International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Estonia
Estonia[edit | edit source]
- Estonia was an independent country until it was occupied by the Soviet Union starting in 1941. Estonia regained its independence after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991. All stamps are inscribed “EESTI” or are without country inscription but have an Estonian town mark.
- The stamps are grouped according to political period:
- A - Period of independence, 1929 – 1941
- B - Period of Soviet Union occupation, 1941 – 1991
- C - Period of independence, 1991 to present
- Most stamps used in the years between 1941 and 1991 are identical to those used in the Soviet Union. Only stamp types unique to Estonia are shown in Group B. See UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS for the other issues.
GROUP A: First period of independence[edit | edit source]
A1. Francotyp “C” (MV), 1929. [Rare]
- Upright frank with simulated perforation border.
- Inscribed “EESTI” at top and “SENTI” at bottom between two starbursts.
- Four-digit S# high between TM and frank.
- Meter numbers 1 through 21 (possibly higher), at base of town mark.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000 (A,G)
GROUP B: Period of Soviet Union occupation, 1941 to 1991[edit | edit source]
Most stamps used in this period are identical to those used in the rest of the Soviet Union. Only stamp types unique to Estonia are listed here.
B1. Francotyp “C” (MV), 1941. [Very rare]
- Used during the first Soviet occupation from January to August 1941.
- As Type A1 but with “CCCP” at top and “KOП” at bottom.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
B2. Francotyp “C” (MV), 1941. [Very rare]
- Oval frank with “ПОЧТА
CCCP” at top and “KOП” at bottom. - Hammer and sickle logo at left and right of value figures.
- TM: DC
- V/F: 000
- NOTE. This stamp remained in use for some time after 1945. All other stamps used in Estonia between 1945 and 1991 are identical to the stamps of the SOVIET UNION (USSR).
GROUP C: Period of independence, 1991 to present[edit | edit source]
Sub-group CA: Provisional issues without country inscription[edit | edit source]
CA1. Perm (MV).
- Frank is upright octagon without inscription with inner box around the value figures.
- Value figures are stacked and date figures are vertical.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
Sub-group CB: Frank is upright octagon[edit | edit source]
CB1. Perm (MV). [Very rare]
- Frank with “EESTI” at top and “POST” at bottom.
- Value figures in inner box.
- Value figures are horizontal and date figures are vertical.
- Date only without TM
- V/F: 000
CB2. Perm (MV).
- “EESTI” stacked at left and “POST” stacked at right.
- Date and value figures horizontal.
- A. Wide spacing between TM and frank
- B. Narrow spacing [Scarce]
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
CB3. Perm (MV).
- As Type CB2 but value figures stacked and date figures vertical.
- A. Frank frame with long vertical sides and short diagonals
- B. Frank frame with short vertical sides and long diagonals
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
Type CB4 has been re-cataloged as Type CB2B.
Type CB5 has been eliminated as it is no different from CB3A.
CB6. Perm (MV).
- Similar to Type CB3 but with inner box added around the value figures.
- A. Frank as wide as it is tall
- B. Tall, narrow frank [Scarce]
- C. Frank frame with short vertical sides and long diagonals
- TM: DC, SC
- V/F: 000
- a. As C but the town mark is same shape as the frank! (shown reduced) [Very scarce]
Type CB7 has been re-cataloged as Type CB6B.
Type CB8 has been re-cataloged as Type CB6C.
Type CB9 has been re-cataloged as Type CB6a.
CB10. Perm (MV). [Scarce]
- Frank with six horizontal dashes at each side.
- “EESTI” at top, “POST” at bottom.
- Value figures stacked and date figures vertical.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
CB11. Neopost “2205” (MV).
- The frank has short corner diagonals.
- “EESTI” at top, “POST” at bottom.
- Spacing between TM and frank is narrow.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
CB12. Neopost “205” (MV).
- Similar to Type CB11 but the corner diagonals are longer and the sides are shorter.
- With “K” at right of value figures.
- M# below frank. Date figures tall.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
Sub-group CC: Frank without or with incomplete frame lines[edit | edit source]
CC1. Perm (MV). [Scarce]
- Frank without frame lines but otherwise as Type CB1.
- Date only without TM.
- V/F: 000
CC2. Perm (MV). [Scarce]
- Frame lines at sides only.
- “POST” stacked at left and “EESTI” stacked at right. “KOP” at bottom.
- Value figures stacked, and date figures are vertical.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
CC3. Perm (MV). [Scarce]
- Frank without outer frame lines but with inner box around value figures.
- “EESTI” at top and “POST” at bottom.
- Value figures stacked, and date figures vertical.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
- NOTE: the illustration is a tracing
CC4. Pitney Bowes (MV). [Scarce]
- No frame lines. “EESTI” above and “POST” below value figures.
- None seen with town mark
- V/F: ≋000
NOTE: The stamp shown at right is similar to Type CC4 but has only one value figure. This is NOT a postage meter stamp. It is possibly a non-metered machine stamp or even a hand stamp.
Sub-group CD: Frank is horizontal octagon[edit | edit source]
CD1. Frama “M/E” (MV).
- Very large frank inscribed “EESTI” at top and “POST” at bottom.
- Inner box around value figures. M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 000
CD2. Frama “M/E” (MV).
- As Type CD1 but much smaller.
- M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 0000 0000
CD3. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” (MV).
- Similar to Type CD2 but much wider, and value figures smaller.
- Without M#.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ≋000
CD4. Pitney Bowes-GB “6300” series (MV).
- Very similar to Type CD2 but inscriptions are narrower, and value figures are smaller.
- M# with “3” prefix below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ≋000
CD5. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV).
- Tall frank without inner box around value figures.
- Date figures raised in relation to value figures.
- “POST” breaks bottom frame line.
- M# with “31” prefix between TM and frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ≋000
CD6. Pitney Bowes-GB “6500” series (MV).
- Frank as Type CD5 but not as large.
- Date and value figures are on the same level.
- “POST” above bottom frame line. M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- A. Frank 29-30 x 21 mm
- B. Frank 30-31 x 23 mm
- C. Frank 29-30 x 25 mm, with “K” at right of value figures
- V/F: ≋000 ≋0000
CD7. Neopost “Electronic” (MV).
- Narrow frank without inner box around value figures.
- M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ≋00.0
CD8. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).
- Similar to Type CD7 but frame lines are thicker and the corner diagonals curve slightly inward.
- Value figures without “K” at right.
- Distance between centers of date and value figures is 37 mm.
- M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 0000
CD9. Hasler “Smile” (MV).
- As Type CD8 but wider spacing.
- Distance between centers of date and value figures is 40 mm.
- M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 0000 00000
CD10. Hasler “Smile” (MV).
- As Type CD9 but corner diagonals are longer and top, bottom and sides are shorter.
- M# below frank.
- TM: SC
- V/F: 00000
Sub-group CE: Circular frank[edit | edit source]
CE1. Perm (MV). [Rare]
- TM and frank reversed.
- Octagon TM with “EESTI” and “POST” stacked at the sides.
- Circular frank with “TALLINN” and “EESTI” vertical at the sides.
- This is apparently either an assembly mistake or the result of an incomplete assembly package.
- V/F: 000
Sub-group CF: Frank contains "SPECIMEN"[edit | edit source]
- A Specimen stamp used incorrectly on actual mail
CF1. Pitney Bowes "6300" (MV). [Rare]
- Frank consists of horizontal lines with "SPECIMEN" at top and model number "P.B.6300" at bottom.
- This stamp was produced by a demonstration machine used in error to frank actual mail.
- TM: SC
- V/F: ≋000
NOTE: This Hasler "Mailmaster" stamp is used by a private courier
- service and is not an issue of the Estonian postal service.