grodno Inland postage 30.11.92 - 31.01.93
Used in Belarus 1992 With mix of provisional hand stamps marked "Поцта СССР" from Гродно/Grodno and (still valid) Soviet stamps Inland postage 30.11.92 - 31.01.93
Used in Estonia 1992 Franked with Estonian stamps Inland postage
Used in Russia 2001 Franked with Russian stamps Inland postage
24 July 1991 - 200th Anniversary of Moscow Zoological Museum This is the last cat item issued by the USSR before dissolution 26 December 1991, i.e. with a time window of appx. 4 months for Soviet use.
SUN19911014 PSE 0_07 Tiger PSE no 136680 Printed 05.04.91 Issued 14.10.91
Back
Used in the Soviet period Posted FDC Up-franked registered letter from Moscow to Kyiv
Used in Kazakhstan 1992 Up-franked with (still valid) Soviet stamps Addressed to Paraguay, returned to sender.
Used in Russia 1991 Used as is - Soviet stamps and stationary still valid Used on the first day after the dissolution of the Soviet Union, addressed to Ukraine
1992 - International Space Year This item was printed and issued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. As such it will only have been used in the various independent republics.
SUN19920000 PSE 0_07 92026 Lion Zodiac Leo Envelope no. 92026 Printed 20.01.92
Back
Used in Kazakhstan 1992 Used 'as is' - Soviet stamps and stationary still valid Inland postage
Provisional pre-franked envelope for use in Kazakhstan 1993 (?) Re-franked with new denomination by Kazakh post
Used in Russia 1992 Up-franked with a mix of (still valid) Soviet and Russian stamps Registered inland letter
Used in Russia 1993 Up-franked with Russian stamps Addressed to Norway
Used in Ukraine 1992 Provisional pre-franked envelope, uprated by post office handstamp Inland rate
Used in Ukraine 1992 Uprated with both stamp and post office handstamp to CIS registered postage Registered letter to Russia

HERALDIC CATS

1989 - Tallin - Schwerin '89 Philatelic Exhibition
SUN19890000 PSE 0_05 136680 Heraldic Lions Printer's no. 136680 Printed 22.08.89 Issued ???? 1989
Back
Used in Estonia 1991 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, uprated by rectangular handstamp Inland postage
Used in Estonia 1991 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, uprated by rectangular handstamp. Further up-franked with a mix of (still valid) Soviet stamps and an Estonian stamp International registered postage, addressed to Lithuania
Used in Estonia 1992 Provisional pre-stamped envelope, re-franked by octagonal handstamp International postage, addressed to Lithuania
1990 - Coats of Arms of Belarus
SUN19900000 PSE 0_05 136770 Heraldic Lynx Issue date: ???? 1990 Envelope no. 136770 Printed: 27.12.89 Issued ???? 1990
Back
Uprated in Belarus 1992
Used in Belarus 1994 - after demonetisation Provisional PSE, re- franked with Belarus. stamps. Soviet indicium demonetised CIS rate, addressed to Kazakhstan
SUN19910220 PSE 0_07 91412 Heraldic Lions Issue date: ???? 1991 Envelope no. 91412 Printing date: 20.02.91
Back
Used in Belarus 1992 Provisional PSE, up- franked with PO handstamp. Further upfranked with (still valid) Soviet stamps for CIS rate. Addressed to Tiraspol in Transnistria/ Moldova.
Used in Belarus 1993 Provisional PSE, re- franked with handstamps. Soviet stamp indicium demonetised Inland postage
Used in Belarus 1994 - after demonetisation Re-franked with Belarus stamps Inland postage
Used in Russia 1992 Up-franked with Russian stamps CSI registered letter, addressed to Kazakhstan

MYTHIC CATS

1992 - Pentathlon Modern World Cup, Saint Petersburg This item was printed and issued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. As such it will only have been used in the various independent republics.
SUN19920000 PSE 0_07 92044 Winged Lion Winged Lion Lamps at the Bank Bridge in Saint Petersburg Envelope no. 92044 Printed 12.03.92 Issued ???? 1992
Back
Used in Kazakhstan 1993 Used 'as is' - Soviet stamps and stationary still valid Inland postage
Used in Russia 1992 Used 'as is' - Soviet stamps and stationary still valid Inland postage
Used in Russia 1993 Provisional pre-stamped envelope re-franked with provisional PO hand- stamp CSI postage, addressed to Belarus
Used in Ukraine 1992 Uprated with provisional handstamp to inland postage, and further up- franked with Ukrainian stamp for registration Inland registered letter
Used in Ukraine 1992 Uprated with provisional handstamp to inland (CIS?) postage Letter sent to Saransk in Russia

SOVIET UNION (and independent ex-Soviet countries)

Soviet Postal Stationary used after 1991

SOVIET UNION
(and independent ex-Soviet countries)