Medobory Nature Reserve REPLICA

Ukrainian stamps with nature reserves

The country counts 50 nature reserves, parks and botanical gardens. So the theme could not be neglected by philately. The first stamp on this subject in independent Ukraine was issued in 1998 - a postal block for the 100th anniversary of " Askania Nova" reserve with a circulation of 60 thousand copies. Further, from 2000 to 2010 the following postal blocks were issued:2000

·         Carpathian National Nature Park, 50 thousand copies;

·         2002 Black Sea Biosphere Reserve, 100 thousand copies;

·         2003 Yavoriv National Nature Park, 50 thousand copies;

·         2004 Danube Biosphere Reserve, 70 thousand copies;

·         2005 Karadag Nature Reserve, 90 thousand copies;

·         2006 Shatskyi National Nature Park, 110 thousand copies;

·         2008 Crimean Nature Reserve, 120 thousand copies;

·         2009 Gorgany Nature Reserve, 97 thousand copies;

·         2010 Holy Mountains National Nature Park, 80 thousand copies.

Eight years passed before the issue was resumed. In 2018, the postage block "Carpathian Biosphere Reserve" was issued on the 50th anniversary of the reserve, with a circulation of only 30,000 copies. Next year, in 2019, Ukrposhta prepared the issue of a postal block for a rather young nature park - Mezynskyi National Nature Park, with a circulation of 30 thousand copies.

Postal block «Nature Reserve «Medobory»

The issue was planned in accordance with the approved thematic plan for February 2022. The stamp was created at the initiative of the philatelic circle of Vikno village, as well as the directorate of the Medobory reserve and the Ternopil branch of Ukrposhta.Дата введення в обіг: 25.02.2022

·         Circulation - 20 thousand copies

·         Block format - 129x99 mm

·         Stamp format - 39x44 mm

·         Number of stamps per sheet - 5

·         Denomination - V (12.00 UAH)

·         Author - Natalia Kokhal

However, in February martial law was imposed in Ukraine due to a full-scale invasion by russian troops and violation of the borders of the independent state. During the military conflict, the army of the aggressor country used the Latin letters V and Z to mark its military equipment. This later became a peculiar symbol of russian propaganda.

The issued stamps with such nominal values were ceased to be sold in May. And by order No. 903 dated August 19, 2022, JSC "Ukrposhta" decided to withdraw from circulation stamps with a face value of V, which were issued after February 24, 2022. In total, 18534 stamps were destroyed out of 20 thousand copies, the remaining 1466 stamps have already been sold through the offices in Poltava, Sumy and Cherkasy. These conditions enhance the value of the postal block among stamp collectors.

Description of the postal block and stamps

The design author is the artist Natalia Kokhal, who cooperates with Ukrposhta not for the first time. She participated in the creation of sketches of the series "Reserves and Natural Parks of Ukraine" in 2010, 2018 and 2019.

"Medobory" reserve is located on the territory of Podilski Tovtry. The area of the reserve is more than 9.5 thousand hectares. The greatest value of the park is the presence of 19 species of bats, which are included in the Red Book.

The postage block features an artistic picture of a part of the park. In the upper right-hand corner, in the margin of the sheet, the name of the nature reserve is in large letters. There are six objects on it, each of which is signed. However, there are only five stamps on the sheet:

·         White ash tree Dictamnus albus – is a rare perennial Red Book flowering plant. Its herb and roots are used to make medicines. It should be noted that the plant can cause dermatitis and burns when touched.

·         Middle Sea nettle Pipistrellus kuhlii – is a small bat, which has spread in Ukraine most of all since 1990. It has a vulnerable nature conservation status.

Xylocopa valga – common carpenter bee is found in all regions of Ukraine. Among the features, it builds nests in holes and dead wood.

·         Schivereckia podolica – perennial Red Book plant of the cabbage family, which is common in the forest-steppe zone, in particular in the Tovtry.

·         Sedge thistle Carlina cirsioides – rare species, but common in Ukraine and Poland from the aster family.

In addition to the name, each stamp has the inscription "Ukraine" and "Ukraina", trident, year of issue and nominal value in Latin letter V. The presented "Franko's Rocks" are not a stamp.

·         Common

Unfortunately, we do not have this block in our own collection. If you are interested in purchasing this mail unit, please contact our store administrator. It is possible to order this item from our collector partners.