Prehistoric Fauna of Kyrgyzstan
Newsletter no. 92.pdf
On January 31, 2024 the Ministry of Digital Development of the Kyrgyz
Republic puts into circulation a series of 2023 Kyrgyz Express Post postage stamps: "Prehistoric Fauna of
Kyrgyzstan".
Dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals that dominated the Earth during
the Mesozoic Era became extinct approximately 66 million years ago. As of today, over 700 species of
dinosaurs are known.
Prehistoric fauna, particularly dinosaurs, is one of the most popular
themes in philately. Special interest is garnered by stamps representing those species of ancient animals
whose fossils have been discovered in the territory of stamp-issuing countries. The new release of KEP is
dedicated to such species of extinct fauna.
Sharovipteryx (Sharovipteryx mirabilis) is a
species of extinct gliding protorosaurs from the order of archosaurs, which lived 242-227 million years ago.
It was one of the smallest reptiles - about 20 cm in length and weighing 75 grams.
Stegosaur (Stegosauria) belonged to the group of
Jurassic herbivorous dinosaurs that existed 166-145 million years ago. Thanks to the spikes on their tails
and bony plates on their backs, stegosaurus are among the most recognizable dinosaurs.
Ferganasaurus (Ferganasaurus verzilini) is a
species of terrestrial herbivorous dinosaurs, reaching 9 meters in length and 2 meters in height; their body
mass was approximately five tons. These eusauropods lived 166-163 million years ago.
On the collective sheet borders Ferganocephale
(Ferganocephale adenticulatum) is depicted, fossils of which were discovered in the Fergana Valley in
2000-2001.
Kyrgyz Express Post expresses its appreciation for valuable consultative
support in the preparation of this stamp issue to Michael Kogan, the author of the website
www.paleophilatelie.eu, and Aizek Asanbekovich Bakirov, the acting director of the M. M. Adyshev Institute
of Geology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic.
For this series, KEP also issues three postcards, which are used to
realize three maximum cards.
Stamps description
No. 203. 50 KGS. Sharovipteryx (Sharovipteryx mirabilis)No. 204. 150 KGS. Stegosaur (Stegosauria)
No. 205. 300 KGS. Ferganasaurus (Ferganasaurus verzilini)
Technical specifications
Paper: coated, gummed, 105 g/m².Printing method: full-color offset lithography.
Stamps perforation: comb 14:14½.
Stamps size: 69.00 × 27.50 mm.
Stamps are issued in minisheets of 5 stamps
with one label. Stamps are also issued in
a collective minisheet of 3 stamps (one complete set).
Ferganocephale (Ferganocephale adenticulatum)
is represented on the margins of the collective minisheet.
Minisheets size: 159 × 108 mm.
Collective minisheet size: 124 × 80 mm.
Quantity issued: 9 600 pieces each stamp, including the quantity
of the collective minisheet – 3 600 pieces.
Designer: Daria Maier.
Printer House: "Nova Imprim" (Chișinău, Moldova).
A special cancellation on FDC will be carried out at the Bishkek KEP Office (729001) on the stamps issuing day. The first day cover features the map of Kyrgyzstan with arrows indicating the locations where fossils of the respective dinosaurs depicted on the stamps were discovered. The postmark depicts a stylized image of a longisquama.
The first day cover, postcards and special
postmark are designed by Daria Maier
Cover size: С6 (162 × 114 mm).
Quantity of covers issued: 400 pieces.
Quantity of postcards issued: 400 pieces each.
Endorsing ink color: black.
Stamps, maximum cards and FDCs can be purchased here.
