The Russia Number One: How a Broken Machine Created a Stamp Legend

Show notes

Introduction: The podcast begins by highlighting the immense stories that small objects can hold, using rare stamps as tangible links to the past.

The Russia Number One: We dive into the history of the Russian Empire's first postage stamp, which was officially introduced in December 1857. It's more than just a piece of paper; it was a revolution in communication, simplifying postal fees and making mail accessible to the general public for the first time.

The Birth of a Legend: We reveal the origin of the stamp's rarity—a broken perforating machine. To meet the official launch deadline, the first batch of the 10-Kopek stamp was distributed unperforated, creating the unique "unperforate" version that is so highly prized today.

The Rarity Factor: The rarity of the Russia Number One is immense. A comprehensive 2021 census by philatelist Guido Craveri identified only 458 known examples of the stamp on original letters, known as "covers," worldwide.

A Tangible Piece of History: The show emphasizes that these stamps are more than just collectibles; they are miniature historical documents that capture a moment in time and the administrative and social changes of the Russian Empire.

Highlighting the Illien Collection: We explore three specific highlights from the Illien Collection auction, which showcase the stamp's diversity and historical significance:

Lot 544: An incredible example of a Russia Number One on a letter sheet from Linsenhof, Latvia, with a unique purple pre-philatelic cancellation. This is the only known item with this specific colored cancellation. The starting price is €15,000.

Lot 578: A rare "mixed franking" cover from Ustjushna, featuring the unperforated Russia Number One alongside a later, perforated stamp. This piece visually represents the transition from the accidental unperforated stamp to the standard perforated issue. The starting price is €12,000.

Lot 517: A Russia Number One with a very specific and rare manufacturing variation—a large 4mm watermark. Only one other copy with this variation has ever been recorded. The starting price is €4,000.

Expert Verification: The importance of expert verification and authentication is stressed, with many of the highlighted stamps accompanied by certificates from respected philatelic foundations and experts.

Collector's Resource: For those interested in a deeper dive, the book "Census of the 1857 10-Kopec Inperforate Stamp of Russia" by Guido Craveri is recommended.

Auction Details: The podcast concludes by providing details for the Heinrich Köhler Auctions House event in Wiesbaden, Germany, on Thursday, September 18th, 2025. The full catalog is available online.