Ukrainian mail service gained recognition at the prestigious international philatelic contest “Grand Prix de l’Exposition WIPA” that took place in Vienna. Among the 72 participants Ukrposhta won an honorable 6th place. The success was possible thanks to the postal bloc “Lighthouses of Ukraine” designed by Nadia Ruda and published in 2010.
The founders of the competition are Austrian mail service, Austrian Philatelic Society, and artists that make stamps designs in the country, which is one of the leaders of the philatelic market in Europe. There were no Ukrainians on the competition jury. The jury consisted only of well-known Austrian stamp designers, philatelic journalists, representatives of the Austrian postal administration and Austrian National Printing Office.
“This victory clearly proves that Ukrainian postal stamps rank highly in the world of philately,” said Tetiana Reshetniak, expert of Philately Department. “Notable places in various international competitions significantly increase the credibility of the enterprise, indicate high recognition earned by the works of Ukrainian artists, revealing prospects for Ukrposhta expansion on philatelic market, and promote the positive image of Ukraine.”
Participation in international competitions has become traditional for Ukrposhta and this was the 5th time Ukraine ranked so high in “Grand Prix de l’Exposition WIPA”: in 2003 stamp “Merry Christmas!” won the third place, in 2004 bloc “Hetman Regalia and Personal Belongings of Bohdan Khmelnytsky” also won the third place, in 2008 postal bloc “Cossack Ukraine” printed in 2006 won the seventh place, and in 2009 postal bloc “Life of Taras Shevchenko” also won the seventh place.
“Philately belongs to one of the most common types of collectibles in the world, but when compared with Europe and the world, Ukrainian philately market is much less developed. Today the Philatelic Association of Ukraine has about 1,500 members, however philately is not very popular with young people,” says Reshetniak. “Ukrposhta is doing everything possible to increase the number of philatelists in Ukraine and cultivate philately among children. Ukrposhta together with Philatelic Association of Ukraine have developed the Concept of Philately Development in Ukraine for 2013-18. Specialists of the company have been actively working on its implementation.”
This year 35 postal stamps and 10 postal blocs were printed. Next year Ukrposhta plans to issue 42 stamps plots and 12 postal blocs, including postal stamps and a bloc from the series “Beauty and Glory of Ukraine” dedicated to the Crimea.
By the way, considerable number of postage printed production – stamps and envelopes, is dedicated to the Crimea, including the series of postal miniatures “Ukrainian National Costumes,” stamps “Winemaking in Ukraine,” “Autonomous Republic of the Crimea,” “Sevastopol,” postal blocs “Crimean Nature Reserve” and “Black Sea.”
