View Full Collection – Russian Empire Postal History. The Russian Empire developed an extensive postal network as it expanded across Eurasia. From the introduction of stamps in 1857, Russia built post offices not only in Central Asia, Siberia, and the Caucasus, but also abroad in key locations like Shanghai, Chefoo, Port Arthur, and parts of the Ottoman Empire. In Manchuria, Russian postal services operated along the Chinese Eastern Railway, issuing local overprints and using bilingual postmarks. Printing was managed by the St. Petersburg Printing Works, which produced both domestic and foreign-use stamps. Russia’s postal presence helped shape communication routes across Asia and influenced local systems through standardized rates, Cyrillic markings, and imperial logistics. Key years include 1857 (first stamp), 1897 (expansion into China), and 1900–1905 (Russo-Japanese War disruption). The Russian imperial post left a durable imprint on the development of Asian postal infrastructure.