On April 18, a postal block dedicated to the admission of Crimea, Taman and Kuban to the composition of the Russian Empire in 1783 was put into postal circulation

In 1783, the territories of the Crimean Khanate were integrated into the Russian Empire during the military campaign of Grigory Potemkin after the abdication of the last Crimean Khan Shahin Giray.

On April 19, 1783, Catherine II signed a Manifesto on the accession of Crimea, Taman and Kuban to the Russian Empire.

Late in 1783, domestic sales duties were abolished, which was intended to contributed to the development of Crimean agriculture, industry and trade, an increase in domestic trade turnover and the growth of cities in Crimea. In 1784, a Taurian Region was instituted under the Prince Potemkin’s administration, which consisted of the Crimean Peninsula, the adjacent Northern Black Sea coastal area and Taman. Four years later, Catherine II traveled to the new lands that were admitted to the Russian Empire. The Empress also visited Crimea. Catherine II herself called her trip “a journey for a good cause” and Crimea was referred to as “the most precious pearl” in her crown.

The postal block features a fragment of portrait Catherine II as a Legislator in the Temple of the Goddess of Justice by D. Levitsky (State Russian Museum, 1783) and the text of the Manifesto; the postage stamp provides a map of Crimea, Taman and Kuban in the composition of the Russian Empire in 1783.

In addition to the issue of the postal block, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, Krasnodar, Sevastopol, Simferopol and Yalta of the Republic of Crimea.


Design Artist: A. Moskovets.
Face value: 150 rubles.
Block size: 104×75 mm; stamp size in the block: 50×37 mm.
Quantity: 21 thousand blocks.

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