Russian stamps from Azerbaijan - rare postal history

(Occupation AZIRBAYBOJAN)

These stamps were supposed to have been issued in 1918 by Russian troops in Tabriz, the Persian part of Azerbaijan, possibly at the time of the British expedition by General Dunsterville. In the 1920s these stamps achieved catalogue status in Gibbons and Yvert, but were then dropped when it became apparent that most were mint stamps offered by one French dealer, and that used stamps were virtually unobtainable.

It is still uncertain whether these stamps were originally prepared in the Transcaucasus or in Paris.