Postage stamps of the Soviet Union



Stamps of the Soviet Union were issued in the period 1923 to 1991. They were labeled with the inscription "Почта СССР" ("Post of the USSR"). In the thematics, Soviet stamps reflected to a large extent the history, politics, economics and culture of this world's first socialist state.

Notable designers of Soviet postage stamps were Ivan Dubasov (who designed the Lenin Mourning issue, the first stamps portraying Vladimir Lenin in 1924) and Vasily Zavyalov. By the mid-1970s, over 4,000 stamps came out in the USSR. In 1970, the Catalogue of Postage Stamps of the USSR, 1918–1969 was published in Moscow, the yearly supplements being produced afterwards. The history and design of Soviet postage stamps were elucidated in the annual publication Soviet Collector and the monthly magazine Filateliya SSSR.

First stamps
The first postage stamps of the newly proclaimed Union of Soviet Socialist Republics were designed by Georgy Pashkov and issued in August 1923 in relation to the First All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft Exhibition.

Definitive issues


The first series of the USSR definitive stamps known as the Gold Standard issue appeared in October 1923. Their design proposed by Ivan Shadr included the busts of the worker, Red Army soldier and peasant. Also, there was a plan to sell more stamps in the international market. By targeting stamps for sales abroad, the Soviet government reckoned on earning hard currency.

Rarities


A unique complete pane of 25 early Soviet Union stamps is known as Soviet Air Post "Wide 5" surcharged. The stamp itself was produced in 1924 as a surcharge of 10 kopecks on 5-rouble green type II, basic stamp wide "5".

In 1925, a 15-kopeck yellow stamp of "Peasant" design was printed in a very small quantity within the Gold Standard issue. Named Limonka, it is considered very rare, especially if in mint condition.

Due to a plate error (asymmetric star), a variety of the first Soviet numbered Tokyo Olympic souvenir sheet of 1964 is now quite rare and known as Green souvenir sheet. The Russian Goznak stamp factory has released several sheets of the Tokyo 1964 trial stamps, they are very rare and there are few left.

Stamp thematics and other aspects


Soviet Union stamps covered a great variety of themes. The thematics mirrored various aspects of Soviet history, politics, economics, and culture. These included:
 * the accomplishments of the Great October Socialist Revolution,
 * achievements of industry, agriculture, science, and culture,
 * various anniversary celebrations.

After 1929, the quality of the Soviet stamps improved. Their agitational content expanded, as well. Increasing attention was given to stamps with face values of 7, 14, and 28 kopecks used for international correspondence. These stamps were "supposed to tell the truth to the world about the victories of the workers' country of the Soviets".