Up to 100 items of the first Ukrainian postage stamps postal block

Block "The first Ukrainian stamps of the liberation struggle in 1917-1921"

The formation of an independent country raises the issue of developing symbols of statehood that are placed on official emblems, seals, and letterheads. This also applies to the need to issue its own currency and postage stamps for communication between the authorities and the population. In 1917, the post office played an important role in people's lives and the functioning of the state. Therefore, the development of stamps at that time was very important.

 History of the first stamps in the Ukrainian People's Republic

The reason for issuing its own stamps was the formation of a new state in the form of the Ukrainian People's Republic. The Third Universal signed in November 1917 by the Central Rada provided for the establishment of the UPR as an autonomous state within the new Russian state. Accordingly, an order was issued to hold a tender for the development of a new stamp. Among the main technical requirements for the project was the creation of one universal design for denominations from 5 to 50 kopecks and from 1 to 15 karbovanets. With 11 stamps to be issued, the main difference was to be their color and denomination.

A competition was held, certain works were selected, and the process of making clichés was in progress. But with the signing of the Fourth Universal in January 1918, Independence was proclaimed. Accordingly, the question arose of developing symbols for an independent state. These conditions required a new design of stamps, including the symbols of statehood. In addition, a law was adopted on the circulation of its own currency in the form of the hryvnia, which consisted of 100 shahs (coins).

Since the front was opened in December 1917 and the Ukrainian-Russian war was underway, time was running out. To speed up the development of new stamps, sketches were commissioned directly from artists. The greatest contribution to the development of state symbols was made by graphic artist Heorhii Narbut, who personally designed the state coat of arms and banknotes. The first stamps were also designed under his leadership. He was assisted by Antin Sereda, who created stamps of the smallest denominations of 10 and 20 shahs.

G. Narbut designed stamps with denominations of 30, 40, and 50 shahs. The most famous of these is the allegory "Young Ukraine". The postage stamps designed by the artists could not be put into print immediately. The reason was the lack of readiness to produce change coins. Therefore, the stamps were issued as credit coupons, with a note on the back that they replaced coins. In fact, the five-value issue was put into circulation as postage stamps in July-August 1918.

postal item 1918

The first stamps of the WUNR

In the fall of 1918, Eastern Halychyna also proclaimed its own independent state, the Western Ukrainian People's Republic, with its capital in the city of Lviv. These conditions also included the issuance of its own postage stamps. Because the Polish state claimed the lands of Halychyna, the capital of the WUNR was later moved to Ivano-Frankivsk ( at that time Stanislav). To issue its own postage stamps, the WUNR used the existing stocks of Austrian stamps with black ink overprints of the WUNR's affiliation. The following issues are known to have been issued using different overprints:

·         Lviv issue (November 1918);

·         Kolomyia issue (December 1918 - January 1919);

·         Stanislav issues (March 1919 - July 1919).

The stamp's own design was developed in early 1919 in two series totaling 17 stamps. However, these stamps were not put into circulation due to the loss of territories by the WUNR and the proclamation of the Act of Unification with the UPR.

Postal block dedicated to the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first Ukrainian postage stamps

The presentation of the postal block "The first Ukrainian stamps of the liberation struggle of 1917-1921" took place during the XVI National Philatelic Exhibition "UkrFilexpo-2018" held in Kyiv on October 8-14. Ukrposhta prepared 500 non-perforated copies of the postal block for the exhibition participants. Also during the event, a souvenir booklet was presented jointly with the NBU, which included a postal block and a coin.

·         Date of issue - 09.10.2018

·         Circulation of the block - 30 thousand copies.

·         Block size - 100x70 mm

·         Stamp format - 30.5x35 mm

·         Number in the block - 2 pcs.

·         The face value of each stamp is 15 UAH.

·         Design by Volodymyr Taran

In the center of the block are two horizontal stamps - on the left side of the UPR, on the right side of the WUNR. Above the stamp by the artist H. Narbut, the postal block depicts the allegory "Young Ukraine". Below the stamp is the 100th anniversary. Above the right stamp is the title of the block "First Ukrainian stamps of the liberation struggle of 1917-1921". Below it is background information on the dates of issue, the denominations used, and the authors of the first stamps' designs.

The stamps are mirrored by the place of information: affiliation with the Ukrainian Post, year of issue, denomination and name. The main part of the stamp contains sketches:

·         The UPR stamp, which entered circulation in July-August 1918. The 40-step stamp denomination belongs to the five-cost issue, designed by graphic artists H. Narbut and A. Sereda. The stamp contains the symbol of Ukrainian statehood in the form of a trident, which is framed by a floral ornament with unique elements.

·         The WUNR stamp belongs to the first Lviv issue. It was introduced on November 20, 1918, and was in circulation for only about a week. The stamp was based on an Austrian stamp with a black overprint of the Lviv coat of arms on the stamp and the inscription "Western Ukrainian People's Republic" on four sides.

The lower right part of the postal block contains the logo of the UkrFlexpo-2018 exhibition. It is based on a sketch by G. Narbut with a portrait of a girl wearing a wreath of flowers and wheat ears.

envelope of the first day to the 100th anniversary of the first Ukrainian stamps