№ 199A-202A. The first issue of standard Russian Federation stamps.

The Russian State Library was founded in 1862 as a part of Moscow Rumyantsevsky museum. Since 1925 the library had been called the USSR State Library named after V.L.Lenin, and in 1992 it was renamed the Russian State Library. Its funds are unique. Russian editions are presented almost exhaustingly. Scientific literature predominates among foreign editions. Apart from the latest novelties the library has a lot of ancient, rare books - blackletter books of the 15th-18th cc. The most ancient books date from the 6th century.

Up to 1937 the State Fine Arts Museum named after A.S. Pushkin was named the Museum of Fine Arts. It was opened in 1912 as a museum of plaster casts, then archaeological collection appeared, a picture gallery, engraving and drawing departments and a restoration-shop. Today the museum collection is the second (after the Hermitage) collection of the Ancient Orient, Ancient Egypt and Western Europe masterpieces.

The Admiralty was founded by Peter the Great in the 1704 on the left bank of the Neva as the main Russian shipyard. In 1732-1738 the building was reconstructed in stone by I.K.Korobtsov who included in the centre of the composition the tower with the gilded spire. In 1806-1823 a drastic reconstruction was held by A.D.Zakharov. The utility building became a solemn and imposing building symbolizing the greatness and power of the Russian State.

Moscow. The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre was founded in 1776. In 1780 a theatre building was erected in Petrovka Street. It was destroyed by fire in 1805. In 1825 a new building was constructed on the same site by architects O.I.Bovais and A.A.Mikhailov. It was a monumental complex with a strong eight-column portico and a copper Apollo statue above the front (by P.K.Klodt). This building also suffered from fire in 1853 and was rebuilt by A.K. Kavos in 1856. Today, as 200 years ago, we can still watch operas and ballets on the Bolshoi Theatre stage.