№ 1693. “Europa” Program Issues. “The Postman van – Postal vehicles” stamp

The Russian Post is one of the oldest in Europe, it started in the 9th-10th centuries. The coachman driving was used to deliver written messages, then in the middle of the 18^th century it was replaced by the pochtovaya troika. At first it was a tandem team, later – three horses in a row. Initially three horses (“troika”) were quite a rare case but after some time it gained the popularity and was used for express messengers. Among their advantages there were high speed, endurance, large capacity and good passability.

At the end of 18^th and the beginning of the 19^th centuries troika delivered not only mail and goods but also the passengers. It got the official status of postal, carrier and passenger transporter.

The stamp depicts the process of winter mail delivery in the 18^th century: three horses (“troika”), a postman and the mail to deliver.