"PAID-IN-CASH"
MARKINGS IN ESTONIA 1918-1942
By
Elmar Ojaste
Postage
prepayment by the "paid-in-cash" method is not unusual during times
of war and political upheaval.
This method has been used when a transition of power takes place from
one regime to another or during currency reform. In those situations
all mail had to be brought to the post office for prepayment. Receipt
for postage was then noted in manuscript or by a rubber stamp on the
item mailed. Usually the postal clerk initialed the notation, and
if available, a regular postal cancel or date-stamp was added. In
Estonia, the "paid-in-cash" prepayments took place in four different
time periods:
1.
The partial occupation of Estonia by the Russian Bolshevist troops
during December 1918 and January 1919.
2.
The period of the initial organization of the Estonian Postal Administration
in November and December 1918.
3.
At the beginning of the Soviet Occupation in 1940.
4.
At the beginning of the German Occupation in 1941.
The
"Estonia Philately & Postal History
Handbook" by Vambola Hurt and Elmar Ojaste (in English and
German) gives additional information about the Estonian "Paid-in-cash"
markings.
