Estonia
Postal Rates 1918-1944

024 01-05-1918 – 01-10-1918
local letter

7½ Pfennig

  
heavier local letter 1)

7½ Pfennig

  
registered local letter

27½ Pfennig

  
local postcard

7½ Pfennig

  
registered local postcard

27½ Pfennig

  
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
inland letter

15 Pfennig

  
heavier inland letter 2)

25 Pfennig

  
registered inland letter

35 Pfennig

  
inland postcard

7½ Pfennig

  
registered inland postcard

27½ Pfennig

  
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
international letter 3)

15 Pfennig
20 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (from 12-06-1918)
registered international letter 3)

35 Pfennig
40 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (from 12-06-1918)
international postcard 3)

7½ Pfennig
10 Pfennig
10 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (from 12-06-1918)
registered international postcard 3)

27½ Pfennig
30 Pfennig
30 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (from 12-06-1918)
particulars 1) uniform rate for local letters
2) > 20 grammes
3) some letters to neutral countries, franked according to the German foreign rate (20 Pfennig for a letter up to 20 grammes), are known. Mail to Russia is often accepted when franked according to inland rate
► Estonia is a part of the Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost and uses German stamps overprinted with ‘Postgebiet Ob. Ost’. Inland rate applies to the entire territory occupied by the Germans, including Germany itself
► 1 rouble is equal to 2 Marks. Apart from roubles and Marks ‘Ostrubel’ and ‘Ostmarken’ are in circulation too.
1 Mark = 1 Ostmark = 0,50 Ostrubel
► letters must be collected at the post office instead of being delivered, so local mail is extremely rare
   
025 01-10-1918 – 15-11-1918
local letter

10 Pfennig

  
heavier local letter 1)

15 Pfennig

  
registered local letter

30 Pfennig

  
local postcard

7½ Pfennig

  
registered local postcard

27½ Pfennig

  
local printed matter

5 Pfennig

  
inland letter

15 Pfennig

  
heavier inland letter 1)

25 Pfennig

  
registered inland letter

35 Pfennig

  
inland postcard

10 Pfennig

  
registered inland postcard

30 Pfennig

  
inland printed matter

5 Pfennig

  
international letter 2)

15 Pfennig
20 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
registered international letter 2)

35 Pfennig
40 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
international postcard 2)

10 Pfennig
10 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
registered international postcard 2)

30 Pfennig
30 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) some letters to neutral countries, franked according to the German foreign rate (20 Pfennig for a letter up to 20 grammes), are known. Mail to Russia is often accepted when franked according to inland rate
► Estonia is a part of the Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost. Inland rate applies to the entire territory occupied by the Germans, including Germany itself
► 1 rouble is equal to 2 Marks
► letters must be collected at the post office instead of being delivered, so local mail is extremely rare
 
026 15-11-1918 – 01-01-1919
local letter

5 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

10 kopecks

  
registered local letter

20 kopecks

  
local postcard

5 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

20 kopecks

  
local printed matter 2)

2 kopecks

  
inland letter

15 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

30 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

30 kopecks

  
inland postcard

5 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

20 kopecks

  
inland printed matter 2)

5 kopecks

  
international mail
not possible
  
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► Estonia is fighting its war of independence. In those parts of the country that are occupied by Soviet troups (such as Tartu between 24-12-1918 and 14-01-1919, Valga between 18-12-1918 and 31-01-1919, Narva between 29-11-1918 and 18-01-1919) non-registered mail can be sent exempt from postage
 
027 01-01-1919 – 22-01-1919
local letter

15 penni

  
heavier local letter 1)

30 penni

  
registered local letter

45 penni

  
local postcard

15 penni

  
registered local postcard

45 penni

  
local printed matter 2)

5 penni

  
inland letter

35 penni

  
heavier inland letter 1)

70 penni

  
registered inland letter

65 penni

  
inland postcard

15 penni

  
registered inland postcard

45 penni

  
inland printed matter 2)

10 penni

  
international letter

45 penni

  
registered international letter
not possible
  
international postcard

20 penni

  
registered international postcard
not possible
  
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► 1 penni = 1 kopeck
 
028 22-01-1919 – 01-01-1920
local letter

15 penni

  
heavier local letter 1)

30 penni

  
registered local letter

45 penni

  
local postcard

15 penni

  
registered local postcard

45 penni

  
local printed matter 2)

5 penni

  
inland letter

35 penni

  
heavier inland letter 1)

70 penni

  
registered inland letter

65 penni

  
inland postcard

15 penni

  
registered inland postcard

45 penni

  
inland printed matter 2)

10 penni

  
international letter

50 penni

  
registered international letter

1 marka

  
international postcard

20 penni

  
registered international postcard

70 penni

  
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
 
029 01-01-1920 – 01-07-1920
local letter

35 penni

  
heavier local letter 1)

70 penni

  
registered local letter

1 marka 05 penni

  
local postcard

25 penni

  
registered local postcard

95 penni

  
local printed matter 2)

10 penni

  
inland letter

70 penni

  
heavier inland letter 1)

1 marka 40 penni

  
registered inland letter

1 marka 40 penni

  
inland postcard

35 penni

  
registered inland postcard

1 marka 05 penni

  
inland printed matter 2)

20 penni

  
international letter

1 marka 25 penni

  
registered international letter

2 marka 50 penni

  
international postcard

50 penni

  
registered international postcard

1 marka 75 penni

  
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► on 2 February 1920 Estonia and the Soviet Union sign the Peace Treaty of Tartu
 
030 01-07-1920 – 10-04-1921
local letter

1 marka

  
heavier local letter 1)

2 marka

  
registered local letter

3 marka

  
local postcard

1 marka

  
registered local postcard

3 marka

  
local printed matter 2)

25 penni

  
inland letter

2 marka

  
heavier inland letter 1)

4 marka

  
registered inland letter

4 marka

  
inland postcard

1 marka

  
registered inland postcard

3 marka

  
inland printed matter 2)

50 penni

  
international letter

2 marka 50 penni

  
registered international letter

5 marka

  
international postcard

1 marka

  
registered international postcard

3 marka 50 penni

  
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
 
031 10-04-1921 – 16-12-1921
local letter

2 marka

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 marka

  
registered local letter

7 marka

  
local postcard

2 marka

  
registered local postcard

7 marka

  
local printed matter 2)

50 penni

  
inland letter

5 marka

  
heavier inland letter 1)

7 marka 50 penni

  
registered inland letter

10 marka

  
inland postcard

2 marka 50 penni

  
registered inland postcard

7 marka 50 penni

  
inland printed matter 2)

1 marka

  
international letter

10 marka

  
registered international letter

20 marka

  
international postcard

5 marka

  
registered international postcard

15 marka

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
 
032 16-12-1921 – 01-11-1922
local letter

2 marka

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 marka

  
registered local letter

7 marka

  
local postcard

2 marka

  
registered local postcard

7 marka

  
local printed matter 2)

50 penni

  
inland letter

5 marka

  
heavier inland letter 1)

7 marka 50 penni

  
registered inland letter

10 marka

  
inland postcard

2 marka 50 penni

  
registered inland postcard

7 marka 50 penni

  
inland printed matter 2)

1 marka

  
international letter

10 marka

  
registered international letter

20 marka

  
international postcard

5 marka

  
registered international postcard

15 marka

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Latvia and Lithuania at inland rate
 
033 01-11-1922 – 01-01-1924
local letter

2 marka

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 marka

  
registered local letter

7 marka

  
local postcard

2 marka

  
registered local postcard

7 marka

  
local printed matter 2)

50 penni

  
inland letter

5 marka

  
heavier inland letter 1)

7 marka 50 penni

  
registered inland letter

10 marka

  
inland postcard

2 marka 50 penni

  
registered inland postcard

7 marka 50 penni

  
inland printed matter 2)

1 marka

  
international letter

15 marka

  
registered international letter

30 marka

  
international postcard

9 marka

  
registered international postcard

24 marka

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Latvia and Lithuania at inland rate
 
034 01-01-1924 – 01-02-1925
local letter

5 marka

 (local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

8 marka

 (local = inland rate)
registered local letter

15 marka

 (local = inland rate)
local postcard

3 marka

 (local = inland rate)
registered local postcard

13 marka

 (local = inland rate)
local printed matter 2)

1 marka

 (local = inland rate)
inland letter

5 marka

  
heavier inland letter 1)

8 marka

  
registered inland letter

15 marka

  
inland postcard

3 marka

  
registered inland postcard

13 marka

  
inland printed matter 2)

1 marka

  
international letter

15 marka

  
registered international letter

30 marka

  
international postcard

9 marka

  
registered international postcard

24 marka

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Latvia and Lithuania at inland rate
 
035 01-02-1925 – 01-01-1928
local mail
local rate equal to inland rate
  
inland letter

10 marka

  
heavier inland letter 1)

15 marka

  
registered inland letter

20 marka

  
inland postcard

5 marka

  
registered inland postcard

15 marka

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 marka

  
international letter

20 marka

  
registered international letter

40 marka

  
international postcard

12 marka

  
registered international postcard

32 marka

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Latvia and Lithuania at inland rate
 
036 01-01-1928 – 01-01-1935
local mail
local rate equal to inland rate
  
inland letter

10 senti

  
heavier inland letter 1)

15 senti

  
registered inland letter

20 senti

  
inland postcard

5 senti

  
registered inland postcard

15 senti

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 senti

  
international letter

20 senti

  
registered international letter

40 senti

  
international postcard

12 senti

  
registered international postcard

32 senti

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► 1 sent = 1 old marka
► mail to Latvia and Lithuania at inland rate; from 31-12-1928 this also applies to mail to Finland
 
037 01-01-1935 – 01-04-1939
local mail
local rate equal to inland rate
  
inland letter

10 senti

  
heavier inland letter 1)

15 senti

  
registered inland letter

20 senti

  
inland postcard

5 senti

  
registered inland postcard

15 senti

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 senti

  
international letter

25 senti

  
registered international letter

50 senti

  
international airmail letter

65 senti

 (Europe)
registered international airmail letter

90 senti

 (Europe)
international postcard

15 senti

  
registered international postcard

40 senti

  
international airmail postcard

55 senti

 (Europe)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Finland, Latvia and Lithuania at inland rate; from 27-01-1937 this also applies to mail to Sweden
 
038 01-04-1939 – 01-03-1940
local mail
local rate equal to inland rate
  
inland letter

10 senti

  
heavier inland letter 1)

15 senti

  
registered inland letter

20 senti

  
inland postcard

5 senti

  
registered inland postcard

15 senti

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 senti

  
international letter

30 senti

  
registered international letter

50 senti

  
international airmail letter

40 senti

 (Europe)
registered international airmail letter

60 senti

 (Europe)
international postcard

18 senti

  
registered international postcard

38 senti

  
international airmail postcard

28 senti

 (Europe)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden at inland rate
 
039 01-03-1940 – 06-12-1940
local mail
local rate equal to inland rate
  
inland letter

15 senti

  
heavier inland letter 1)

25 senti

  
registered inland letter

30 senti

  
inland postcard

10 senti

  
registered inland postcard

25 senti

  
inland printed matter 2)

3 senti

  
international letter

30 senti

  
registered international letter

50 senti

  
international airmail letter

40 senti

 (Europe)
registered international airmail letter

60 senti

 (Europe)
international postcard

18 senti

  
registered international postcard

38 senti

  
international airmail postcard

28 senti

 (Europe)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
► mail to Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Sweden at inland rate. From the middle of June 1940 mail to Finland is no longer possible
► on 16 June 1940 Estonia is occupied by the Soviet Union. On 14 and 15 July 1940 bogus elections are arranged. On 22 July 1940 the newly elected parliament applies for membership of the Soviet Union. On 6 August 1940 the Socialist Soviet Republic of Estonia is admitted to the Soviet Union
 
040 06-12-1940 – 29-09-1941
local letter

15 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
registered local letter

45 kopecks

  
local postcard 2)

10 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

40 kopecks

  
local printed matter

20 kopecks

  
inland letter

30 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

45 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

60 kopecks

  
inland postcard 2)

20 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

50 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

20 kopecks

  
international letter

50 kopecks

  
registered international letter

1 rouble 30 kopecks

  
international airmail letter

1 rouble 50 kopecks

  
registered international airmail letter

2 roubles 30 kopecks

  
international postcard

30 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

1 rouble 10 kopecks

  
international airmail postcard

1 rouble 30 kopecks

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) there are separate rates for a local/inland postcard and a local/inland picture postcard in the Soviet Union. The latter has to be franked as a letter. In the Baltics this rule is not observed
► inland rate for the Soviet Union
► 1 Estonian kroon is equal to 1.25 roubles; in practice many people apply a ratio 1 kroon = 1 rouble
► on 22 June 1941 the Germans invade the Soviet Union. In the beginning of July German troups reach Estonia. Tallinn falls into German hands on 28 August 1941
 
041 29-09-1941 – 01-12-1941
local letter

30 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

45 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
registered local letter

60 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
local postcard

20 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
registered local postcard

50 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
local printed matter

20 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
inland letter

30 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

45 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

60 kopecks

  
inland postcard

20 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

50 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

20 kopecks

  
international letter

30 kopecks

  
registered international letter

60 kopecks

  
international postcard

20 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

50 kopecks

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
► one rate for Germany and the entire territory occupied by Germany. Mail to other countries not allowed
 
042 01-12-1941 – 01-07-1943
local letter

12 Pfennig

 (local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

24 Pfennig

 (local = inland rate)
registered local letter

42 Pfennig

 (local = inland rate)
local postcard

6 Pfennig

 (local = inland rate)
registered local postcard

36 Pfennig

 (local = inland rate)
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

 (local = inland rate)
inland letter

12 Pfennig

  
heavier inland letter 1)

24 Pfennig

  
registered inland letter

42 Pfennig

  
inland airmail letter

17 Pfennig

  
registered inland airmail letter

47 Pfennig

  
inland postcard

6 Pfennig

  
registered inland postcard

36 Pfennig

  
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
international letter

25 Pfennig

  
registered international letter

55 Pfennig

  
international postcard

15 Pfennig

  
registered international postcard

45 Pfennig

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
► one rate for Germany and the entire territory occupied by Germany. Only Germans are allowed to write to friendly countries like Italy and neutral countries like Switzerland
► 1 rouble is equal to 10 Pfennig
 
043 01-07-1943 – 22-09-1944
local letter

8 Pfennig

  
heavier local letter 1)

16 Pfennig

  
registered local letter

38 Pfennig

  
local postcard

5 Pfennig

  
registered local postcard

35 Pfennig

  
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
inland letter

12 Pfennig

  
heavier inland letter 1)

24 Pfennig

  
registered inland letter

42 Pfennig

  
inland airmailletter

17 Pfennig

  
registered inland airmailletter

47 Pfennig

  
inland postcard

6 Pfennig

  
registered inland postcard

36 Pfennig

  
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
international letter

25 Pfennig

  
registered international letter

55 Pfennig

  
international postcard

15 Pfennig

  
registered international postcard

45 Pfennig

  
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
► one rate for Germany and the entire territory occupied by Germany. Only Germans are allowed to write to friendly countries like Italy and neutral countries like Switzerland
► 22 September 1944 is the date Tallinn is occupied by the Red Army again
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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