90 years of the first Ukrainian stamps series of blocks

90 years of the first Ukrainian stamps series of commemorative blocks

One of the signs of statehood is having its own postage stamp. While in the past, mail was the primary means of communication between subscribers in different locations, today it is being replaced by modern methods of communication such as the internet and telephone. So currently, mail serves a more official function of correspondence. 

However, philatelic demand for postage stamps has not diminished. On the contrary, modern trends are increasing its significance. And the available technologies allow for the quick and quality production of meaningful miniatures. Philately remains an effective tool for propaganda.

 How the first Ukrainian stamps emerged

Before the creation of an independent Ukrainian state, there were releases of non-postage stamp series, but they are not considered official. In fact, like the stamps that did not go into circulation. The first stamps that can rightfully be called official and Ukrainian are the five-hryvnia issue of April 1918, during the formation of the Ukrainian People's Republic. The issue of stamps is directly related to the conditions of state-building of the Ukrainian independent state. Thus, at the time of the October coup in 1917, with the overthrow of the tsarist regime, conditions were created for the formation of the UNR as an autonomy within the new Russian state. However, it was not agreed upon by the Bolshevik-Soviet regime, which served as the basis for declaring independence.

 As part of the formation of an independent UNR, the question arose about the development of its own state symbols in the form of banknotes, diplomas, postcards, coats of arms, seals, and postage stamps. As a result of the occupation of Ukrainian cities by the new Russian authorities, the Ukrainian-Soviet War broke out. Due to the opening of the front, there was little time for preparatory measures for the development of stamps and conducting a competition.

 To create project sketches, the order was directly sent to artists. The creation of the first stamps was carried out by the graphics artist Georgiy Narbut and his student and follower Antin Sereda. Given that Georgiy was also involved in creating the design of the first banknotes, Antin developed the concept and layout of the stamps with the smallest denominations.

 After agreeing on the series, the manufacture of the clichés began, and conditions were created for printing. It should be noted that the new monetary unit of the UNR was the Ukrainian hryvnia, which consisted of 100 shahs. With the release of exchange coins in the new state, difficulties arose. Therefore, the only way out was the release of credit coupons, which the first stamps were to perform. Thus, from April 18, money stamps according to the sketches of G. Narbut and A. Sereda came into circulation. For this, an overprint was made on the reverse side in a frame with a coat of arms and an inscription in four lines "It walks on a par with a ringing coin."

When it came to releasing the first postage stamps, G. Narbut proposed a new design aimed at distinguishing between different denominations of stamps. However, in the absence of available resources at that time, existing cliches were used. To differentiate the stamps, a different paper was used and no perforation was made.

Postal blocks "90 years of the first postage stamps of the Ukrainian state"

The author of the design of the stamp blocks is a painter and graphic artist Oleksandr Kalmykov, known for his works in the series of Ukrposhta's "Beauty and Greatness of Ukraine" issues. The issue of postal blocks on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the first stamps was presented at the XI National Philatelic Exhibition Ukrfilexpo 2008. The event was held on October 3-9 in the educational building of Chernivtsi National University during the celebration of the city's 600th anniversary. On this occasion, non-perforated postal blocks were prepared for the exhibition participants.

·         The date of putting into circulation is 04.07.2008.

·         Circulation of one block - 120 thousand copies

·         Block size - 83x80 mm

·         Stamp format - 29.58x29.58 mm

·         Number of stamps block No. 71 - 2 pcs.

·         Number of stamps block No. 72 - 3 pcs.

·         Denominations - 1.00 UAH, 2.47 UAH, 3.33 UAH.

·         The author of the design is O.F. Kalmykov.

Bukovyna is an appropriate place for the presentation, as the author of the first stamp of the smallest denomination, A. Sereda, managed art production here in 1916-1917. He also studied and researched the folk art of this region, as evidenced by the 1919 publication "Folk Art of Galicia and Bukovyna".

 Postal block No. 71 with stamps by the artist A. Sereda

The stamp block features sepia-colored graphics in the style of aged paper. It consists of two stamps and two rectangular coupons, which are placed in the center from the right edge of the block. The left side of the block contains a stylized inscription of the anniversary, and the upper part continues the name. There is a photo of A. Sereda with the years of his life, 1890-1961, on the coupon.

Each stamp contains an image of the first steps placed in the upper right corner:

·         Trident - the smallest denomination of the 10 stamps series, where the artist depicted the Ukrainian trident. In the background there are sun rays reaching down to the ground. The left and right edges are decorated with floral ornaments. The stamp is presented in a light brown color.

·         Kosar is a denomination of 20 steps, featuring a portrait of a Ukrainian peasant wearing a hat with a wheat ear and a scythe on his left shoulder. His gaze is directed towards the trident placed in front of him. The stamp was made using brown ink.

Each stamp has an inscription indicating the country of origin (in Ukrainian and Latin), coat of arms, year of issue, and denomination. The trident stamp corresponds to a value of 2.47 UAH, while the kosar stamp corresponds to 3.33 UAH.

 Postal block №72 with artist H. Narbut's stamps.

Since H. Narbut was the author of three stamps, the postal block contains only one coupon with a photo of the artist and the years of his life. The perforations of the stamps and coupons form a square that is shifted to the right edge of the block. The left side of the block contains a stylized inscription of the anniversary of the first stamps, the upper edge continues the name of the issue.

Each stamp bears the name of the country in two languages, the coat of arms, the year of issue, and the denomination. The artistic design is represented by an image of a postage stamp dated 1918:

·         Young Ukraine - an allegory in the form of a portrait of a girl with a flower wreath on her head. The most famous stamp is a 30 shah stamp in blue. The portrait is placed on an octagon with two Ukrainian trident on its upper sides.

·         The trident is a green 40-cent stamp with a three-dimensional trident in the center. It is presented on a white background in the shape of an oval. It is surrounded by a floral border with graphic elements that are unique and not repeated. The lower right corner of the stamp contains two crossed postal horns.

·         50 shahs is the largest in the series, presented in red. The denomination is indicated in the center of the stamp and is decorated with a floral wreath, the upper part of which contains two crossed postal horns.

The design of the stamp with the portrait of the Ukrainian woman was included in the first issue of commonly used (standard) stamps in 1992 of independent Ukraine. Among collectors, this issue is called narbutivka.

Envelopes with repayment of the first day of 90 years of the first postage stamps of Ukraine