On December 3, a postcard with a commemorative stamp dedicated to the 125th Birth Anniversary of Mikhail Koshkin, a design engineer, will go into postal circulation
Mikhail Koshkin (1898-1940) was a Soviet design engineer, a designer and the first Chief Designer of the T-34 tank, a Hero of Socialist Labor (1990).
In late December of 1936, he was assigned to the Kharkov Plant to design a fast medium tank suitable for large-scale production. Mikhail Koshkin took the lead of new design department KB-24, which in less than a year designed a wheeled caterpillar tank indexed BT-20.
Early in 1939, all tank design bureaus of the plant (KB-24, KB-190 and KB-35) were merged into KB-520, and at the same time, the experimental shops were merged into a single shop. M. Koshkin was appointed the Chief Designer. In the middle of the same year, he presented in Kharkov the A-20 and A-32 prototypes. From September 1939 to February 1940, proceeding from the decision of the Army Tank-Automation Command, Mikhail Koshkin headed designing and production of two prototype caterpillar tanks A-32 with reinforced armor.
On December 19, 1939, the A-32 caterpillar tank with 45-mm thick armor, named tank T-34, was adopted by the Red Army. On February 10 of 1940, the first two T-34 tanks were manufactured and their trials began. In March of 1940, Koshkin personally took part in the army trials of two prototype T-34 (A-34) tanks with a run from Kharkov to Moscow and back.
The commemorative stamp features a portrait of Mikhail Koshkin against the background of drawings of the A-32 tank; the main illustration is a collage of photos of various modifications of the T-34 tank.
In addition to the issue of the postcard with a commemorative stamp, JSC Marka will produce special cancels for Moscow, Kirov, Nizhny Tagil of the Sverdlovsk Region, Pereslavl-Zalessky of the Yaroslavl Region and Yaroslavl.
Design Artist: S. Ulyanovsky.
Quantity: 7 thousand postcards.
On December 5, a New Year postage stamp will go into postal circulation
The drawing of the postage stamp was chosen according to the results of the All-Russian Drawing Competition among professional artists. The winner is Irina Kiyan from Moscow. Her work was appreciated by the jury and won the highest support in the Postage Stamp nomination in the online voting and the Audience Choice Award.
The postage stamp provides an image of a bullfinch in an ornament of rowan sprigs and snow patterns.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg, Bryansk, Vladivostok, Volgograd, Kaliningrad, Krasnoyarsk, Murmansk, Nizhny Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Penza, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Sevastopol, Suzdal of the Vladimir Region and Tomsk, as well as a maxi-card and an illustrated cover with postage stamps, a label and a First Day Cover with a cancel for Suzdal of the Vladimir Region inside.
Artist: I. Kiyan; Design: V. Zatologina.
Face value: 29 rubles.
Stamp size (diam): 30 mm, sheet size: 141×141 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 9 (3×3) stamps.
Quantity: 423 thousand stamps (47 thousand sheets).
On December 8, four stamps dedicated to the characters of children's TV program Good Night, Little Ones! will go into postal circulation
Good Night, Little Ones! is a real record-breaker: in 2024, the program will celebrate its Anniversary - 60 years on air! Every day surprises and adventures, new knowledge and discoveries await little viewers and puppet characters.
In company with Khryusha, Filia, Stepashka, Karkusha, Mishutka and tiger cub Murr, the participants in the program are senior mentors: Oksana Fedorova, Anna Mikhalkova, Sergey Bezrukov and Mikhail Porechenkov. Professional actors work with the puppets: Honoured Artists of the Russian Federation Natalia Golubentseva, Oksana Chabanyuk and Andrey Nechaev, actors Galina Marchenko, Khalisya Bogdanova, Irina Lankina, Yuri Sokirkin, and Elena Lomteva. The program has a whole range of unique educational projects: studies of the Russian and English languages, mathematics, geography, art history and even financial literacy.
In 2016, morning show Good Morning, Little Ones! was launched. It is a TV magazine consisting of various sections, where legendary characters make craftwork, cook, teach how to eat right, take care of the viewers’ health, do sports, they unveil secrets of creating favorite animated films and musical hits.
Good Night, Little Ones! has been repeatedly awarded the TEFI and TEFI-KIDS awards as the best children's program.
The TV program is broadcast on the Rossiya-Kultura channel and Karusel along with the Good Morning, Little Ones! program.
The postage stamps provide images of the TV program characters: Khryusha, Stepashka, Filia and Karkusha.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, Penza, Sevastopol and Smolensk, as well as four maxi-cards with pictures of the characters of the TV program, an illustrated cover with postage stamps, a label and a combined maxi-card with pictures of all the characters of the TV program with a cancel for Moscow inside.
Design Artist: M. Bodrova.
Face value: 20 rubles.
Stamp size: 37×37 mm, sheet size: 152×152 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 9 (3×3) stamps.
Quantity: 144 thousand each stamp (16 thousand each sheet).
On December 8, two stamps dedicated Yuri Luzhkov and Vladimir Zhirinovsky will go into postal circulation in the “Cavaliers of Order For Merit to the Fatherland” series
Yuri Luzhkov (1936-2019) was a state person, the Mayor of Moscow in 1992-2010, a Full Cavalier of the Order For Merit to the Fatherland and a laureate of State Prizes of the USSR and the Russian Federation. He was an Honored Chemist of the RSFSR, an Honored Builder of the Russian Federation; an Honored Chemist of the RSFSR (1986), and an Honored Builder of the Russian Federation (1996). Yuri Luzhkov is the author of more than 200 papers on the problems of paths of social and economic development of Russia.
Yuri Luzhkov headed the government of the capital for 20 years, of which he was the Mayor of Moscow from 1992 to 2010, and made a significant contribution to the establishment of Russian statehood and the development of the city. During the years of Yu. Luzhkov's work as the Mayor, the capital has undergone serious social and economic changes: the establishment of the metropolis' economy, providing support for universities and the educational sphere as a whole; the development of the capital's cultural life; the implementation of social support programs for Moscovites, such as a residence program, payment of pensions and allowances for young families, and many others.
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Yuri Luzhkov and an image of the Order For Merit to the Fatherland.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a maxi-card.
Design Artists: I. Ulyanovsky and O. Savina.
Face value: 50 rubles.
Stamp size: 42×30 mm, sheet size: 142×174 mm.
Emission form: a sheet (3×5) with 14 stamps and a coupon.
Quantity: 98 thousand stamps (7 thousand sheets).
Vladimir Zhirinovsky (1946-2022) was the founder and the leader of the political Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR).
Since March 31 of 1990, he was the Chairman of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (a member of the LDPR since 1989). Vladimir Zhirinovsky participated in the activities of the Constitutional Meeting of 1993 to prepare the draft of the Constitution of the Russian Federation. He was elected a Deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation for eight sessions.
Zhirinovsky is the author of over 500 books, including 100 volumes of his papers entitled Political Classics. He had a command of the English, French, German and Turkish languages.
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Vladimir Zhirinovsky and an image of the Order For Merit to the Fatherland.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow and St. Petersburg, and a maxi-card.
Design Artist: Kh. Betredinova.
Face value: 50 rubles.
Stamp size: 42×30 mm, sheet size: 142×174 mm.
Emission form: a sheet (3×5) with 14 stamps and a coupon.
Quantity: 98 thousand stamps (7 thousand sheets).
On December 9, ten stamps dedicated to participants in the special military operation will go into postal circulation in the Heroes of the Russian Federation series
Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov (1996-2022), the company commander of the Airborne Assault Regiment, a Guards Senior Lieutenant.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 3, 2022, for the heroism, courage, valor and selflessness demonstrated on the performance of military duty, Senior Lieutenant Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously)
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Nurmagomed Gadzhimagomedov, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Vadim Gerasimov (1985-2022), the commander of a motorized rifle battalion, a Guards Lieutenant Colonel.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of military duty, Lieutenant Colonel Vadim Gerasimov was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Vadim Gerasimov, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Eduard Dyakonov (2001-2022), a Senior Radio Reconnaissance Officer of a Special Forces Company, a Guards Private.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 5, 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of military duty Guards Private Eduard Dyakonov was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Eduard Dyakonov, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Aleksandr Zhikharev (1993-2022), the commander of a Special Forces Company, a Captain.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of May 3, 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of military duty Captain Aleksandr Zhikharev was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Aleksandr Zhikharev, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Boris Zhuravlev (1979-2022), a deputy commander of a Special Forces Group, a Guards Sergeant-Major.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of military duty Guards Sergeant-Major Boris Zhuravlevlev was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Boris Zhuravlevlev, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Vladimir Zozulin (1991-2022), the commander of a Reconnaissance Company of the Airborne Regiment, a Guards Senior Lieutenant.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 31, 2022, for the courage and valor demonstrated on the performance of military duty Senior Lieutenant Vladimir Zozulin was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Vladimir Zozulin, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Denis Zorin (1991-2022), the commander of an Antitank Platoon, a Guards Senior Lieutenant.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March 31, 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of military duty Guards Senior Lieutenant Denis Zorin was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Denis Zorin, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Aleksey Kalmykov (1988-2022), a deputy commander of the Special Forces Detachment, a Major.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of July 5, 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of military duty Major Aleksey Kalmykov was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Aleksey Kalmykov, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Aleksandr Potapov (1989-2022), an officer of the Vityaz special-purpose center of the Rosgvardia Independent Operational Division, a Senior Lieutenant.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of September 29, 2022, for the courage and heroism demonstrated on the performance of missions in the course of the special military operation, Senior Lieutenant Aleksandr Potapov was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Aleksandr Potapov, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
Sergey Sukharev (1981-2022), a commander of an Airborne Assault Regiment, a Guards Colonel.
By the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of March, 2022, for the heroism, courage and valor demonstrated on the performance of military duty Guards Colonel Sergey Sukharev was awarded the title of a Hero of the Russian Federation (posthumously).
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Hero of the Russian Federation Sergey Sukharev, a battle scene and the Gold Star Medal.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg, Astrakhan, Volgograd, Ivanovo, Irkutsk, Makhachkala, Rostov-on-Don, Ryazan, Saratov and Ulyanovsk.
Artists: V. Beltyukov, R. Komsa, M. Podobed and I. Ulyanovsky.
Face value: 45 rubles.
Stamp size: 42×30 mm, sheet size: 104×110 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with (2×3) 5 stamps and a coupon.
Quantity: 60 thousand each stamp (12 thousand each sheet).
On December 12, a stamp dedicated to the 100th Birth Anniversary of Aleksandr Sukharev, a legal scholar, a statesman, will go into postal circulation in the Outstanding Lawyers of Russia series
Aleksandr Sukharev (1923–2021) was an Actual State Counsellor of Justice, an Honored Lawyer of the RSFSR, an Honored Worker of the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation, an Honorary Worker of the Prosecutor's Office, a Doctor in Law, a professor.
In September of 1970, Aleksandr Sukharev was appointed the First Deputy Minister of Justice of the USSR and in 1984, he became the Minister of Justice of the RSFSR.
From February of 1988, he was the First Deputy Prosecutor General of the USSR. From May of 1988 to October of 1990, he held the position of the Prosecutor General of the USSR.
Aleksandr Sukharev is the author of more than 120 scientific papers, including his book Our People's Court, and scientific publications on the problems of fight against crime and shaping the legal consciousness of the population. He participated in drafting the Law on the Prosecutor's Office of the Russian Federation, the Criminal Procedure Code of the Russian Federation and other fundamental acts in the field of crime control and protection of the rights of citizens.
The postage stamp provides a portrait of Aleksandr Sukharev.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg and Voronezh.
Design Artists: R. Komsa and S. Ulyanovsky.
Face value: 63 rubles.
Stamp size: 37×37 mm, sheet size: 131×137 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with (3×3) 8 stamps and a coupon.
Quantity: 72 thousand stamps (9 thousand sheets).
On December 12, four stamps dedicated to professions of staffers of the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) of Russia
The MES of Russia is a federal executive authority responsible for management, coordination, control and response in the field of civil defense, protection of population and territories from emergencies, ensuring fire safety and water safety of people.
The staff of the MES of Russia carry out activities to prepare and protect the population, material and cultural property on the territory of the Russian Federation from hazards arising during military conflicts or their consequences, as well as in case of natural and anthropogenic emergencies. The key task of rescuers is to reliably protect Russian citizens, their life, health and property.
Every year on December 27, rescuers celebrate their professional holiday. Russian rescuers are considered the most experienced and well-trained, hence they work not only in Russia, but also in other countries.
The postage stamps show several areas of rescuer activities:
— canine service;
— fire and rescue service;
— air rescue service;
— state inspection for small vessels.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg and Ryazan as well as a maxi-card.
Design Artist: M. Podobed.
Face value: 65 rubles.
Stamp size: 37×37 mm, sheet size: 131×138 mm.
Emission form: sheets with formatted margins with 9 (3×3) stamps.
Quantity: 72 thousand each stamp (8 thousand sheets).
On December 13, two stamps dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation will go into postal circulation
On December 12, 1993, the Constitution of the Russian Federation was adopted by popular vote. According to Chapter 5, the Federal Assembly, the modern Russian Parliament, is the representative and legislative body of the country. It consists of two chambers: the Federation Council and the State Duma.
The Federation Council consists of 2 representatives from each constituent entity of the Russian Federation, as well as maximum 30 representatives of Russia appointed by the President of the Russian Federation.
The State Duma consists of 450 deputies and is elected for a five-year term. A citizen of the Russian Federation who has reached the age of 21 and has the right to stand for election may be elected a deputy.
The postage stamps provide images of the badges of a senator of the Russian Federation and a deputy of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Design Artist: I. Ulyanovsky.
Face value: 30 rubles.
Stamp size: 40×28 mm, sheet size: 140×166 mm, strip size: 142×50 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with (3×5) 10 stamps and 5 coupons (the first emission type); a strip with 2 stamps and a coupon (the second emission type*).
Quantity: 45 thousand each stamp (9 thousand sheets) (the first emission type); 3.8 thousand strips (the second emission type).
* To be on sale as part of an illustrated cover
On December 15, a stamp dedicated to Volleyball will go into postal circulation in the Sports series
Volleyball is a sport discipline, a team sports game, which consists in two teams competing on a special court divided by a net, trying to direct the ball to the opponent's side in such a way that it lands on the opponent’s ground or the defending player makes a mistake.
The official date of birth of Russian volleyball is considered July 28, 1923, when a friendly match between volleyball players of the Higher Art and Theatre Workshops and the State School of Cinematography took place in Moscow.
In 1991, the All-Russian Volleyball Federation was formed, and since 1992, it has been the legal successor of the USSR Federation in all international sports associations.
The postage stamp provides an image of three female volleyball players during a spike.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg and Penza, as well as a maxi-card.
Design Artist: O. Savina.
Face value: 30 rubles.
Stamp size: 37×37 mm, sheet size: 131×137 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 9 (3×3) stamps.
Quantity: 90 thousand stamps (10 thousand sheets).
On December 18, stamps dedicated to the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) will go into postal circulation in the Arctic Tourism in Russia series
Arctic tourism in Russia is a sort of tourism in the Arctic territory adjacent to the North Pole and incorporating the continental margins in the territorial waters of the Russian Federation in the Arctic Ocean and the dry land territories of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Tourist operators in the Russian Federation offer sea cruises, rafting, boating, fishing and hunting, skiing and hiking routes in the Arctic region. Besides, in great demand is Arctic expedition tourism with routes passing through the islands of the Arctic Ocean.
The Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) is the largest constituent region in the composition of the Russian Federation and the largest administrative division in the world. It is also one of the most inclement places in the world in terms of climate: it hosts the cold pole of the Northern Hemisphere.
The territory of the Republic offers to view unmatched natural sights: the Batagaika crater, the Buluus glacier, sand dunes of Tukulans, the Kisilyakh Range, as well as various museum-reserves with unique nature. The Arctic coast of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) has a special natural, climatic, historical, cultural and economic significance.
The postage stamps provide images of a reindeer herder in a sledge pulled by reindeer, the Ulakhan-Sis mountain range with granite pillars, and a sculptural composition in the form of mammoth tusks with the inscription Verkhoyansk is the Cold Pole.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yakutsk, as well as illustrated covers with postage stamps, a label and a First Day Cover with a cancel for Yakutsk and the second emission type with holographic foil inside.
Design Artist: I. Ulyanovsky.
Face value: 29 rubles, 67 rubles.
Stamp size: 30×42 mm, sheet size: 100×67 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 2 stamps.
Quantity: 30 thousand each stamp (30 thousand sheets); 3.8 thousand sheets (the second emission type*).
* To be on sale as part of an illustrated cover
On December 19, a stamp dedicated to the 50th Anniversary of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation will go into postal circulation
The Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation is one of the largest Russian army musical and choreographic art groups, established in 1973. In 1993, the Ensemble was conferred the rank "Academic".
The chief task of the Ensemble is to preserve the historical heritage of the Russian Army and the mission of the Federal Service of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation as a guarantor of law and order in the country, the formation of the Russians' deep respect for the members of the Russian Federal Guard, who are a model of courage and devotion to military duty.
The priority direction of the concert and touring activity of the Ensemble is giving regular performances of the team for the personnel of the National Guard Troops in the places of their permanent deployment.
The postage stamp provides an image of the team of the Academic Song and Dance Ensemble of the National Guard Troops of the Russian Federation against the background of the Moscow Kremlin and its emblem.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamp, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and a special cancel for Moscow.
Design Artist: A. Povarikhin.
Face value: 67 rubles.
Stamp size: 65×32.5 mm, sheet size: 150×155 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 8 (2×4) stamps.
Quantity: 64 thousand stamps (8 thousand sheets).
On December 20, four stamps dedicated to the Preobrazhensky Regiment will go into postal circulation in the Russian Jacket History series
The Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment is the oldest and one of the most elite guards regiments of the Russian Imperial Army.
In the period of 1695-1696, the Preobrazhensky Regiment took part in the Azov campaigns. In 1700, it was named the Life Guards Preobrazhensky Regiment. It participated in all major battles of the Northern War, in the Prut campaign and in the Persian anabasis.
After the death of Peter I, the Preobrazhensky Regiment took an active part in the enthronement of Catherine I and in all subsequent palace coups. Detachments of the Regiment also took part in the Russo-Turkish War of 1735-1739, the Russo-Swedish Wars of 1741-1743 and 1788-1790, as well as in the enthronement of Elizaveta Petrovna in 1741.
In 1800, Emperor Paul I ordered it to be called His Imperial Majesty's Life Guards Regiment, but under Emperor Alexander I, its former name was restored. In 1805-1807, the Regiment took part in the wars with Napoleonic France (the War of the Third Coalition and the War of the Fourth Coalition), and then took part in the Russo-Swedish War of 1808-1809. In 1812-1814, it participated in the Patriotic War and in the foreign campaign of the Russian Army.
During the World War I, the Regiment participated in the Battle of Galicia, the Warsaw-Ivangorod operation, the Battle of Mazyr, the Vilna offensive, and the Brusilov breakthrough. The second company of the reserve battalion of the Preobrazhensky Regiment took an active part in the February Revolution of 1917. In 1918, the Regiment was disbanded, but then reconstituted as part of the White Army in Southern Russia.
On December 12 of 2012, in his address to the Federal Assembly, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin stated the need to revive the Preobrazhensky and Semyonovsky Regiments. On April 9, 2013, the 154th Independent Commandant’s Preobrazhensky Regiment was named after the legendary regiment.
The postage stamps provide images of army men of the Regiment:
– a grenadier and a fusilier of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (1712);
– a staff officer and a private of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (1814);
– an adjutant and a private of the Preobrazhensky Life Guards Regiment (1913);
– a banner group of the 154th Independent Commandant’s Preobrazhensky Regiment, 2023.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Design Artist: S. Ulyanovsky.
Face value: 29 rubles.
Stamp size: 32.5×65 mm, sheet size: 154×154 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 8 (4×2) stamps, a small sheet.
Quantity: 64 thousand each stamp (8 thousand each sheet); 12 thousand small sheet.
On December 21, three stamps dedicated to holy pictures of the Moscow Kremlin will go into postal circulation
A series of postage stamps is dedicated to the return of gateway holy pictures to the passage towers of the Moscow Kremlin.
In Soviet times, all the icons were considered irretrievably lost, but in 2007, the Foundation of Apostle Andrew the First-Called raised a concern of their return. The archival research that followed made it possible to get a sufficiently comprehensive idea of the historical appearance of the icons.
Field studies revealed that the images of Christ the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower and of St. Nicholas on the Nikolskaya Tower were gingerly covered with a metal mesh with a coating material applied over it.
In 2010, the ancient holy pictures of Christ the Savior on the Spasskaya Tower and of Saint Nicholas on the Nikolskaya Tower were restored and unveiled.
In 2023, after meticulous research work, seven more irretrievably lost images were recreated with the scientific restoration method. That was a unique project; its successful implementation symbolizes the continuation of the centuries-old historical succession.
The postage stamps provide images of Icons of the Savior of Smolensk (Spasskaya Tower), of Christ Not Made by Hand and the Blessed Virgin Mary (Spasskaya Tower) and of St. Nikolas of Mozhaisk (Nikolskaya Tower).
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka will produce First Day Covers and a special cancel for Moscow, as well as maxi-cards and illustrated covers with postage stamps, a label and a First Day Cover with a cancel for Moscow inside, and a souvenir form on a wooden base with foil.
Design Artist: Kh. Betredinova.
Face value: 70 rubles.
Stamp size: 37×50 mm, sheet size: 140×178 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 9 (3×3) stamps.
Quantity: 36 thousand each stamp (12 thousand sheets).
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