With the exception of a public-access vending meter on trial in 1938, meters did not come into use until after World War 2. The stamps are grouped according to appearance and function:
A - designs for general use during Soviet era, inscribed “BULGARIA”, “BULGARIE” or “БЬЛГАРИЯ”
B - provisional issue, without country name in the frank
C - stamps inscribed "HPБ"
PO - stamps generated only from Post Office machines
PV - public self-service vending machine stamps
GROUP A: Stamps for general use, inscribed “BULGARIA” or “БЬЛГАРИЯ”[edit | edit source]
A1. Francotyp “C” (MV), 1942 or earlier. [$100]
Horizontal frank with simulated perforation outer border.
“БЬΛГАРИЯ⋅BULGARIE” at top.
Lions rampant at sides.
M# with “No” prefix in bottom panel.
TM: SC
V/F: 0.00 (Gothic)
a. "No" alone without meter number
A2. Francotyp “Cc” (MV), 1959 or earlier. [$5]
Upright frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight line inner border.
Coat of arms at top and “NR BULGARIA” at bottom.
A. Wide spacing between TM and frank
B. Narrow spacing between TM and frank
TM: SC
V/F: 00oo
a. Printed in black
A3. Krag (MV). [$15]
Upright frank with single-line border, scalloped at top and sides except in corners.
“BULGARIA/ POST” at top, and “LEVA” at bottom.
TM: SC
V/F: 0000
A4. Postalia “D2” (MV). [$5]
Frank with single simulated-perforation border.
Coat of arms at top, “НР БЬЛГАРИЯ” at bottom.
TM: DC with inner circle concave at top and bottom.
V/F: 000 ЛВ
NOTE: After political changes in 1989 the small hammer and sickle appearing above the town name at the bottom of the town mark disappears.
A4.1. Postalia “D2” (MV).
Similar to Type A4 but with large post horn at top.
“БЬЛГАРИЯ” at bottom with no other text in the stamp.
So far seen printed only in black.
TM: DC
V/F: 000
A5. Postalia “D2” (MV).
Frank with double straight-line border.
“България” at top is only inscription in the frank.
TM: DC
V/F: 000
A6. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV).
Horizontal frank with straight-line border and inner box around value figures.
“POSTA” large at top with “NR BULGARIA” vertical at left and “НР БЬЛГАРИЯ” vertical at right.
A. Meter number breaks bottom frame lines
B. Solid bar breaks bottom frame lines
C. Bottom frame lines unbroken
TM: DC
V/F: 0.00
A7. “Perm” (MV).
Upright frank with eight dashes at each side.
“БЪЛГАРИЯ” at top and “ЛЕВА” at bottom.
Four wavy lines between TM and frank.
Value figures stacked, date figures vertical.
TM: BIC
V/F: 0000
A8. Postalia “D2” (MV).
Frank with single simulated-perforation line border.
“България” at top is the only inscription in the frank.
TM: DC
V/F: 0000
A9. Pitney Bowes-GB “A/B900” (MV).
“БЪПГАРCKA / ПOЩA” at top with posthorn logo to the left.
“ЛЕВА” at bottom.
Simulated-perforation line border at bottom and right.
TM: SC
V/F: 00.00
GROUP B: Frank without country inscription in frank, country name in the town mark[edit | edit source]
B1. Krag (MV). [$20]
Upright frank completely unengraved.
Inscribed “БЪЛГАРИЯ” at bottom of SC TM.
V/F: 0000
B2. “Perm” (MV).
Frank consists of five stacked bars at sides with stacked value figures between.