LATVIA IN THE TSARISTIC PERIOD:
"Krag"-machine-postmarks-cancellations of Riga


About 1905 the Krag Maskin Fabrik in Oslo constructed a cancellation-machine. The letters and cards moved along the cancellation-cylinder.
The circumferen of the cylinder was 157 mm, divided in four parts: twoo cancellations and two frames (lines, etc.). The distance between two similar points of the postmark is thus alwas 157/2 = about 78 mm.
After the introduction in Russia (1906?) the machine were used in the grat cities (1907-1908). In Riga were placed 8 or more machines.. All cancellations were double-ring postmarks.
machri01.gif

The oldes 'frames' were 8 lines. But the straight rising ridges caused a permanent nick in the ink-roll and so parts of the cancellations get no ink. Therefore Riga changed later to 3-4 straight lines. When the machine slipped, the cancellation is deformed and the distance is shorter than 78 mm, as you can see below:
machri02.gif

Periodicals:
HBG = Het Baltische Gebied[in Dutch]
Lituania [in German]

Russian postmarks : an introduction and guide / A.V. Kiryushkin and P.E. Robinson
[S.l.] : J. Barefoot, cop. 1989. - 110 p.		 [About: the handbook for the tsaristic period
De machinestempels van Riga : een chaos! / Ivo Steyn
In: OEF 1986 ; nr. 4. - p. 18-24		 [About: 'Krag'-machine-postmarks of Riga.
On the 'Krag'-machine in Russia: OEF 1986 ; nr. 4. - p. 1-6.
Addenda & errata: OEF 1987 ; nr. 1. - p. 20-23]
Grepen uit de postgeschiedenis van Riga I / Sijtze Reurich
In: OEF 1992 ; nr. 2. - p. 10-16		 [About: the postal history of tsaristic Riga]
Grepen uit de postgeschiedenis van Riga II / Sijtze Reurich
In: OEF 1992 ; nr. 3. - p. 18-21		 [About: the postal history of tsaristic Riga]
Grepen uit de postgeschiedenis van Riga III / Sijtze Reurich
In: OEF 1993 ; nr. 3. - p. 8-11		 [About: the postal history of tsaristic Riga]


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