Page 18 - 148 Years of the Royal Philatelic Society London

In 1884: Greenwich becomes international prime meridian,

Grover Cleveland becomes U.S. President, Maxim gun first demonstrated.

At the PSL: E. Stanley Gibbons elected as a member, Vice President Tapling hosts second

annual dinner for 27 members and guests, M. P. Castle and Captain Evans present papers.

PSL President was Judge F. A. Philbrick. Membership stood at 49.

THE ZEMSTVO (RURAL) POSTS OF RUSSIA -

A ROYAL COVER

From the collection of Terry Page.

Member since 2000. Lives in England.

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Local letter sent within the Bogorodsk District of Moscow Province to "Her Royal Highness the

Princess Dolgorukova" - postmarked on 21st August 1884. The 5 kopeck zemstvo stamp is a late

usage of the rare Bogorodsk 1880 issue: yellowish rose on smooth thick paper, and is believed to be

the only recorded copy on cover. As the zemstvo post served remote rural areas not covered by the

Imperial (state} post, the vast majority of surviving letters are addressed to village officials or rural

peasants. This is therefore a rather exceptional item.