FOCUS ON PHILATELY

by Ingert Kuzych

Your chance to choose: Diversity marks Ukraine's 2003 stamps

Ukraine Post continued to produce colorful and imaginative stamps in 2003, while at the same time carrying on a number of popular stamp series from previous years. In all, 65 stamps appeared last year, 12 of which were part of four souvenir sheets.

Since a souvenir sheet has emerged as the winner for best philatelic design for the past six years in a row, it will be interesting to see if the trend continues in this year's balloting for the Narbut Prize.

The prize is named after Heorhiy Narbut, Ukraine's famous graphic artist of the early 20th century, who designed some of Ukraine's first stamps and banknotes. Instituted by yours truly in 1992, the year Ukraine resumed stamp production, the monetary Prize has been awarded annually and is now regarded as the premier recognition for Ukraine's philatelic designers.

The largest category of stamps from last year depicted historical topics or figures. While only three of last year's stamps were of a religious nature, several others depicted churches or religious holidays. To the relief of many, not as many animals on stamps appeared as the year before, when a whole plethora of them were produced.

Nonetheless, a great many very worthy individuals, events and topics were commemorated on the releases of 2003, all of which are briefly described (chronologically) in the list below. Following the listing is a form allowing you to indicate and submit your selection for the best stamp design. The ballot may be photocopied if more than one member of a household wishes to vote.

All votes received are tabulated and combined with votes from Ukraine. The prize winner will be announced in September. Your name will not be disclosed and is requested simply to prevent multiple voting. Anyone can vote for the Narbut Prize. You do not need to be a stamp collector, artist, or even Ukrainian, for that matter.

No.; Description

• 481-483: The first issue of the year was also the third in the ongoing "Ukrainian Folk Tales" series. The stories charmingly illustrated were: "Goat Dereza," "The Straw Bull" and "The Fox and the Crane."
  
  
• 484: The second issue, a single stamp, was somewhat of a puzzling release; it was dedicated to the sport of speed skating. Why such a topic should appear on a stamp for a sport that isn't too popular in Ukraine is baffling. My guess is the artwork may have been left over from the 2002 Winter Olympics issue.
  
  
• 485-488: The next two stamp issues again continued stamp series begun in previous years. The "History of the Ukrainian Army" last year depicted Slavic warriors during: "The Wars With the Goths, 4th century AD," "In Union With the Huns, 5th century," "During the Balkan Campaign of the 6th Century" and "Battling the Avar Invasion of the 6th Century."
  
  
• 489-490: For the ongoing "Ukrainian Shipbuilding" series, two 19th century vessels were depicted: the steamer "Hriznyi" and the ship "Odesa."
  
  
• 491: The renowned Ukrainian educator, writer and composer Mykola Arkas (1853-1909) was remembered with a single stamp in February.
  
  
• 492-494: The following month, Ukraine released its first souvenir sheet of the year to honor Yavoriv National Nature Park in the Lviv Oblast. The three stamps on the sheet all help compose a shoreline scene and depict a fisher bird, a lady's slipper flower and an emperor moth.
  
  
• 495-496: The next issue was prepared in conjunction with the 2003 Europa theme of "Poster Art." Two matching posters by the late Oleksii Shtanko depicting the Annunciation graced Ukraine's entry into this series, in which virtually all the countries of Europe participate annually.
  
  
• 497-500: A group of four stamps recalling "Ukrainian Contributions to Space Exploration" honored several pioneer rocket scientists: Oleksandr Zasiadko (1779-1837), Konstantyn Konstantynov (1817-1871), Valentyn Hlushko (1908-1989) and Volodymyr Chelomei (1914-1984).
  
  
• 501: The Ukrainian Red Cross was remembered on a very simple stamp with a sparse-but effective design.
  
  
• 502, 503, 533, 534, 535: The various oblasts of Ukraine continue to be featured in the "Regions of Ukraine" stamp series. In 2003, Dnipropetrovsk, Lviv, Khmelnytskyi, Mykolaiv and Zaporizhia were all highlighted.
  
  
• 504-505: Presumably, the long-running "Hetmans of Ukraine" series came to a conclusion last year with stamps of two of Ukraine's last Kozak leaders, Ivan Skoropadsky (left-bank hetman from 1708-1722) and Kyrylo Rozumovsky (left-bank hetman from 1750-1764).
  
  
• 506: The second souvenir sheet of the year recollected the great medieval ruler of Rus'-Ukraine, Volodymyr Monomakh (1053-1125). He is depicted holding a sword and a book to represent his military prowess and the fact that he promulgated various legal and economic reforms.
  
  
• 507-518: The next stamp issue of Ukraine Post blurred the distinction between a souvenir sheet and a regular pane (sheet) of stamps. Titled "Owls of Ukraine," it depicted 12 different species of these nocturnal birds of prey on 12 stamps surrounded by a wide decorative border.
  
  
• 519, 527: Two renowned Ukrainian male vocalists were honored with separate stamps last year that showed their portraits: tenor Oleksandr Myshuha (1853-1922) and bass Borys Hmyria (1903-1969).
  
  
• 520: A new stamp was added to Ukraine's beautiful definitive (regular) stamp series on native Ukraine flora. The 65-kopiyka stamp depicts sweet pea flowers (horoshok pakhuchyi).
  
  
• 521-524: Stamps showing "Kyiv Through Artist Eyes" presented two paintings by Mykhailo Sazhyn (made in the 1840s) and two by Vasyl Timm (from the 1850s).
  
  
• 525-526: Two summertime festivals were depicted as part of an ongoing stamp series featuring "Folk Holidays and Rites." The colorful pair of stamps illustrated the "Makovii Holiday" and the "Spas Holiday."
  
  
• 528-529: The Maniavsky Hermitage in the Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast of western Ukraine, founded in the early 17th century, was the subject of Ukraine's third souvenir sheet of the year. The site was a monastic center for over 150 years until it closed in 1785. Restored during the 1970s, today it is a regional museum.
  
  
• 530: One of Ukraine's oldest cities is Yevpatoria, founded as the Greek colony of Kerkinitida in the 5th century BC. The 2,500th anniversary of the Crimean port was remembered on a stamp showing a waterfront scene and the city' s coat of arms.
  
  
• 531-532: Ukraine's most ornate release of 2003 was a joint issue with Estonia titled "The Route From the Varangians to the Greeks." (A joint issue is a special event where two or more countries issue a stamp or stamps on the same topic, often with similar or identical designs.) The horizontal stamps, with an elaborate middle connecting label, recalled the medieval trade route from the Baltic shores, down the Dnipro River, through the Black Sea, to Constantinople. Both stamps show an ancient coin and a waterborne vessel. The upper stamp, titled "Landing of the Scandinavian Seamen," shows a painting of oarsman debarking a boat - adapted from a 12th century manuscript - along with a coin of Danish King Svend Estridsen (r. 1047-1075). The lower stamp, "Slavs in a War Galley," depicts Rus' warriors in a warship under sail. A gold coin of Rus' King Volodymyr the Great (r. 980-1015) appears on the left.
  
  
• 536: Hryhorii Kvita-Osnovianenko (1778-1843) was a writer and playwright whose works bridge those of Ivan Kotliarevsky (who first wrote in the Ukrainian vernacular and is recognized as the "Father of Modern Ukrainian Literature") and Gogol and Shevchenko, who came later. The stamp reproduces his most famous portrait.
  
  
• 537: The Holodomor (Great Artificial Famine) stamp and the activities behind getting it released were previously described in The Ukrainian Weekly (November 30, 2003). The final, poignant design is striking in its simplicity, but very apropos.
  
  
• 538: The Christmas issue showed the Virgin Mary in Ukrainian garb holding the Infant. The shepherds (below on the design) appear clothed as Ukrainian peasants.
  
  
• 539: The New Year issue showed Father Frost (Santa Claus) delivering presents to a well-lit house.
  
  
• 540-545: The final release of six stamps was the third in the on-going "Ukrainian folk costumes" series. Actually, it could also be called the Folk Customs series, since the costumes are portrayed in conjunction with many of Ukraine's folk holidays or folk traditions. The first two stamps in this issue show the Kharkiv region and the feast days of "The Annunciation" and "St. Andrew's Day." The two stamps depicting the Sumy region present "The Rite of Matchmaking" and "Before the Wedding." The final two stamps, set in the Donetsk region, illustrate "Masnytsia" (Pancake Week) and "Obzhynky" (Harvest Festival). The stamps were printed in pairs or all together on a souvenir sheet.

* * *

All of the above philatelic issues may be viewed in color on Bohdan Hrynyshyn's Ukrainian Electronic Stamp Album www.ukrainian-philately.info/narbut.htm.

Further information about Ukrainian philately and about previous winners of the Narbut Prize may be found on the website of the Ukrainian Philatelic and Numismatic Society (UPNS): www.upns.org. Click on 'Related Sites' to find out where stamps may be ordered.

Ingert Kuzych may be contacted at P.O. Box 3, Springfield VA 22150 or at his e-mail address: [email protected].

NARBUT PRIZE BALLOT

Dear Mr. Spiwak:

My selection for this year's Narbut Prize, as the best philatelic design of 2003, is:

No. _________ Title _________________________________________________________

Sincerely, Mr.(s.) ____________________________________________________________

Mail this ballot to:
Mr. Paul Spiwak
42 Irving Rd.
New Hartford, NY 13413

Or send an e-mail with the stamp/souvenir sheet number and name to [email protected].
Copies of this ballot are acceptable if more than one member of a household wishes to vote.
One ballot per person, please.
Deadline for submitting votes is August 15, 2004.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, May 9, 2004, No. 19, Vol. LXXII

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