Russian Empire

By the time of its first stamp issue, the Russian Empire reached across eastern Europe all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the east and to much of central Asia.
 * Russia's first stamp was issued in 1857, inscribed ПОЧТОВАИ МАРКА ("postage stamp") with the Russian arms considered sufficient for identification.
 * More values soon followed (1858), with the same inscription and several new but similar designs.
 * In 1889, thunderbolts were added to the posthorns below the Russian eagle.
 * 1902 saw a change to vertically laid paper.
 * In 1909, most of the designs were changed. These had lozenges of varnish printed on them to prevent re-use.
 * In 1913, a set of the czars of Russia and important buildings was released. Three values were printed on thin cardboard to be used as money, but were also used as postage.
 * In 1915, 5 and 10 ruble values with varnish lozenges were released.
 * In 1916-17, various surcharges were released.
 * Meanwhile, parts of the empire issued their own stamps.
 * Finland, an autonomous Grand Duchy that used its own currency, from 1809 to 1917. See: Finland.
 * Poland, a semi-independent kingdom beginning in 1815, losing that status in 1832. It issued one stamp in 1860 but was soon annexed into Russia proper. See: Poland.
 * Wenden in the Livonia Governate. See: Wenden.

 File:Russia no 1.jpg|1857 issue. File:Russia 1k.jpg|1 kopeck of the 1866-70 issue. File:Russia 7kopeck.jpg|7 kopeck of the 1883-88 issue. File:Russia 7k thunderbolt.jpg|1889-1902 7 kopeck value. Note thunderbolts. File:Russia 15k.jpg|1909 15k value. File:Russia 1r.jpg|1909 1 ruble value. File:Russia 4k.jpg|Peter the Great from the 1913 czars issue. File:Russia Nicholas.jpg|1913 7k Nicholas II. File:Russia 3r castle.jpg|1913 3 ruble Romanov Castle. File:Russia semi.jpg|Semipostal issue of 1915. Issued on both colored and uncolored papers 

In February 1917, the czar was overthrown, replaced by a provisional government.



