The information of joint-stock company "Kazpost" activity in the field of the edition and release of stamps

The Post of Kazakhstan was one of the first among CIS countries which have created the specialized division on release of the state postage prepayment impressions (PPI). The main goal and function of the division is direct planning, edition, putting in postal circulation of PPI, full maintenance of needs of entities of communications of the republic in PPI term, art cards, envelopes, etc. Philately Department is a specialized division of "Kazpost" JSC which is carrying out the edition and distribution of the state prepayment impressions.

One of directions of activity of "Kazpost" JSC is release of stamps such as marks can confirm the fact of payment of postal services.
Thus, for last 12 years it has been issued over 450 stamps and blocks of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Catalogue marks 1992-2005

It is necessary to note, that the history of stamps of independent Kazakhstan originated since March, 20, 1992, when the first mark of Kazakhstan " Altyn sarbaz " ("Golden warrior") was entered into the post reference with the image of a Sak warrior’s suit found in 1969 on Issyk mound excavation in Almaty region.

Initially stamps were intended only for payment of postal gathering. Their prime function consists in it till now. However spheres of their application became more various, and post departments all over the world start to understand this fact more and more distinctly. In fact, stamps represent the goods which can be perceived as a visiting card, a symbol of a country. Due to their variety and expressiveness stamps are the most favourite objects of collecting describing a modern history and social development. In them there are embodied basic milestones of the history destinies, culture, a cultural heritage both as a separately taken country, and mankind in general.

The basic subjects of the stamps of the Republic Kazakhstan issued for these years:
1. Historical events (historic figures of Kazakhstan, outstanding figures of Kazakhstan, official and anniversaries, Kazakh folk epos "Batyrs", national traditions, national suits, stamps and the blocks devoted to presentation of the new capital of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Astana, the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, awards and medals of the Republic of Kazakhstan);
2. Space "Day of cosmonautics" (the annual series of stamps devoted to space subjects);
3. Painting of Kazakhstan (works of the Kazakhstan artists A.Kasteev, S.Mambeev, Z.Shardenov, G.Ismailovа, S.Kalmykov, M.Kenbayev, S.Sariyev E.Sidorkin, etc.);
4. Monuments of architecture and material culture (Hodzha Ahmet Jasavi's mausoleum XIV centries, Aysha-Bibi mausoleum XI-XII, Dombauyl VII-XII, etc.);
5. Flora and fauna of Kazakhstan (disappearing kinds of flora and fauna from the Red Book of Kazakhstan and the marks which have been let out under aegis of the World Fund of Protection of the Wild Nature, a series " Protect the nature. Pearls of Kazakhstan " including reserves and national parks - Karkaraly, Barovoe, Markakol lake, peak of Khan Tengri, Charyn Canyon;
6. Achievements of Kazakhstan sportsmen in the international competitions and Olympic games (Olympiads in Lillehammer, Atlanta, Sydney, the first gold medal of Kazakhstan skier Vladimir Smirnov, the releases devoted to winter kinds of sports: hockey, biathlon, figure skating; the mark devoted to a memorial of G.Kosanov);
7. Annual mark "Kazakhstan - member UPU";
8. An annual series Holiday "Nauryz" (East horoscope with the image of animals of a 12-years cycle);
9. A series "Transport and communication ";
10. Natural mineral (minerals of Kazakhstan);
11. Children's subjects (marks with children's figures).

Today Philately Department provides all Kazakhstan with the stamps marked with post envelopes, postcards and other printed matter a list of which includes various kinds of philatelic sets with unmounted and used postal stamps in colorfully made out booklets, in albums, envelopes of "the First day ", booklets, kardmaximum and other philatelic production.

Now the management of joint-stock company "Kazpost" focuses its attention on development of philately in the country, allocating it as one of the priority directions of its activity.
As for beginning of philately history, it is difficult to say when the first philatelists appeared. There are certificates that at opening of Cesor Amniotes tomb, governed in Egypt in 2575 before our century, the collection from more than 180 postage stamps was found out among valuable things in his sarcophagus. And still, as it seems to us, philately (as a collecting of stamps) appeared in England in 1840 after release of the first stamp of the world (this ordinary-looking by sight miniature with the image of queen Victoria due to its black color and a face-value in one penny was named “Black penny "). Today it is a rarity.
With a view of development of philately in the republic the actions have been lead, allowing to create preconditions for restoration of the philatelic base destroyed with disintegration of the former USSR:
• Catalogues of stamps of the Republic of Kazakhstan including releases for 1992 - 1999; 2000 - 2002;
• Philatelic salons in Almaty, Astana and other cities of the republic were opened;
• Contracts on delivery of philatelic production with foreign firms are concluded;
• the international joint releases with the states of Aral region are issued (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan) on a theme "Rescue Aral ", from Chinese People's Republic - on a theme "Applied art", with Turkey the joint release devoted to the 1500-anniversary of Turkistan, with Russia - " Rare birds ", with Ukraine - " Protection of an environment ", with Uzbekistan - "Painting";
• Various kinds of polygraphic production (booklets, postcards, envelopes of "the First day", calendars, etc.) are issued.
Department of philately of joint-stock company "Kazpost" during lines of years carries out a systematic policy on expansion of production assortment on subjects, increase of an art level and improvement of quality of released postal miniatures and other production.
In the field of philately from events of 2003 we can note the following:
• the exhibition of stamps of the Republic of Kazakhstan, devoted to Year of Kazakhstan in Russia in Moscow;
• Joint release of stamps "Kazakhstan - Uzbekistan";
• Joint exhibitions of stamps with embassies of the countries accredited in Republic Kazakhstan: Republic Bulgaria, Canada and Republic of Ukraine;
• the presentation and putting in to the circulation of the stamp devoted to the International conference of Ministers of less developed countries, not having an output to sea, less developed countries of transit, countries - donors and representatives of the international establishments engaged in questions of financing and development, on a matter of cooperation in the field of transit transportations in Almaty, and also the post block by the Holiday of unity of peoples of Kazakhstan with attraction of the cultural centers Russian, Ukraine and Kazakhs
In 2004 art stamps with use of new kinds of polygraphic execution (increase in beauty up to 5 paints, and also with a stamping and ) were produced.

• Paramount value during creation and release of stamps in 2004 was given to a history, a multinational state system of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the major national and international events.

•The real event of 2004 became the first release of postal mark with a coupon "Congratulate!" where a client’s photo can be placed. The action of input in to circulation took place during the period of "the International week of the letter" from October, 4 till October, 10, 2004.

• In 2004 "Kazpost" JSC for the first time entered into the reference a stamp "Happy New Year!" No one holiday is waited with such an impatience, as New Year. Becoming a traditional holiday for all people all over the world, New Year has come in to our life for ever.

• The Important events in life of the Republic of Kazakhstan became the 100-anniversary of the railway of Kazakhstan and the 10-anniversary of joint-stock company "Kazakhtelecom". Release of thematic stamps has been dated for these important events.

• release of a series "Sports. 28 years Olympic Games in Athens " also is continued Olympic Games - the most ancient and most popular festivals and competitions in Ancient Greece. They were arranged in honor of god Zeus according to tradition once in 4 years from 776 before our century in Olympia. Rapprochement of nations gave to Olympic Games the world character. On each art stamp the certain moments of competitions are represented. One of the marks represents the duel of two boxers. On the second mark is a bullet shooting - aiming rifleman is represented.

For information. Postal Stamps of the Republic of Kazakhstan of an art series are made by the winner of the tender 2002 - 2004. by the Chinese printing house of stamps at the Ministry of Communications and information of Chinese People's Republic (Beijing).

The additional information you can receive in the Department of Philately of "Kazpost" JSC on ph. +7 (3272) 79-48-54, fax +7 (3272) 79-09-44 or in the press-service of "Kazpost" JSC on ph. +7 (3272) 59-06-12.