Manuscript revaluations were found on exactly 5 items, from 4 different locations. As an example, here a registered letter from Noginsk, Moscow province:
The three stamps of 1 ruble have been revalued to 2 rubles each, and a 1R TP marking brings the total franking to 7.50R, which is a recognizable rate. It's interesting that the 1R TP marking was used instead of another unrevalued 1R stamp...
Here's another example from Orel railway post office:
A postcard this time, unusually. 3 stamps of 50k have been turned into stamps of 1R each. Two stamps of 15k have been turned into 30k-stamps, and an old 10k stamp has been turned into another 30k stamp. Not sure if 3.30R makes sense as a rate, but it's interesting!
Even better, the batch contained a second example from the same office:
This time it was just the 2R stamp which was revalued, to 4R. This office seemed to like doubling the face value of the stamps. The fourth example is also a doubling:
The origin is ambiguous as the sender gives her location as Staraya Kupavna, but the postmark is Moscow. Three 35k stamps have been uprated to 70k stamps, although 2.60R makes little sense as a rate.
Finally, the most spectacular, probably from Togliatti:
Stamps of 5k were turned into 20k stamps. But the fun wasn't over yet. The reverse:
Three 35k commemorative stamps were turned into stamps of 70k each. Total franking: 3.55 which is close enough to 3.60 to be convincing.
Is ANYONE collecting and/or studying these wonderful examples of postal improvisation?
