Russia Used in Åland: Facit #R7P2 [10 kopek, vertically laid paper] (damaged from placement over edge of card) on 8 March 1906 picture post card (fancy embossed design). This divided address-side card was used in 1906 before this format was approved in late 1907 for general use between UPU countries; in 1906 divided address-side cards were only being used domestically in some countries, or by agreement between a few countries. Mailed at JERSÖ (no post office) and picked up by a rural carrier using RURAL LETTER CARRIER #939 NUMERAL CANCELLATION; This rural route was established 1 February 1905 -- this is early use. Date canceled at MARIEHAMN (bilingual postmark) to the U.S. In this period, Russian stamps were required on mail to other countries, however examples from Åland are hard to find. Even domestic covers within Åland or from Åland to Finland are scarce with numeral cancellations. However, examples to other countries are extremely scarce. Despite the damage to the stamp, this card is very attractive -- and extremely scarce!
ACTUAL item.
45.00
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249061
Russia Used in Finland: Facit #R18 on Facit #RP9 Russian postal card [1909 1 kopek orange with Varnish Pattern; 1909 3 kopek postal card] Used VF on 19 August 1912 from "UUSIKIRKKO Wp L" to Chemnitz, Saxony, Germany. The 1 kopek stamp uprates the card from the domestic rate to the foreign rate. This is a KARELIAN LOST TERRITORIES small town now in Russia as Polyany. Wikipedia: The Finnish name means New Church (Lake). Mikael Agricola [Scott #276-7, #668, #1286, and #B13] died there on return from the negotiations for the Treaty of Novgorod. A very attractive commercial use that is much less common than the modest catalog value of the card would suggest.
ACTUAL item.