Description: The artifact is an authentic 10-kopek dark blue and light blue postage stamp from the Russian Empire, belonging to the widely used 1909–1912 definitive series designed by artist Rihards Zariņš. The intricate typographical design features a central vertical oval enclosing the Imperial Russian Coat of Arms, which depicts a fine double-headed eagle crowned and wielding the traditional scepter and orb. Directly underneath the eagle motif, a pair of intersecting post horns is intertwined with stylized lightning bolts, symbolizing the empire's unified post and telegraph administration. An elegant arching banner above the oval bears the cyrillic text "ПОЧТОВАЯ МАРКА" (Postage Stamp), while the bottom cartouche houses the numeric value "10" stacked over the shorthand abbreviation "КОП." (Kopeks). The central frame is nestled inside an ornate, scalloped neo-baroque framework printed over a specialized, cream-colored security background composed of a faint, protective vertical rhombus chalky mesh pattern.
Circa: 1909-1917
Condition: Used
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