History of Stamps is History of States

“Philately is a hobby with a colossal educational potential (history and all spheres of human life).  Because of it, inquisitiveness becomes more active and artistic capabilities become much broader, especially among youth”

The nature of Philately with its unlimited variety of themes and ways to artistically implement those themes in marks, as well as its organic connection to intellectual, emotional, will and esthetic world of human kind, make it world’s one most popular and demanded occupation.  Numerous scientific researches and special publications were dedicated to Philately.

From the standpoint of general history of post, stamps appear as short moments between the past and the future.  History of stamps is the global history of human communications.  With that particular belief taken in account, the design of the phenomenon of the postal stamp with the subsequent evolution of such new occupation as Philately both appear as a historic event, the meaning of which is still pending comprehension.

Stamp is an artistic miniature, a piece of art and sometimes a microscopic masterpiece. Best graphic design artists are involved in creation of discussed country landmarks. Themes, authors’ artistic manners and means of polygraphical reproduction of stamps are various, thus expanding the educative aspect of Philately.

History of independent Kazakhstan’s postal stamps began in March 1992, when the country released in circulation the first national postal stamp Altyn Sarbaz (Golden Warrior) depicting the costume of an ancient Sak warrior discovered in 1969 during excavations of the Mount Issyk in Almaty  Oblast.

Initially, stamps were meant only for payment postal fees.  And actually, that is their initial historic role. But eventually spheres of application of postal stamps became numerous and many postal agencies all over the world come to realization of that.  The belief that stamps are country landmarks also contributes into that realization. For variety and expression, stamps are one most favorite collection object that offers broad view on history, tradition and public development of the issuing country. Stamps forever document important cultural milestones, both in national and worldwide histories.

 The Joint-Stock Company Kazpost was founded in 1999 to represent Republic of Kazakhstan in the global postal community, which community is inclusive of 180 states. Kazakhstan post has a long historic tradition.  According to information from Tsarist Russia postal and telegraphy archives, the first postal station in Verny, present Almaty was established in 1860.  Later, the station was transformed into a postal and telegraphic office.  In 1883, it had 14 postal branches and bureaus.

Republic of Kazakhstan is a young country.  The first national postal stamp, Altyn Sarbaz, was issued and released in circulation on 20 March 1992.  As the National Postal Operator, Kazpost is the ultimate ally and assistant in such high cause, as the development and promotion of Philately.    

Issuance of postal stamps is an important and priority scope of work for Kazpost, because stamps are the means for confirmation of the fact of payment for postal services. In the past 19 years, Kazpost released 753 stamps and postage stamp blocks. New electronic means of communication and computerization attract youngsters’ attention to such a fascinating and intellectual occupation as the collection of stamps.

Kazakhstan post was one of the first CIS national postal operators to establish a special division for issuance and release of state postal payment bonds.  That division’s core functions is in planning, production and release in circulation of postal stamps, as well as supplies of due quantity of same to all postal offices and stations of Kazakhstan.

Some Events of 2011

Some periods of the history of Kazakhstan found their reflection in the series of stamps dedicated to Space, namely the “50^th Anniversary of Yuri Gagarin’s Space Flight” stamp.

In 2005, Kazpost first joined the release into circulation of the Europe series of stamps.  The PostEurop association was formed in 1993 and is formally established regional division of the Universal Postal Union.  At present, PostEurop unites 42 countries.  PostEurop’s one important scope of activity is the expansion in Central and East Europe.  Kazpost stamp releases in 2000-s: Gastronomy of 2005, Immigrants Integration in the Eyes of Youth of 2006, 100 Years of Scout Movement of 2007, Letter of 2008, Astronomy of 2009, Child Books of 2010.  In 2011, Kazpost issued the Forrest stamp circulating as a part of the Europe series

In 2011, Kazpost issued artistic postal stamps dedicated to 10^th anniversary of the formation of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Kazakhstan’s representation in SCO, 10^th anniversary dedicated to formation of Eurasian Economic Community, 20^th anniversary of Regional commonwealth in the field of communication and 30^th anniversary of struggle against AIDS.

For promotion of cultural legacy, Kazpost issued stamps dedicated to Poet Kasym Amanzholov, Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic’s National Science Academy Academician and Doctor of Physics and Mathematics Orymbek Zhautykov, Writer G. Slanov and others.

Besides, Kazpost released the stamp dedicated to Kazakhstan ancient coins.

Kazpost released stamps dedicated to 20^th anniversary of the Republic of Kazakhstan independence, 20^th anniversary of CIS foundation, as well as  stamps dedicated to the Republic of Kazakhstan Electronic Government, first Kazakhstan scientific expedition to the South Pole, 150^th anniversary of a prominent Kazakh musician Dina Nurpeisova, 75^th anniversary of Physics and Mathematics Doctor Umirzak Sultangazin, rare city birds and 75^th anniversary of Painter I. Isabayev.

Kazakhstan and Armenia plan on issuance of a joint stamp titled Fauna.

Kazpost maintains close contacts with foreign colleagues dealing with issuance of postal stamps and exports philately items through partners aboard.  Please visit the Kazpost official site to see the electronic catalog with 760 stamps released by the Republic of Kazakhstan.  There you will also be able to find an on-line boutique.

The Kazpost Branch “Almaty Postal Station (Pochtamt)” conducted joint exhibitions with the Embassies and foreign legations stationed in Kazakhstan, such as those of Bulgaria, Canada, Poland and Ukraine.  We must note that the UN Philately Museum (Geneva) exhibits Kazakhstan postal stamps dedicated to such common mankind matters, as Dialogue of Civilizations, International Year of Mountains and Struggle Against Tuberculosis and AIDS. The UNESCO Museum exhibits stamps dedicated to Abay Kunanbayev and Kanysh Satpayev, outstanding individuals in the history of Kazakhstan.