In 2014 KEP issued an interesting series of postage stamps, dedicated to the fauna of our country. Collectors around the world noted the artistry of the stamps. Continuing this theme, on December 21st KEP issues a souvenir sheet, dedicated to horses.
Horses are the only surviving genus of the Equidae family and belong to the order Perissodactyla. In practically all the countries of the world, the most frequently encountered subspecies of horse is Equus caballus, of various breeds.
Horses are indigenous to Central Asia. In this region, approximately five and a half thousand years ago, horses where domesticated by man for the first time.
The history of the Kyrgyz people is tightly connected with this precious animal. Horses where always an irreplaceable help domestically and a reliable comrade in battles against enemies. A devoted horse used to be a symbol of honour, victory and good luck. Kyrgyz people have always treated horses like humans. Horses feature in a great number of folk songs, myths, legends and tales. Horses are often depicted in poetry, painting, sculpture and cinema. Kyrgyz people say that “A horse is man’s wings”, supporting and developing, through the centuries, their special poetical and emotional treatment of horses.
The souvenir sheet, comprising two stamps, is a creative work of Vladimir Melnic, the same artist who created the first issue - “Fauna of Kyrgyzstan”. We are convinced that this souvenir sheet will be of great interest, in terms of its aesthetic value, and in terms of the social and cultural value of its topic.
You can check the newsletter for the new KEP issue here
You can purchase the souvenir sheet and FDC here
