Chaos in Russia allows peoples to escape the empire, only to find all around still desperate for colonies.So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
The country of Georgia was new. Part of legitimacy is establishing an historic basis for a country. It would normally be unusual to feature a Royal on the stamp issue of a socialist government. Queen Tamar ruled a much larger Georgia successfully 700 years before and it was important to show a basis for a brighter future. The low quality of the stamp printing hint at the desperation of the times.
The stamp today is issue A3, a 3 Ruble stamp issued by the Democratic Republic of Georgia in 1920. It features Queen Tamar, who ruled Georgia from 1178-1213. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 65 cents mint. There are printings with inversions that are considered fraudulent. Also considered fraudulent are versions over stamped Constantinople. They were issued by the Georgian Embassy there after Georgia was conquered by the Soviets in 1921.
When the last Czar abdicated in early 1917 several areas of the Russian Empire broke off. In this, they had the support of Germany and Austria whose defeat of Russia in WWI contributed to the Czars fall. A federation with Azerbaijan and Armenia was first attempted but in 1918 it was decided that Georgia would stand independent. The land area was 70% larger than modern day Georgia but still much smaller than the Georgian Empire ruled by Queen Tamar.
The challenges facing the new Georgia were all around. Local Bolsheviks and ethnic Ossetians caused trouble at home. Pressuring for territory were the Ottomans and Armenians to the south. An army of White Russians who were fighting both the Red Army as well as Georgia. Also the Red Army itself was trying to bring the newly independent nations back into the fold, this time labled as Soviet Republics rather than colonies.
The new Georgian government did much to build a new country. While building an army and attempting to muster foreign recognition and support, many laws were passed. There was land reform and a judiciary. Georgia was also a multiparty political state with much self rule granted minorities. German support ended at the conclusion of WWI but for a short while there was a stabilizing British presence that helped keep out the White Russians. It was still a time of great economic dislocation and hyper inflation. Notice the high denomination, Rubles not Kopecks of todays stamp. Soon the Transcaucus Ruble was replaced by a Geogian currency called a Maneti.
For a brief period, the Soviet Union recognized Georgian independence and borders as well. In 1921, the Soviet Army invaded and conquered Georgia. They clamed a pretext of alleged mistreatment of Georgian Bolsheviks. For 70 years, Georgia was a Soviet Socialist Republic. It still faces some of the old issues of western recognition and managing Russian ambitions and the minority of Ossetians.
Queen Tamar ruled an empire that included much of the Caucus mountains and areas deep into modern Turkey and Ukraine. Her rule was Orthodox Christian and coincided with a blooming of Georgian culture. She was often portrayed in Russian literature as an exotic temptress of the East. In Georgia itself, the picture was more of the mother of the country. In the 19th century, a 13th century portrait of her was discovered of her and this image was widely distributed among Georgians longing to be free of Russia. Tamar is a Hebrew name as the then Royal House believed itself descended from ancient Israeli King David.
Well my drink is empty and so I will pour another to toast Queen Tamar. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2018.