Postal Rates of Estonia 1783-1918

Estonia
Postal Rates 1783-1918

001	14-11-1783 – 17-04-1807
local letter	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (2 kopecks)
heavier local letter ¹)	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (4 kopecks)
inland letter ²) ³)	2 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	4 kopecks
international letter	basically the sum of the rates of the postal services involved. International letters are often carried by a commercial traveller or a sea captain, who posts them somewhere on his way
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) up to 100 versts; 1 kopeck per lot for each additional 50 versts (1 verst = 1067 meters) ³) surcharge for insured letter 0.5% of its worth ► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots ► inland = Russia

002	17-04-1807 – 18-12-1818
local letter	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (6 kopecks)
heavier local letter ¹)	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (12 kopecks)
inland letter ²) ³)	6 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	12 kopecks
international letter	basically the sum of the rates of the postal services involved. International letters are often carried by a commercial traveller or a sea captain, who posts them somewhere on his way
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) up to 100 versts; 2 kopecks per lot for each additional 100 versts (1 verst = 1067 meters) ³) from 05-11-1811 money letters 3× normal rate ► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots ► inland = Russia

003	18-12-1818 – 04-06-1830
local letter	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (12 kopecks)
heavier local letter ¹)	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (24 kopecks)
inland letter ²)	12 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	24 kopecks
international letter	basically the sum of the rates of the postal services involved, but during this period postal treaties are concluded with Prussia and Sweden
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) up to 100 versts; 4 kopecks per lot for each additional 100 versts (1 verst = 1067 meters) ► parcels up to 32 lots and up to 100 versts 24 kopecks; after 02-02-1821 12 kopecks ► inland = Russia

004	04-06-1830 – 01-01-1840
local letter	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (20 kopecks)
heavier local letter ¹)	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (40 kopecks)
inland letter ²)	20 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	40 kopecks
international letter	partly laid out in postal treaties between two countries, or simply the sum of the rates of the postal services involved, partly a matter of private enterprise
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) up to 300 versts; 10 kopecks per lot for each additional 300 versts; letters within the same province always 20 kopecks per lot (1 verst = 1067 meters) ► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots ► inland = Russia

005	01-01-1840 – 01-01-1844
local letter	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (5 kopecks)
heavier local letter ¹)	if carried by the mail same as inland rate (10 kopecks)
inland letter ²)	5 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	10 kopecks
international letter	partly laid out in postal treaties between two countries, or simply the sum of the rates of the postal services involved, partly a matter of private enterprise
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) up to 300 versts; 300-800 versts 10 kopecks; 800-1100 versts 15 kopecks; 100-1800 versts 20 kopecks; > 1800 versts 25 kopecks; within the same province always 5 kopecks per lot (1 verst = 1067 meters) ► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots ► inland = Russia

006	01-01-1844 – 09-04-1862
local letter	10 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
heavier local letter ¹)	20 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
inland letter ²)	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	20 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) regardless of distance ► on 23 December 1857 Russia issues its first postage stamp with a value of 10 kopecks. However, as from 1845 envelopes with an imprinted stamp on the flap are in use ► inland = Russia

007	09-04-1862 – 13-05-1864
local letter	10 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
heavier local letter ¹)	20 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
inland letter ²)	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	20 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ²) value-declared letter 25 kopecks ► inland = Russia

008	13-05-1864 – 15-12-1865
local letter	10 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
heavier local letter ¹)	20 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
local printed matter	3 kopecks	(local = inland rate)
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	20 kopecks
inland printed matter	3 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

009	15-12-1865 – 21-05-1866
local letter	5 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	10 kopecks
local printed matter	3 kopecks
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	20 kopecks
inland printed matter	3 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

010	21-05-1866 – 01-01-1870
local letter	5 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	10 kopecks
local printed matter	1 kopeck
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	20 kopecks
inland printed matter	1 kopeck
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination. A letter to Prussia costs 14 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

011	01-01-1870 – 01-01-1872
local letter	5 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	10 kopecks
local printed matter	1 kopeck
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ¹)	20 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination. A letter to Prussia costs 14 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

012	01-01-1872 – 01-01-1875
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	3 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
local printed matter ²)	2 kopecks
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ³)	20 kopecks
inland postcard	5 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination. A letter to Germany costs 14 kopecks
particulars	¹) uniform rate for local mail ²) small printed matters (like visiting cards) 1 kopeck ³) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

013	01-01-1875 – 19-06-1875
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local letter	13 kopecks
local postcard ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	13 kopecks
local printed matter	2 kopecks
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ²)	20 kopecks
registered inland letter	20 kopecks
inland postcard	5 kopecks
registered inland postcard	15 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination. A letter to Germany costs 14 kopecks
particulars	¹) uniform rate for local mail ²) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

014	19-06-1875 – 20-03-1879
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local letter	13 kopecks
local postcard ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	13 kopecks
local printed matter	2 kopecks
inland letter	8 kopecks
heavier inland letter ²)	16 kopecks
registered inland letter	18 kopecks
inland postcard	4 kopecks
registered inland postcard	14 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	8 kopecks
registered international letter	18 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) uniform rate for local mail ²) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

015	20-03-1879 – 08-03-1889
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local letter	10 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	10 kopecks
local printed matter	2 kopecks
inland letter	7 kopecks
heavier inland letter ²)	14 kopecks
registered inland letter	14 kopecks
inland postcard	3 kopecks
registered inland postcard	10 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	7 kopecks
registered international letter	14 kopecks
international postcard	3 kopecks
registered international postcard	13 kopecks
particulars	¹) uniform rate for local letters ²) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

016	08-03-1889 – 19-03-1899
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local letter	10 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	10 kopecks
local printed matter	2 kopecks
inland letter	7 kopecks
heavier inland letter ²)	14 kopecks
registered inland letter	14 kopecks
inland postcard	3 kopecks
registered inland postcard	10 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	10 kopecks
registered international letter	20 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) uniform rate for local letters ²) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

017	19-03-1899 – 15-03-1909
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	3 kopecks
registered local letter	10 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	10 kopecks
local printed matter ²)	1 kopeck
inland letter	7 kopecks
heavier inland letter ³)	14 kopecks
registered inland letter	14 kopecks
inland postcard	3 kopecks
registered inland postcard	10 kopecks
inland printed matter ²)	2 kopecks
international letter	10 kopecks
registered international letter	20 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) uniform rate for local letters ²) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them ³) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

018	15-03-1909 – 09-10-1913
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	4 kopecks
registered local letter	10 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	10 kopecks
local printed matter ²)	1 kopeck
inland letter	7 kopecks
heavier inland letter ³)	14 kopecks
registered inland letter	14 kopecks
inland postcard	3 kopecks
registered inland postcard	10 kopecks
inland printed matter ²)	2 kopecks
international letter	10 kopecks
registered international letter	20 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 4 lots (51.176 grammes) ²) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them ³) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes) ► inland = Russia

019	09-10-1913 – 21-09-1914
local letter	3 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	4 kopecks
registered local letter	10 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	10 kopecks
local printed matter ²)	1 kopeck
inland letter	7 kopecks
heavier inland letter ³)	14 kopecks
registered inland letter	14 kopecks
inland postcard	3 kopecks
registered inland postcard	10 kopecks
inland printed matter ²)	2 kopecks
international letter	10 kopecks
registered international letter	20 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 60 grammes ²) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them ³) > 15 grammes ► introduction of the metric system ► on 1 August 1914 Russia gets involved in the First World War ► inland = Russia

020	21-09-1914 – 15-08-1917
local letter	5 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	8 kopecks
registered local letter	15 kopecks
local postcard	3 kopecks
registered local postcard	13 kopecks
local printed matter ²)	1 kopeck
inland letter	10 kopecks
heavier inland letter ³)	20 kopecks
registered inland letter	20 kopecks
inland postcard	3 kopecks
registered inland postcard	13 kopecks
inland printed matter ²)	2 kopecks
international letter	10 kopecks
registered international letter	20 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 60 grammes ²) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them ³) > 15 grammes ► from 01-02-1917: letters to a military man 5 kopecks; postcards to a military man 2 kopecks; the mail service of the army itself is free ► inland = Russia

021	15-08-1917 – 01-09-1917
local letter	10 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	20 kopecks
registered local letter	30 kopecks
local postcard	5 kopecks
registered local postcard	25 kopecks
local printed matter	2 kopecks
inland letter	15 kopecks
heavier inland letter ²)	30 kopecks
registered inland letter	35 kopecks
inland postcard	5 kopecks
registered inland postcard	25 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	10 kopecks
registered international letter	20 kopecks
international postcard	4 kopecks
registered international postcard	14 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 30 grammes ²) > 15 grammes ► inland mail more expensive than international mail; because many postal employees just cannot believe this, correctly franked international letters are rare ► inland = Russia

022	01-09-1917 – 28-02-1918
local letter	10 kopecks
heavier local letter ¹)	20 kopecks
registered local letter	30 kopecks
local postcard	5 kopecks
registered local postcard	25 kopecks
local printed matter	2 kopecks
inland letter	15 kopecks
heavier inland letter ²)	30 kopecks
registered inland letter	35 kopecks
inland postcard	5 kopecks
registered inland postcard	25 kopecks
inland printed matter	2 kopecks
international letter	20 kopecks
registered international letter	40 kopecks
international postcard	8 kopecks
registered international postcard	28 kopecks
particulars	¹) > 30 grammes ²) > 15 grammes ► in actual practice these rates are ineffective ► inland = Russia ► In February 1918 Estonia falls into German hands after a German offensive. The Estonian islands were already occupied by German troops in September 1917. It takes until 1 May 1918 before there is a postal service that is open to the general public. For the troops there is the German fieldpost ► on 24 February 1918 Estonia proclaims its independence. For the time being this has no consequences. Already on 25 February 1918 the capital Reval (Tallinn in Estonian) falls into German hands

023	28-02-1918 – 01-05-1918
particulars	the only working postal service is the German army fieldpost. This service is free

Sources: Czarist Period A.V. Kiryushkin and P.E. Robinson, Russian Postmarks: An Introduction and Guide, J. Barefoot Ltd., 1989 N. Jakimovs and V. Marcilger, Postal History of Imperial Russia in Pre-independent Latvia, Framic, 1995 V. Hurt and E. Ojaste, Eesti – Estonia – Estland – Philately & Postal History Handbook Catalogue – Philatelie & Postgeschichte Handbuch Katalog, EFÜR/NY-EFS, 1986 Ivo Steyn, ‘Russische posttarieven in 1918’, Het Baltische Gebied, July 1996 Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost Harry von Hofmann (ed.), Das Postgebiet Ob. Ost auf dem Territorium der späteren Republik Lettland 1915-1920, Harry von Hofmann Verlag, 2006 Stefan Petriuk, ‘Stadtpost Wilna’, Philatelia Baltica, June 1985 Jeroen van de Weide and Ton Welvaart, ‘Eerste inflatieperiode in het Generaalgouvernement Warschau en bezet Rusland; enkele woorden over de Duitse inflatie voor Polenfilatelisten’, in: Inflatieperioden en geldhervormingen in Oost Europa, Filatelistische Contactgroep Oost Europa, 2007 Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog 1988 Independence V. Hurt and E. Ojaste, Eesti – Estonia – Estland – Philately & Postal History Handbook Catalogue – Philatelie & Postgeschichte Handbuch Katalog, EFÜR/NY-EFS, 1986 E. Mattila, Viron Postimaksuja – Postal Rates of Estonia 1918-1940, Suomen Filatelistiliitto, 1987 Soviet Occupation I V. Hurt and E. Ojaste, Eesti – Estonia – Estland – Philately & Postal History Handbook Catalogue – Philatelie & Postgeschichte Handbuch Katalog, EFÜR/NY-EFS, 1986 German Occupation Vello Mändvere, ‘Postal Tariffs in Occupied Estonia 1940-1944’, in: Eesti Filatelist 1984-30 Soviet Occupation II Michel Ganzsachen-Katalog Europa Ost 2004/05 Survey provided by Anton Welvaart, 1986 Vladlen Aronovich Karlinskii, ‘Soviet Postal Rates’, Rossica 75 (1968) Independence Restored Eesti Vabariigi Postmargid ja Tervikasjad Kataloog 2005 – Catalogue of Estonian Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery, Eesti Muinsuskaitse Seltsi Filateeliatoimkond, Tallinn, 2005, 7th ed. Karl Lukas, ‘Neue Auslandsposttarife der Eesti Post’, Eesti Post 48 (2009) http://www.algonet.se/~bert/estica/rates.html If two sources are contradictory, firstly the items known to me are decisive, secondly the most recent source.

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