Page 23 - Gustaf Douglas: Classic Sweden

THE POSTAL REFORM OF 1636 AND THE EARLY HANDSTAMPS

The Swedish Possessions of Estonia and Livonia REVAL Ribbon handstamp in use 1708‐1710
Estonia came under Swedish reign in 1561. In the
summer of 1638 the government in Stockholm
authorized a postal system with routes to the main
cities in Finland as well as to Narva and Reval in
Estonia. The Swedish rate table of 1638 specified rates
to these two cities and the rate table of 1643 included
Pernau as well. The main route between Finland and
Estonia went along the Gulf of Finland, via Wiborg,
Nyen Skans (today St. Petersburg) and Narva.
1644 a secondary mail route was organized from the
Cape of Porkala, across the Gulf of Finland and to
Reval. When Russia in 1703 captured Nyen Skans, the
main route was cut off and instead the secondary From REVAL dated inside 1708 via Hamburg
route had to be used to Estonia and Livonia. Both (since the Swedish mail routes could not be used)
these possessions were under severe Russian threat. to the Admirality in Carlscrona Sweden.
The Russian field‐marshal Sjeremetjev captured Riga,
Pernau and Reval in 1710. Within a couple of years For collectors of Swedish postal history, the
both Estonia and Livonia became Russian possessions. RIBBON handstamps from the Swedish possessions in
In a peace treaty signed in Nystad in 1721, Sweden Estonia and Livonia are regarded as the most
ceded Estonia and the Swedish eastern part of Livonia important from the whole pre‐philatelic marcophily
including Riga. The western part ‐ Kurland ‐ was a period.
duchy eventually taken over by the Russians.
Sweden was early in introducing town cancellations, The Swedish Possessions of Livonia
already in 1708 a large handstamp of ribbon‐type was Postal guidelines and rates of postage were issued for
introduced in STOCKHOLM. From the Swedish Riga already in 1632 by Jacob Decker, the Swedish
possessions in Estonia and Livonia town cancellations postmaster in Riga. Riga was included in the Swedish
are recognized from PERNAU, REVAL and RIGA. rate table of 1643.

PERNAU Ribbon handstamp in use 1708‐1710 RIGA Ribbon handstamp in use 1708‐1710

From PERNAU dated inside 19 March 1709 to the
Governor of Livonia “Colonel Budberg” in Riga. From RIGA 1708 to the Swedish King Karl XII.