Hammer and Sickle
In 1917, the foundation was laid for the old flag of the Soviet Union, a red field with a crossed hammer and sickle in gold in the upper left corner. Later, the hammer and sickle became part of the national coat of arms of the Soviet Republic. The Russian Revolutionaries adopted the red of the flag during the French Revolution, because this color was also used by the Paris Commune. In this case, red meant: 'power to the people!'.
In the flag, the hammer and sickle included in 1922 and in the coat of arms in 1924.
The first stamps of the Soviet Union appeared on November 7, 1918. They were the two stamps depicting a 'chain breaker'. On August 10, 1921, the next three stamps were issued. No longer in kopecks, as the recession was approaching, but in rubles.
With some effort, the imagery on the 1 and 2 ruble stamps can be recognized: sheaves of corn, a jug, a scythe. The stamps were, therefore, symbols of agriculture. The 5 ruble stamp symbolized manual labor and industry. But even enlargement offers few clues.
However, the 20-Ruble stamp, also issued on August 10, 1921, incorporated the crossed hammer and sickle. The stamp was therefore the first to display the symbol of the Soviet Union. Furthermore, there is a 40-Ruble stamp featuring an image of a worker as a dragon slayer. In his hand, not a tool, but a sword.
Subsequently, several more stamps followed in the same design as the 1 and 2 Ruble stamps, but in higher denominations. Currency devaluation struck. The stamps appeared on August 25, 1921, two weeks after the first issue, in denominations from 100 Rubles up to and including 1.000 Rubles.
But now the image on the stamp, as a symbol of manual labor and industry, was indeed clearly recognizable: hammer and anvil. Looking back at the 5 Ruble stamp, it is likewise recognizable as an anvil with a hammer.
It was not until March 1923 that a stamp with a value of 7.500 rubles appeared, featuring the design of the 20-ruble stamp issued in 1918, while the highest value in that series was 22.500 rubles. This latter stamp with a hammer in the center of the image. Stamps full of symbolism. Or do you have a different opinion? 
Those original (and uncancelled) stamps from the Soviets are beautiful, though.
I once wrote a brief overview myself of the development of “Russia” from the Tsars to the present day. Click on my name.
Besides the symbolism, a large number of decorative elements can also be discovered on the stamps. On the first two stamps, these are Art Nouveau-style decorations adorning the round frame at the top. In later stamps, the style changes, I believe under the influence of Art Deco, which was clearly represented in Eastern European countries and also influenced graphic designs.
The last stamp is truly a “new style” stamp; the difference compared to the first two stamps is clearly visible.
The first two stamps also remind me somewhat of the “Arts & Crafts” decorations by Morris & Co. Incidentally, this type of decoration laid the foundation for Art Nouveau.
In my opinion, what is also interesting about these Russian stamps is that, for the first time, art movements and changes within them clearly manifest themselves in the stamp designs.
Until then, most stamp designs were quite detached from developments in art.
More Art Deco stamps:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Deco_stamps
There can, however, be considerable differences within Art Deco. It is a kind of hodgepodge of different styles.
Here is an example of "Arts and Crafts" design by Morris; I also see these kinds of leaves on these Russian stamps. (Morris was a socialist, by the way.)
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Morris_Acanthus_Wallpaper_1875.jpg
More from William Morris:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:William_Morris_textiles
Apologies, the dragon slayer already shows a very different style. Incidentally, I am not a professional art connoisseur, but this is just what strikes me about these stamps: apart from the hammer and sickles, other symbols.
Jugendstil, Arts & Crafts—let's say the rich decorations—falls under the heading of “Art Nouveau”. The nice thing is that the development from Art Nouveau to Art Deco is actually more visible in Dutch stamps than in Russian stamps, and is absolutely executed much, much more beautifully!!!
The Art Nouveau style begins as early as the Dutch definitives from 1899 and can also be seen in, for example, the tuberculosis stamps, and then you can see that from the 20s onwards the “house style” starts to change.
Incidentally, it appears that a number of the Art Deco stamps were not drawn in a large format and then reduced, but were designed and drawn in postage stamp format.
We sometimes grumble about the Dutch releases, but this shows that a *whole* lot of attention has been paid—and still is (in my opinion)—to the design and execution.
Highly recommended: “Icons of the Post” has dedicated an entire piece to it, the styles of the 20s.
http://www.iconenvandepost.nl/site2/icoon.php?id=9081903