The Golden Ring of Russia is a tourist route that unites ancient cities of North-Eastern Russia: Vladimir, Ivanovo, Kostroma, Pereslavl-Zalessky, Rostov Veliky, Sergiev Posad, Suzdal, Uglich, and Yaroslavl. All of them have retained unique monuments of architecture, history and culture.
The first known record of Ivanovo dates back to 1608. By the end of the 17th century, a large craft center had been established there, where the main occupations of the population were the production of linen cloth, its dyeing, and printing. In the middle of the 18th century, the first manufactories originated: first weaving, then printing, and later on calico production. Related enterprises began to make an appearance: chemical, mechanical, metalworking, reed-making, and belt-making.
Today, Ivanovo attracts travelers by its unique Soviet avant-garde architecture, the Museum of Ivanovo Calico, and its up-to-date well-maintained embankment.
The postage stamp features the Calico Museum, the Shchudrovskaya Tent (sites of the Burilin Ivanovo State Museum of History and Local Lore), the House-Ship, the Ivanovo Regional Art Museum, and the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Kostroma was first mentioned in chronicles in 1213. In 1246, Kostroma became the capital of the Kostroma appanage principality, which separated from the Vladimir-Suzdalian principality.
In the 13th–14th centuries, the fortified Holy Trinity Ipatievsky and Nikolo-Babaevsky monasteries were built around Kostroma to defend the approaches to the city. In 1613, Mikhail Romanov was called to the throne at the Ipatievsky Monastery.
By the mid-17th century, Kostroma had become a major craft center with developed textile, leather, soap, silver, and icon painting industries. Blacksmithing, pottery, and construction trades also flourished.
Modern Kostroma brings to balance the heritage of different times. A walk through its streets provides an opportunity to see the living history of Russian urban planning — from the patterned temples of the 17th century to the strict symmetry of classicism and industrial architecture of the 20th century.
The postage stamp features a Fire Tower (Kostroma State Historical, Architectural, and Art Museum-Reserve), a monument to Ivan Susanin (sculptor N. Lavinsky), a Snow Maiden Snegurochka's Tower-House, the Holy Trinity Ipatiev Monastery, and strip malls.
In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow, Ivanovo and Kostroma, as well as maxi-cards.
Design Artist: V. Beltyukov.
Face value: 65 rubles.
Stamp size: 50×37 mm, sheet size: 172×175 mm.
Emission form: sheets with formatted margins with 12 (3×4) stamps.
Quantity: 84 thousand each stamp (7 thousand each sheet).
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