Stories and myths postage stamp series

Myths and fairy tales - a fascinating world of the past that appears to the reader as something unusual and fantastic. Every nation has legends and tales in its historical heritage.

 What is known about the stamp series Stories and myths

The stamps that belong to the " Europe " programme have been issued since 1956. All interested countries take part in it. Since 1974, a specific theme has been adopted for the annual issue. And each country, as a member of the postal association, submits its own stamp.

Since 2002, there has been a stamp competition with the winner announced at a PostEurop meeting. Ukraine is therefore not an exception and is eager to participate. The theme for the year 2022 is Stories and Myths. Our country is represented by two stamps - "SWAROG. God-Creator of the Universe" and "LADA. Goddess of Motherhood".

·         Date of implementation: 22 November 2022

·         Circulation - 180 thousand copies for each stamp

·         Size - 33.06x46.98 mm

·         Number of stamps per sheet 6 (3x2)

·         Nominal value - A (equivalent to 1$)

·         Author - Mykola Kochubey

Each stamp has its own stamp sheet with an equivalent value of $6. The series also includes the "First Day" envelope. The issue is part of the general programme of the thematic plan of Ukrposhta, which takes into account the decision of the Editorial and Artistic Council.

Kochubey Mykola Savvych is the author of the sketch, Honoured Artist of Ukraine. He has been working as the designer of stamps since 1998. His most famous series of stamps is "Folk Apparel of Ukraine", which was published in 2001-2008. It depicts not only the costumes of different regions of the country, but also recreated himself, his family and friends as individuals. He works in colour etching, watercolour and lithography.

 Postage stamp "SWAROG. God Creator of the Universe".

Svarog is the father of the Ukrainian pantheon. A celestial smith who forged the World and populated the Earth with people and animals. He gave people their first plough and taught them how to work. Thanks to Svarog they learned to sow grain, grind it and bake bread. He taught them how to use fire and forge iron. He acts as the main god of the creative power of nature, who gives wisdom to people and allows them to master crafts.

The stamp has a vertical orientation, in the centre there is the main character of Ukrainian mythology. The portrait of the deity is obviously of Ukrainian origin, as it is presented in front of the viewer with a mustache and a forelock on his head. He holds a hammer in his right hand and a flaming sword in his left. It can be assumed that the image is frozen in blacksmithing. Behind his left shoulder there is an image of an eagle with outstretched wings. The sun, created by him, is in the background on the upper right, with stars shining. Near the left hand at the back is a depiction of a planet with a meteor belt around it. The forging area is twisted in an endless spiral, from which sparks fly out and horses gallop.

The inscriptions are concentrated on the edges of the stamp. In the bottom right corner is a two-line inscription with the name of the stamp "SWAROG. God Creator of the Universe". Above it is the name of the series in Latin in large livery "EUROPA" in stylised text. The left side of the stamp has vertical and horizontal inscriptions along the entire edge. The lower left corner has a large letter "A", the denomination of the stamp. In the middle of the left edge there is a large inscription "Ukraine" and a small inscription in Latin letters "Ukraina", the only one in black. In the upper left corner there is a coat of arms and the year of issue of the stamp.

 Postage stamp "LADA. Goddess of Motherhood"

Lada is the great mother of all things and wife of Svarog. Goddess of love and marriage, world harmony. Patroness of childbirth, women and their affairs. Symbol of fertility and harvest. The goddess symbolizes love as the basis of life on earth. Lada has two children: Lelya - goddess of love, and Polel - god of the light of day. Lada is celebrated after the snow melts and with the arrival of spring.

In the centre of the vertically oriented stamps is the goddess. Her image is represented in colours, DNA spirals are woven into her attire. The female image holds an infant in her arms, she is embraced by a small angel. The goddess' head is depicted with an immense wreath of flowers that is woven into her hair. It also depicts the eyes in the top centre and a bird flying out from the right. The lower part of the deity's image has a spiral formation as a symbol of infinity. Around Lada there is a circle of images of women.

There are two inscriptions along the right edge of the stamp from the " Stories and Myths" series. The first is the title of the stamp "LADA. Goddess of Motherhood" and is written in two lines. The second inscription is the name of the series in stylised text in Latin "EUROPA". The entire left edge is also filled with inscriptions. At the top there is a coat of arms, at the bottom the denomination and the year of issue. In the centre of the left edge there are two inscriptions: in large letters " Ukraine" and in Latin letters "Ukraina". The inscriptions at the bottom of the stamp are in white, while all others are in black.