Independence Day postal block

Ukrainian people constantly fights for its independence. The lands of modern Ukraine through the prism of time often moved from one state to another. The attempts to be independent can be counted from the times of the Hetmanate. But the first attempts were actually registered in 1918, when the independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed. Even in recent times, in 1941, there were attempts to regain the independence of the Ukrainian state.

The event of 1991 after a long and thorny path is truly significant. Since then and till this day Ukraine has the status of an independent state. But the struggle is not over, and in 2022 the country is back on the battlefield. It defends its borders and resists invaders and occupiers to be part of an independent democratic European society.

Independence of Ukraine on the pages of philately

Realizing the importance of the event, Independence Day is a national holiday for Ukrainians. The issuance of stamps during the period of independence was reflected in philately even in 1918, when the stamps of the UPR and ZUNR were issued. The first stamps in the times of independent Ukraine were issued in 1992, including the stamp with the coat of arms and the flag. Independence Day coverage was first printed on a block of stamps in 1994.

Overall, 5 issues were made on the occasion of the Independence Day:

·         1994 - postal block "Independence Day", circulation 200,000 copies;

·         1996 - stamp "Independence Day. The fifth anniversary of Ukraine's independence", 300,000 copies;

·         2001 - postal block to the 10th anniversary " Declaration of Ukraine as an independent democratic state on August 24, 1991", 50,000 copies

·         2011 - stamp "Ukraine. 20th Anniversary of Independence", 230,000 copies;

·         2021 - postal block to the 30th anniversary "Independence Monument", 25,000 copies.

The issues of 1994 and 1995 have a fairly large circulation and correspond to the face value in karbovanets, without a letter. Each issue is dedicated to an anniversary. In 2001, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of independence, a triumphant 52-meter column "Independence Monument" was presented in Kyiv. But the design of the postal block of that year was based on the photo of 24.08.1991 with the Ukrainian flag in the parliament hall, the author of which is Efrem Lukatsky. This photo was also published in the weekly newspaper Time on 09.09.1991. It was possible to mention the "Independence Monument" in philately only in 2021, on the 30th anniversary of independence.

Photo by Yefrem Lukatsky published by the Times

Description of the postal block "Independence Day - 1994"

The artist of the first standard issues of Ukrainian stamps of 1992-1993 was Vasyl Dvornyk. He embodied in them the idea of sketches from the stamps of the Ukrainian People's Republic of George Narbut of 1918. After that, Ukrposhta cooperated with him on a permanent basis. Many artistic and anniversary issues were issued under his authorship. The last known work on creating a stamp sketch dates back to 1997.

·         The date of putting into circulation: 03.09.1994

·         Circulation - 200 thousand copies

·         Block size - 70x90 mm

·         Number of stamps per sheet - 1

·         Denomination - 5,000 karbovanets

·         Design - V.I. Dvornyk

The postal block has a fairly large number of symbols. Primarily, the territory of Ukraine is depicted on the background of the globe. It forms the borders of a rectangular stamp with a horizontal orientation. The building of the Verkhovna Rada with the Ukrainian flag on the dome spire is sketched in the center. In the lower left corner of the stamp is the denomination of 5,000, without identification of Ukrainian karbovanets. In the upper right corner there is a vertical inscription in capital letters "POST OF UKRAINE" and instead of a dash a dot and the year of issue - 1994.

Since the stamp is part of the overall composition of the postal block, it also contains its elements. Thus, the bottom of the postal block depicts the globe on a white background. It is turned to the viewer by the European continent with the territory of Ukrainian lands. A rainbow in the colors of the Ukrainian flag passes through the silhouette of Ukraine highlighted from above. Above the rainbow is a stylized Ukrainian ornament in the form of branches with leaves and fruits of viburnum. Above there is a green inscription "INDEPENDENCE DAY".

first day envelope with Independence Day block