Postal History from Finland 1889 - 1918

Finnish Postal Stationaries



Ring type issue


Issued 1. May. 1891
Typography printing at the Russian State Printing Office, St. Petersburg
Denomination in Russian currency (Kopeck)
Demonetized: 14. May 1911
Size 90 x 140mm


Number printed:
3k 1 234 850
3+3k 52 850
4k 324 850
4+4k 32 850




3k Ring-type single card type I
Type I = 25 dots per 2 cm in address lines




3k Ring-type single card type II
Type II = 32 dots per 2 cm in address lines. Estimated 15% of the issue is type II




3k Ring-type double card type I; request part




3k Ring-type double card type I; reply part




4k Ring-type single card




4k Ring-type double card




4k Ring-type double card - reply part




Russian type - 1901

Text in Russian headline = "open letter"
Denomination in Finnish currency (Penni)

Type I - Lithography
issued 14. January 1901
Design supplied by Tilgmann, Helsinki

characteristics: 18 dots per cm in address line; "H" is open i lower text

Single card
Printed: 1.260.000

mint copy of single card



Double card
Printed: 87.000

Type I - Lithography issue - mint copy of request part of doublecard




Type I - Lithography issue - mint copy of reply part of doublecard





Type II - Letterpres
design supplied by Berthold, Berlin
characteristics: Period after headline rectangle; 15 dots per cm in address line; "H" is closed i lower text

Single card
issued late 1901
Printed: 7.457.000

single card Type II




Doublecard; subtype A
issued: 1902
Printed: 20.000

The second textline on message card is 34,5mm; Period after second text line in the reply card


Type II - Request part of double card; subtype A



< image is missing >
Type II - Reply part of double card; subtype A



Doublecard; subtype B
issued: 1903
Printed: 320.950

The second textline on message card is 33,5mm; No period after second text line in the reply card

mint copy of request part of double card; type II; subtype B




mint copy of reply part of double card; type II; subtype B





Type III - Letterpres
issued: 1908
design supplied by Lilius & Hertzberg, Helsinki
characteristics: 20 dots per cm in address line; "H" is closed i lower text

Single card
Printed: 4.316.800

mint copy of single card type III





New design - 1911


type I
Characteristics: cross between PEN and PEN

New design - Essay single card; type I
Printed September 1910
Printed: 62

Essay of the new design which was accepted by Russian Postal Administration in St. Petersburg but later rejetced by the Russian Govenor General of Finland due to the Finnish / Swedish text in line two. The new design issue was planned for 14. January 1911, but was deleayed due to this rejection.


Very rare used copy of the 'New design' essay - not from my collection!



New design - Single card card; type I
issued 27. April 1911
Printed: 406.000

single card




New design - Double card; type I
issued 27. April 1911
Printed: 50.650

Double card - Request part; type I




Double card - Reply part; type I
Latest known use of number cancellation 301 type 1





New design - Single card; type II
characteristics: without cross; address lines with 17 dots per cm
distance between the value stamp and the coat of arms: 96 mm



issued 27. April 1911
Printed: 406.000

Type II - single card




New design - Double card; type II
Printed: 218.900

Double card - Request part; type II




Double card - Reply part; type II




New design - Single card; type III
issued September 1914
Printed: 9.268.000
characteristics: without cross; address lines with 12 dots per cm
distance between the value stamp and the coat of arms: 94,5 mm

Type III - single card