Rare 1920 Russia Soviet Detachment In Persia Gilan Revolt Persian Post Set/10

Item Specifics

Year of Issue

1920

Item Description

Rare 1920 Russia Soviet Detachment In Persia Gilan Revolt Persian Post Short Set/10 Missing Blue 5 XP Value
Information Gleaned From Research: These are fantasy (cinderella) issues created by the Soviet detachment in Persia during the Gilan revolt against the Qajar government of Iran. They form a short set and, in my opinion, are extremely rare. Over the past 20 years, I have only seen them appear on Hip once or twice. Persian Cossack Division (Russian: Персидская Казачья Дивизия, Persian: Berīgād-E Qazzāq) – A Cossack Military Unit Composed Of Russian Officers And Iranian Servicemen Serving In Persia From 1879 To 1921. At The Beginning Of 1920, The Soviet Union Began The Military Takeover Of The Independent Republic Of Azerbaijan. Preparations For This Takeover Also Included The Production Of Stamps For The New Soviet Territory. For This Purpose, A Postage Stamp Issue With 11 Denominations Was Produced. The Stamps Bear The Russian Inscription (Персидская ПОУТА = Persian Post). These Prepared Stamps Were Not Issued And The Republic's Postage Stamps Continued To Be Used Until 1921 (Michel No. 1-10).
In 1878 , when the Persian Shah Naser ad-Din Shah Qajar set out on his second trip to Europe , he was greatly impressed by the uniform, equipment and horse riding of the Cossacks who accompanied him through Russian Transcaucasia . The Shah approached the Caucasian Viceroy, Grand Duke Mikhail Nikolaevich, with a request to send Russian officers to Persia to create and train a Persian Cossack cavalry. The Russian authorities granted this request, seeing in the Shah's proposal an opportunity to strengthen Russian influence in Persia. The personnel were trained by military instructors from the Russian military mission. The brigade commander was always a Russian officer who received a salary from the government of the Russian Empire. An officer of non-Russian origin was always appointed to the post of chief of staff, including Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and Persians. During the existence of the unit (brigade and then division), there were only 12 commanders and 5 chiefs of staff. Since 1884, the brigade included an artillery battery , and later infantry .The brigade's tasks included protecting the Shah and senior officials of Persia , guard duty at consulates, diplomatic missions, ministries, arsenals, bank branches, suppressing unrest in the country, and collecting taxes from the population. In 1916, the brigade was transformed into a division. To maintain order in Persia and fight the rebels, detachments were formed in the autumn of 1916, which were part of the division: Ardabil , Astrabad , Gilan , Zanjan , Isfahan , Qazvin , Kermanshah , Kurdistan , Lurestan , Mazandaran , Mashhad , Resht , Tabriz , Tehran , Urmia , Hamadan , Khorasan. The Persian Cossack Division was disbanded in early 1920. Wikipedia
More Information: This stamp appears to be a fantasy or local issue labeled as "Persian Post" (Персидская Почта) with imagery and text that connects it to the Gilan Soviet Republic or a similar historical context. The Gilan Republic was a short-lived Soviet-supported state in northern Iran (Persia) during the early 20th century, specifically in the province of Gilan, during a revolt against the Qajar government.
Key Features of the Stamp: Denomination ("12 ШАЙ"): The "ШАЙ" is likely a fictional currency unit, possibly created to mimic a monetary system for the Gilan Republic or as part of a symbolic issue. Design Elements: The Lion and Sun: A prominent emblem of Persia, often associated with its monarchy, though its use in this context might be symbolic or subverted for revolutionary propaganda.Soldier with a Rifle: Represents revolutionary or military action, aligning with the Soviet-backed movement in Gilan. Russian Text ("Персидская Почта"): Translates to "Persian Post," reflecting either Soviet influence or the intent to align with Russian sympathizers. Historical Context: These stamps were likely created to commemorate or fictionalize the Gilan Soviet Republic (1920–1921), a short-lived socialist state. While the stamps might not have had official postal use, they reflect the era's revolutionary fervor and Soviet intervention in the region. Rarity and Use: Such stamps are often categorized as "Cinderella stamps"—non-official issues produced for collectors or propaganda purposes. They are rarely encountered and may not have been used in regular postal services. If you're a philatelist, this stamp is likely a collectible due to its unique historical and political associations, even if it is not an official issue. Let me know if you'd like more specific details or resources to verify its origin! Chat GPT

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