№ 256/кор. 175th Anniversary of N.M. Przhevalsky (1839–1888), explorer

Nikolai Mikhaylovich Przhevalsky (1839–1888) was a Russian geographer, ethnographer, explorer of Central Asia, and honorary member of the St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences (1878), major general (1886).

In 1866 he was sent to Eastern Siberia. Having gained support of the Imperial Geographical Society, in 1867–1869 he made an expedition to the Ussuri Region. His work “About Non-Russian Population in the Southern Part of the Primorsky Region” was awarded the silver medal by the Imperial Geographical Society.

N.M. Przhevalsky explored Kunlun Shan mountain systems, Northern Tibet mountain ranges, Lop Nor and Koko Nor lake basins, Huang He riverheads. The scientific results of such expeditions were provided in books which expressly describe the nature and terrain, climate, rivers, lakes, flora and fauna of the explored territories.

N.M. Przhevalsky discovered a range of new forms of animals: wild camel, wild horse, Tibetan bear, a range of other mammals; besides, he formed huge zoological, mineralogical and botanical collections containing many new forms which were described by specialists later on.

St. Petersburg Academy of Sciences awarded Przhevalsky a medal which says: “To the First Explorer of Nature in Central Asia”. Przhevalsky’s name was given to a glacier in Altay, a range in Kunlun Shan, many types of plants and animals. In 1891, by initiative of the Imperial Geographical Society, a prize n.a. N.M. Przhevalsky and silver medal, in 1946 — gold medal were established.

An envelope with an original stamp shows the portrait of N.M. Przhevalsky against the background of Przevalsky's horses (Equus przewalski) and the image of a research scientist in the lead of expedition against the background of the landscape of Central Asia.