Soviet Art

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Category Archive: Stamps

Pigeon species USSR matchbox labels

Pigeon species USSR matchbox labels, 1963, green paper

Pigeon species USSR matchbox labels, 1963, green paper

Pigeon species USSR matchbox labels
Pigeon, as the symbol of world peace has always been an inspiration for Soviet artists, song writers and film directors. Besides, pigeon keeping was extremely popular in the Soviet Union. There were clubs for pigeon lovers, and dovecotes were in every yard. Circling flocks of beautiful birds – white, black and blue-gray doves flew over our heads. Pigeons could always be seen on the roof of the dovecotes, looking from above at the whistling and waving children. Pigeon keeping was a favorite hobby of many Soviet men. And especially for pigeon fanciers, or just bird lovers and ornithologists issued matchbox labels and postage stamps with the images of pigeon breeds.
Unfortunately, dovecotes began to disappear as a class by the end of the 90s. With the collapse of the USSR changed interests and, gradually pigeon keeping seized to exist. Although pigeon lovers clubs still exist and volunteers support old city tradition, but one can hardly gather a flock of birds with just one cheerful whistle, as it was before.
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30 June Soviet Youth Day

Soviet Youth Day, USSR postage stamp of 1958 (green)

Soviet Youth Day, USSR postage stamp of 1958 (green)

Favorite holiday of all young people in the USSR, it is still celebrated in every city and town of Russia, Belarus and Ukraine. The history of the “Soviet Youth Day” dates back February 7, 1958, after the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Soviet Union “On Establishing Soviet Youth Day”. That decree ordered to celebrate Youth Day every year on the last Sunday of June. The Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union put the main task for the festive events on the All-Union Leninist Young Communist League. At that time, as all the administrative units of the Soviet Union of Soviet Socialist Republics celebrated this holiday together, but after perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet Union, the situation has changed. Since independence, some former Soviet republics transferred this feast to the next day, some have changed its name, and some have abolished it. However, there are those who sought to preserve the best traditions inherent in the rule of the Communist Party. Due to this, at the moment, on the last Sunday of June the Day of Youth is celebrated in Belarus and Ukraine.
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Young Pioneer organization of the USSR

Pioneer Honor guard at Komsomol meeting. Moscow. 1929

Young Pioneer organization of the USSR. Pioneer Honor guard at the rally of Komsomol. Moscow. Photo by S. Korshunov. 1929

May 19, 1922 – Day of the Young Pioneer organization of the USSR – Vladimir Lenin All-Union Pioneer Organization. In 1929 Soviet magazine “Screen” published a photograph of S. Korshunov – Pioneer honorary guard at the rally of Komsomol at Red Presnya. At the podium – the Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR – “all-union elder” Mikhail Kalinin. Next to him stands Commissar of Education Anatoly Lunacharsky. These were difficult years: the country was just beginning to rise after the Civil War. Still, the pioneers tried to look neat in their uniform. And what complete calm determination, faith, kindness on the guy’s face! Assistant-bearer, boy on the left, seems to be quite an adult. Maybe he is really older than the others – later came to school, but is now proud of his title. Or life forced him to grow up. After all, many of them will be Spain and Khalkhin Gol and in 1941 this generation will die in the fights against Hitler’s hordes, and those who survive – will drive them to Berlin …
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USSR Postage stamps by Vasily Zavyalov

USSR Postage stamps by Vasily Zavyalov. 1938 March. 20th anniversary of the Red Army and Navy of the USSR

USSR Postage stamps by Vasily Zavyalov. 1938 March. 20th anniversary of the Red Army and Navy of the USSR

USSR Postage stamps by Vasily Zavyalov

Soviet Russian painter, graphic artist Vasily Zavyalov (14 August 1906 – July 31, 1972) was one of the first creators of postage stamps of the USSR, Honored Artist of the RSFSR. He is the author of more than 600 postage stamps. “Lenin Mausoleum” – the first USSR Postage stamps by Vasily Zavyalov (1925). Vasily Zavyalov studied at the Art School at the Sytin printing-house, school engravers at “Goznak” factory, where he worked for many years. His first stamps with the image of the wooden mausoleum of Lenin were published in 1925 as part of the release, “The first anniversary of the death of Lenin.”
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Chemistry inspired USSR matchbox labels

Chemistry in service of mankind - Chemistry inspired USSR matchbox labels

In service of mankind – Chemistry inspired USSR matchbox labels

Chemistry in service of mankind – Chemistry inspired USSR matchbox labels

In the USSR, Chemical industry has been widely developed, particularly in Russia and Ukraine. Produced: mineral fertilizers, crop protection chemicals (164 thousand tons in 1970), Sulfuric acid (12.1 million tonnes), soda (3.67 million tonnes) and caustic (1.94 million tons), soda, synthetic resin and plastics, chemical fibers and threads, tires (34.6 million units), and others. It is natural that with such development of the industry, it has received attention from the state – a professional holiday was established. An outstanding scientist, the founder of the periodic table of chemical elements Dmitri Mendeleev was the personification of the profession. Issued stamps dedicated to the scientist, published a series of matchbox labels, popularizing science and the chemical industry. The chemist Day – a professional holiday of the chemical and petrochemical industry workers, which dates back to Soviet times. Day of the chemist was established by the Decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR from October 1, 1980 “On holidays and memorial days” and is celebrated annually on the last Sunday of May.
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Soviet Space Exploration Stamps

Soviet Space Exploration Stamps

Soviet Space Exploration Stamps

Soviet Space Exploration Stamps. April 12, 1961 at 9 o’clock 07 minutes in the Soviet Union was launched into Earth orbit spacecraft “Vostok”. On board was the world’s first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin. The next day, April 13, mail in the USSR and Czechoslovakia noted the milestone even by the releasing commemorative stamps. Philatelists to the day, know the hour of appearance of the first “Gagarin” post thumbnails. April 14 was released the second Soviet stamp dedicated to the astronaut, three days later – another, this time a portrait. April 25 was issued a commemorative stamp of Hungary, 26th – Bulgaria, the day after – Poland and so on … But so far it is not clear what stamp – Soviet or Czechoslovak – belongs to the leadership? For both issues of stamps appeared about 24 hours after landing of Yuri Gagarin.
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First Soviet Stamps

Worker, Orange, green, carmine

First Soviet Stamps. Worker, Orange, green, carmine

The history of Soviet Stamps reflected changes in economics, society and culture of the Soviet Union. The First Soviet Stamps signed “Mail of the USSR”, which presented on all the stamps of the Soviet Union, were issued in August 1923. It was a series of four perforated and not perforated commemorative stamps on the opening of the first All-Russian agricultural and handicraft industrial exhibition. Sketches were made by artist G. Pashkov. Thumbnail Plots were as follows: “Reaper”, “The Sower”, “Tractor” and “General view of the exhibition.” Stamps were sold only in large cities. They were withdrawn from circulation 1 December 1923.
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