FOCUS ON PHILATELY: Ukraine's rarest stamps

FOCUS ON PHILATELY

by Ingert Kuzych

Ukraine's rarest stamps - Part II

The 40/20-hryvni courier field post stamps

Ukraine's other rare stamps - the 40/20-hryvni values from a Courier Field Post (CFP) set issued in 1920 - are not nearly as well known as the Western Ukraine 10-hryvni Stanyslaviv values described in the previous article. As a matter of fact, Ukraine's Courier Field Post stamps are not even listed in some catalogues and the Scott Catalogue (the most widely consulted in North America) did not include them until 2002. Similar to its Western Ukrainian counterparts, only two examples of 40/20-hryvni CFP stamps are known. These stamps have, to my knowledge, never been offered at a major auction.

How the CFP stamps came about

Alliances and situations can change abruptly - particularly in times of war. The same Polish government that had fought and defeated the Westem Ukrainian National Republic (WUNR) in 1919 (described in the previous article), one year later found itself allied with the Ukrainian National Republic (UNR; eastern or greater Ukraine) to fight off the specter of Bolshevism that threatened them both. Early victories in the spring of 1920 were followed by reverses that saw the UNR expelled from most Ukrainian territories and the UNR government moved to temporary exile in Tarnow, Poland.

Although it will likely never be established with certainty, the creation of the CFP may well be related to the Bolshevik defeat at the Battle of Warsaw, the so-called "Miracle on the Vistula" (August 13-18, 1920), which decisively turned the tide of the struggle against Bolshevik forces. The Poles and their Ukrainian allies now planned to resume the offensive against the Soviets in late August of 1920.

It was at this time that the Ukrainian Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs issued two orders, Nos. 22 and 23, establishing a new temporary Courier Field Post service to carry official and semi-official military mail. A "Central Office" was set up by the Postal Ministry to handle mail between it and the "headquarters" of the chief Otaman (commander-in-chief). Besides official letters, private correspondence (both registered and unregistered) from institutions and persons serving the UNR also was accepted.

The CFP service began to function on the day the orders were promulgated, May 26, 1920. Existing postal regulations were to be followed and prevailing postal rates remained in force. The only exceptions were the correspondence of the chief otaman, his office, and the president of the Council of Ministers and his office, which were exempt from paying any postal fees.

The CFP's ability to speed messages may have aided the combined Polish-Ukrainian rout of Bolshevik forces at the Battle of Zamostia on August 29-31, 1920. The service remained in use for only about two months. The latest-known CFP cover dates to October 15, 1920.

On October 12, 1920, the Polish government - in contravention to its treaty with Ukraine - signed a preliminary peace treaty with Soviet Russia. This action subsequently led to the internment of the Ukrainian Army in Polish-held territory on November 10, 1920, thus eliminating any further need for the field post.

CFP stamp details

Stamps of the shahy issue (Figure 1; released in 1918) and the 20-hryvnia stamp (Figure 2; from 1919) were overprinted with the three values needed for the CFP service: 10, 20 and 40 hryvni (for official, regular, and registered mail respectively). CFP postage was designed for internal use only, i.e., it was not intended to be used on mail going to foreign countries. When letters were sent overseas, additional regular postage had to be applied.

The overprint consisted of four lines that simply stated Courier Field Post and the new value (Figure 3). Each of the five shahy issue stamp types received one of the three new value designations (Figure 4). A total of 13,000 shahy issue stamps were thus overprinted. Only 15 of the 20-hryvni stamps received an overprint (all of the 40 hryvni). About half of the stamps (6,400) were revalued to the ordinary (semi-official) letter rate of 20 hryvni; 1,000 stamps were reserved for paying registration fees (40 hryvni), while the remaining 5,600 stamps were designated for official mailings. Although the 15 revalued 20-hryvni stamps were originally considered proof or specimen copies meant simply as collectibles and to raise extra funds, some of them ended up being used to post mail.

A number of special cancellation and postmark devices were even created for the new service. Two circular metal cancels indicated the point of departure and destination, while a hexagonal rubber marking showed registration numberings (Figure 5).

Scarcity

CFP stamps are definitely not cheap - most prices range between $30 and $40, but can go up to $300 for some scarcer values. Recent estimates place the number of stamps that have survived at no more than 1,000 (of the original 13,000), or about 8 percent. This rather appalling rate is due to a number of factors, including their short period of usage, chaotic battlefield conditions, the subsequent devastation of World War II, and more than seven decades of Communist persecution when it was unsafe to possess anything that might hint of Ukrainian nationalism. To date, only 37 covers bearing CFP stamps have been chronicled (Figure 6). Needless to say, these items are very expensive, going for $500 and up.

Of the 15 20-hryvni stamps that received a 40-hryvni overprint, only two are known to have survived: one mint and one used on cover. These are the two rarest postal items that remain from the UNR and they are apparently equal in scarcity to the two Western Ukrainian items described in the previous article. The CFP cover, owned by a famous collector from Britain, was damaged during the V-2 bombing of London in World War II. The building housing the collection was hit and began to burn. Although the fire was doused, the collection suffered additional water damage. The present whereabouts of the cover are unknown.

I am fortunate to be able to report that I own the other (mint) 40/20-hryvni stamp (Figure 7). It is difficult for me to place a value on this item since I was able to obtain it many years ago through a private sale. Since it has not appeared at auction (which can be helpful in establishing some sort of benchmark value) and since it was for so long unlisted in the Scott Catalogue, its value is undoubtedly below the $32,300 the Westem Ukraine stamp recently went for. But how much below? Scott does not give it a value, meaning that only a few copies are known and that the stamp is worth whatever a buyer is willing to pay for it. Hmmm, anyone willing to make an offer?!?)

Dr. Ingert Kuzych may be contacted at P.O. Box 3, Springfield, VA 22150 or at: [email protected].

PART I

PART II

| Home Page |