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: 24 December, 2024

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

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 the Ukraine 1993
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 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 Russia 1992
Soviet stamp overprinted
St. Petersburg
Used in Russia 1993
Ordinary Russian stamps
Used in Russia 1994
Military concession
Used in Russia 1995
Meter frank
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 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 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
registered envelope
franked with a
provisional stamp

Inland registered 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 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 B
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

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)

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 Soviet
stamp posted from
Taldykorgan 27 March 1992

Inland postage

Used in Russia 1994

Provisional pre-franked
envelope machine
franked at PO counter in Rostov

Inland postage

Franked with Russian
stamps

Addressed to Bulgaria

Used in Ukraine 1992

Franked with a mixture
of overprinted Soviet
stamps and Ukrainian
stamps

Inland postage

Provisional military pre-
franked envelope

Military concession
handstamp

Franked with Ukrainian
stamps 1993

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

Uprated for use in Russia
1993

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

 

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.

 

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 Russia 1993

Up-franked with Russian
stamps

Addressed to Norway

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 1992

Provisional pre-stamped
envelope, re-franked by
octagonal handstamp

International postage

 

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
SUN19910220 PSE 0_07 91412
Heraldic Lions
Issue date: ???? 1991
Envelope no. 91412
Printing date: 20.02.91
Back

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 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