According to [1] stamps from Ukraine are in the public domain. This would follow from the following two clauses from respectively the Ukrainian Copyright Law [2] and Postal Law [3]:

(d) State symbols of Ukraine, government awards; symbols and signs of government authorities, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations; symbols of territorial communities; symbols and signs of enterprises, institutions and organizations;

postage stamp - a state sign, manufactured according to the procedure set forth by legislation, with specified face value and state, serving as the tool of payment for postal services provided by the national operator.

The Russian Copright [4] and Postal [5] laws include similar clauses:

Article 8. Works Not Protected by Copyright

The following are not protected by copyright:

official documents (laws, court decisions, other texts of legislative, administrative or judicial character) and official translations thereof; State emblems and official signs (flags, armorial bearings, decorations, monetary signs and other State symbols and official signs); works of folklore; communications concerning events and facts that have informational character.

the state signs of post payment - post stamps and other signs, applied to the post sendings and those confirming the payment of services to postal communication;

[1]http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Stamps/Public_domain [2]http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Ukraine._Law_on_Copyright_and_Related_Rights [3]http://www.welcometo.kiev.ua/pls/ili/docs/LAW_ENG/EQ2759-III_28-05-03.HTML [4]http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Russian_Federation._Law_on_Copyright_and_Neigh... [5]http://www.russianpost.ru/resp_engine.aspx?Path=RU/Home/law/postlaw

Would it be correct to conclude that Russian stamps are in the public domain as well?

Ruud