Definitive stamps of the Soviet Union were the regular postage stamp issues produced in the USSR between 1923 and 1992.
First definitive issue
The inaugural release of the Soviet Union definitive stamps took place in October 1923, commonly referred to as the Gold Standard issue. These stamps prominently featured the busts of a worker, a Red Army man, and a peasant. Over the course of the years 1923 to 1926, the worker and soldier designs appeared on thirteen different stamps each, while the peasant design was featured on ten stamps.
Other notable issues In 1929, the Soviet Union released its third set of definitive stamps. This series featured updated images depicting male and female workers, male and female collective-farm workers, and a Red Army soldier. These designs reflected the significant societal transformations brought about by industrialization, collectivization, and the advancement of women's rights in the Soviet Union. Notably, the inclusion of the female worker and female collective-farm worker alongside their male counterparts marked the first appearance of women on Soviet stamps.
With the progress of the socialistic economic programs, the representation of the major groups of Soviet society changed, moving from the more generic image of the earlier period. The worker was shown in the fifth issue of March 1939 as a steel foundryman and in the sixth issue of August 1939 as a miner.
The last definitive series that begun in the Stalin period was the eighth issue (May 1948 to July 1957). It was remarkable by the fact that the scientist was for the first time portrayed on Soviet definitive stamps. In 1958, the engineer design appeared meaning that representatives of other Soviet labouring groups were also depicted on stamps. In 1961, a definitive stamp with the combine worker appeared.
Summary of all issues This table represents an outline of the overall USSR definitive issues produced in the Soviet and post-Soviet times (1923 – 1992). Issue No.DatesCPA Catalogue No.Stampexample 11 October 1923 – January 1928 99–194251–270275–280 October 1927 – October 1928 281–295 August 1929 – January 1941 314–346 1936–1953 556–559 March – August 1939 667–669 August 1939 – December 1956 693–701 22 May 1948 – September 1954 1247–1255 16 October 1948 – 1959 1379–1388 18 August 1958 – March 1960 2217–2223 1 January 1961 – August 1966 2510–2520 25 October 1966 – April 1969 3414–3437 10 August – 17 December 19768 September – November 19774 August 1978 4599–46104733–47444853–4867 1 December 198025 April 198212 December 198228 December 198220 May 198315 May 19845 September 198420 January 198625 June 199122 August 199119 November 199120 April 1992 5136528753405357539255105548–5551569963325549А63755549.I 22 December 198825 December 198913 March – 25 June 1991 6013–60246145–61566298–6301+
See also
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