Russian Mail on Near East

In middle of XIX century Russia Empire aspiring to win commodity markets and to strengthen political influence on Near East began to create there own post expeditions. Further this problem was assigned by the state to largest private monopoly RSST - Russian Society of Shipping and Trade (Russian abbreviation - РОПИТ). The main office of this Society was in Odessa and branches were in following Middle East cities : Constantinopole, Beirut, Jaffa, Saloniki and others. Post stamps of RSST began to be used since 1863. In 1909 in honour of 50-years anniversary of this Society a beautiful series of stamps with overprints of names of each foreign branch was issued. In 1919 in Odessa were issued post stamps with original pictures. But they weren't use as soon the city was seized by the Soviet armies. This issue has become history under the name " Wild Levant ".

The author of exhibition - Odessa collector Peter Loboda.