About Ruskystamps

I have had an interest in philately since I was a young boy. Since 1992, I have been involved with a children's charity with projects in Eastern Europe, including Albania, Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and other countries of the Former Soviet Union. As a result, I have become quite interested in 'most things Russian/Soviet'. A few years ago I started to collect Russian stamps during my travels, and this has now become an on/off interest of mine, buying through eBay but also street markets in Kiev (Ukraine), Bucharest (Romania), etc. Overseas charity colleagues also collect for me.

My 'Perfect' Album
I wanted to eventually house all my stamps in a one-country album system, rather than a stock book - covering the Empire and Soviet Periods to 1991 - the periods which most interested me, and especially what I will call 'CLASSIC RUSSIA' from 1858-1959. What I wanted was an album system which provided generous bordered spaces for ALL the stamps actually numbered in the Stanley Gibbons Russia 5th Edition specialised catalogue. By the way, the new Stanley Gibbons Russia 6th Edition catalogue is now available - our colour Ruskystamps advert is on the first page listing Russian stamps - alongside the Russia #1 1858 Issue!

This meant covering stamp numbers SG1 - SG6310 (including the 'A' and 'B' perf./ imperf. types, miniature sheets etc). Most of the commercial albums I considered did not cover this range - they were TOO MINIMAL. My 'perfect' album would therefore still be MUCH MORE INCLUSIVE compared to, for example, Russian stamp listings in the American Scott catalogue and Minkus, Davo, Lighthouse, Lindner Safe, Scott, KA-BE Marino, Schaubek albums etc.

Individual Stamp Titles
In addition to stamp set headings, I also wanted TITLES TO INDIVIDUAL STAMPS, although I knew that this would mean a lot more pages, with much less cramped page layouts than one finds in the mainstream commercial albums. Individual stamp titles makes page browsing much more interesting and helps to tell a more complete country and stamp history - the Ruskystamps album includes some snippets of interesting Russian and stamp history in the run of pages. The Ruskystamps album places more emphasis on display and information. All bordered boxes in a stamp set are nicely spaced (wherever practical) to avoid overlapping of mounts, as well as having an aesthetically pleasing presentation.

Proper Album Sized Pages
I wanted a reasonably detailed album printed on PROPER SIZED ALBUM PAGES (i.e. larger than A4 or American Letter) but I was NOT interested in it including every stamp variation (e.g. colours, papers, numerous perfs, faults, etc) that exist. I will never be able to afford to buy these exotics - besides this, for me, would mean crossing over from 'hobby' to 'addiction'. However, for those who want additional pages for variations, we can oblige with blank 'matching design' pages with the USSR crest.

* Pages are 240mm x 282mm with the exception of EXPORT pages - this newly introduced range are aimed at the US/Canada market - the pages are guillotined to 8.5" x 11" American Letter size and punched with 3 Holes to suit most binders easily available in North America etc.

DIY
Having researched all the commercial and one privately-produced illustrated album options, I just couldn't find what I was looking for - quite frankly they all left a lot to be desired!! In the end, I decided to produce my own album using professional QUARK XPRESS DTP software which I used when I ran a small publishing business.

If you are looking for a truly superb quality Russia Stamp Album but at a very
affordable price...this is it? Your Soviet Russian stamps (becoming quite sought after,
especially by Russian collectors) deserve the best!

Page Sets
What I loosely (non-technically) call the 'Classic' period 1858-1959, I think covers by far the most attractive and interesting of Russian stamps, and we offer this page year set as an excellent starter set. Other page sets to 1991, the end of the USSR, are also available in sets at attractive prices. All page sets can be purchased via this website by downloading our Order Form and paying through PayPal or easier still, through our eBay Store. Prices have been kept as low as possible bearing in mind that this is NOT my full time job, or a commercial business, just a 'slightly paying' hobby!

Charity Donations
With effect from 1 Jan 2006, 10% of all gross turnover from sales of Ruskystamps album pages with be given to support needy children. These donations will be channelled through a number of Christian non-profit charities (UK and overseas) that I have personal connections with (this is my full time job!).                    David Farndale

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POBEDITELI (ПОБЕДИТЕЛИ) - a free and non-profit Russian website project with the goal of congratulating those who won the Great Patriotic War (The Great War) for the Soviet Union. The project is aimed at reminding people of what they owe, to the soldiers in the past who fought for Russia, and the deserved recognition of surviving veterans living today. It contains a multimedia flash presentation of the Eastern Front beginning from when Germany declared war on the USSR, and ending when Soviet and Allied troops liberated Berlin, marking the end of the war in Europe. Soldiers of The Great Patriotic War - A must visit & A Great Victory for Soviet Union!!