The following 26 lots represent a selection from the Holding of Soviet High Level Postal Official. Most of these proofs bearing authority signatures and handstamps of Goznak and Soviet Postal Archive

1978, sunken die proof of plate-form for "Vifag" printing machine, containing 18 different types of engraving, size 121x100mm, produced on gummed stamp paper with traces of hinging, VF and extremely rare, only a few known, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1966, Wilhelm Pieck, two die proofs of 6k in indigo or dark violet, artist S. Pomansky, engraver A. Tkachenko, sizes 30-31x41-43mm, perfect quality, no gum as produced, VF and rare, Est. $1,000-$1,200

500.00

1977, Marshal Ivan Konev, die proof of 4k in slate green, artist A, Filippov, engraver A. Tkachenko, size 90x111mm, minor stamp ink traces on front and reverse, no gum as produced, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $600-$800

300.00

1977, Marshal Kirill Meretskov, die proof of 4k in brown, artist N. Dvornikov, engraver V. Smirnov, size 88x105mm, minor stamp ink traces on reverse, no gum as produced, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $600-$800

300.00

1977, Felix Dzerzhinsky, Founder of Soviet Secret Police, die proof of 4k in indigo (issued in gray black), artist N. Cherkasov, engraver V. Smirnov, size 90x120mm, slight fold at top left corner far away from die, printed on wove paper without gum, NH, mostly VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1977, Soviet Icebreakers, 4k-20k, complete set of seven die proofs in indigo, black, brown, blue or violet, artist A. Axamit with group of engravers, each one with printer's markings at sides, approximate size 120x87-90mm,proof of 4k with two paper folds, 6k has tiny marginal thin, otherwise VF and extremely rare in complete set, Est. $2,500-$3,000

1977, Mail Processing, complete set of five die proofs of 4k in various colors, artist G. Komlev with group of engravers, size 118-120x76-86mm, printer's markings at sides, produced on wove paper without gum, mostly VF and very rare in complete set, Est. $2,000-$2,500

1978, Marshal Matvei Zakharov, die proof of 4k in black brown, artist N. Dvornikov, engraver T. Nikitina, size 88x103mm, no gum as produced, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $600-$800

300.00

1978, Stepan G. Shaumyan, one of the Baku Commissars, die proof of 4k in bright green (stamp issued in slate green), artist V. Sorokin, engraver L. Mayorova, size 90x111mm, no gum as produced, tiny hinges at top, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1979, Research Fleet, 1k-15k, complete set of six sunken die proofs in black, artist A. Axamit with group of engravers, each one with printer's markings at sides, approximate size 120x100mm, printed on stamp gummed paper, 1k with hinge over scratched paper, otherwise traces of hinges, mostly VF and extremely rare in complete set, Est. $2,500-$3,000

1980, Mordovian Autonomous Republic, die proof of 4k in carmine (issued color), artist Y. Kosorukov, size 89x120mm, printed on wove paper, no gum as issued, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1980, Nikolai Podvoisky, first People's Commissar of Military and Naval Affairs, die proof of 4k in red brown, artist N. Nikitin, engraver I. Mokrousov, size 90x120mm, minor red ink soiling at top right far away from die, printed on wove paper without gum, NH, mostly VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1980, Avicenna, Physician and Philosopher, sunken die stage proof of (4k) in black brown, artist S. Pomansky, engraver V. Smirnov, size 100x108mm, full OG, VLH, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1980, definitive issue, Soviet Flag, die proof of 3k in bright red (issued color), artist A. Kalashnikov, size 88x119mm, printed on wove paper without gum, VF, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1980, Moscow River Bridges, 4k, 6k and 15k, complete set of three sunken die stage proofs in black, approximate size 100x120mm, printer's markings at sides, printed on gummed stamp paper, traces of previous hinges, VF and very rare, Est. $1,500-$1,800

750.00

1981, Mstislav Keldysh, Mathematician, President of the Academy of Sciences, sunken die stage proof of 4k in brown (engraved color only), artist G. Komlev, size 95x107mm, full OG, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1981, Vitus Bering, Cartographer and Explorer, die proof of 4k in blue, artist I. Malukov, size 89x120mm, no gum as produced, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1981, Centenary of Welding, invented by Nikolai Bernardos, two sunken die stage proofs of 6k of black color only, one is complete engraved design, the other one has Bernardos' portrait only, first one with printer's markings and manuscript "Correct letter "B" (on proof it is oblique at top left), sizes 115-120x100mm, printed on gummed paper with traces of hinging, VF and probably unique couple, Est. $1,000-$1,200

500.00

1981, Nizami Ganjavi, Azerbaijan and Persian poet die sunk stage proof of 4k in black brown (engraved color only), artist Y. Bronfenbrener, size 110x76mm, full OG, LH, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1982, 100th Anniversary of the Birth of Georgy Dimitrov, Bulgarian Communist Leader, two die stage proofs of 6k in green, complete design and central vignette only, artist V. Nikitin, first one with printer's markings at sides, approximate size 90x120mm, printed on wove paper without gum, fresh and VF, Est. $800-$1,000

400.00

1982, Public Transportation in 19th and 20th Centuries, (4k)-(32k), complete set of six sunken die stage proofs (engraved part of the design), artist V. Karasev, each one with printer's markings at sides, approximate size100x120mm, 6k with minor changes compare to issued stamp, printed on stamp gummed paper, traces of hinges, VF and extremely rare, Est. $3,000-$3,500

1982, Public Transportation in 19th and 20th Centuries, (4k)-(32k), complete set of six sunken die stage proofs, parts of engraved designs, artist V. Karasev, each one with printer's markings at sides, approximate size100x120mm, two proofs with minor corrections, printed on stamp gummed paper, traces of hinges, VF and very rare, Est. $2,500-$3,000

1983, Aram Khachaturyan, Composer, die proof of 4k in violet brown (issued color), artist V. Koval, size 120x86mm, stamp ink soiling on reverse, no gum as produced, small hinge at left, VF and very rare, Est. $600 -$800

300.00

1983, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi, Persian and Uzbek Mathematician, sunken die stage proof of (4k) in dark brown (issued stamp has engraved part of the design in red brown), artist A. Adashev, engraver A. Lukyanova, size 98x120mm, full OG, traces of hinges, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1983, Ivan Fedorov, First Russian Book Publisher, die proof of 4k in gray (issued color), artist I. Malukov, size 83x108mm, no gum as produced, NH, VF and very rare, Est. $500-$600

250.00

1980, Moscow Olympic Games, Golden Cities - Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev, Minsk and Tallinn, complete set of ten sunken die proofs of 1r+50k in black color only, two for each city, artist L. Sharov with group of engravers, approximate size 120x100mm, printer's markings at sides, produced on stamp gummed paper, traces of hinging, VF and with high probability the only complete set of these proofs, Est. $5,000-$6,000