EUROPA 2020 (Ancient postal routes) stamp set on FDCs from Azerbaijan
EUROPA 2020 series (Old Postal Routes) on FDCs from Azerbaijan
On July 28, 2020, Azermarka put into circulation its pretty EUROPA series, composed as usual of 2 stamps + 1 souvenir sheet, this year illustrating the theme of the old postal routes ("Qədim poçt marşrutları" in Azeri).
A big thank you Azar for sending by registered mail, on November 24, 2020 from Baku, these 2 official FDCs (circulation: 300 each) concerning respectively the souvenir sheet (1.5 manat) and the 2 stamps (0.5 manat and 0.6 manat)!
I really like the graphics of this series designed by Vugar Eyyubov and printed in France by Cartor Security Printing.
On July 28, 2020, Azermarka put into circulation its pretty EUROPA series, composed as usual of 2 stamps + 1 souvenir sheet, this year illustrating the theme of the ancient postal routes("Qədim poçt marşrutları" in Azeri).
A big thank you Azar for sending by registered mail, on November 24, 2020 from Baku, these 2 official FDCs (print run: 300 each) concerning respectively the souvenir sheet (1.5 manat) and the 2 stamps (0.5 manat and 0.6 manat) !
I really love the design of this series created by Vugar Eyyubov and printed in France by Cartor Security Printing.
The souvenir sheet above (circulation: 50,000) evokes the establishment in 1501 of the first postal routes by Shah Ismail I (1487-1524), who was Shah of Persia from 1501 to his death and founder of the dynasty of Safavids.
The dynasty founded by Shah Ismail I for more than two centuries, was one of the greatest Iranian empires and at its peak among the most powerful empires of its time, ruling all of present-day Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia , most of Georgia, the North Caucasus, Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan ...
He was also a prolific poet who, under the pseudonym Khatai, greatly contributed to the literary development of the Azerbaijani language.
A messenger on horseback on this postal route is represented on this souvenir sheet, mingling the legs of the horse with fortifications built at the time to protect this link.
The souvenir sheet above (print run: 50,000) is devoted to the establishment in 1501 of the first postal routes by Shah Ismail I (1487-1524), who was Shah of Persia from 1501 to his death and founder of the Safavid dynasty.
The dynasty founded by Shah Ismail I for more than two centuries, was one of the greatest Persian empires and at its peak among the most powerful empires of its time, ruling all of present-day Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, most of Georgia, North Caucasus, Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan ...
He was also a prolific poet who, under the pseudonym Khatai, greatly contributed to the literary development of the Azerbaijani language.
A messenger on horseback on this postal route is featured on this souvenir sheet, mingling the legs of the horse with fortifications built at the time to protect this route.
The 2 stamps of this series above (edition: 120,000 each) also represent postal messengers on horseback (called "gasid") with in the background, different cities (some of which are not located in Azerbaijan today) located in from the 16th century on this postal network: Baku, Chamakhi and Tabriz (0.5 manat), Derbent, Chamakhi, Nakhchivan, Gandja and Erevan (0.6 manat).
Note that these 2 stamps were also issued in the same booklet of 8 stamps (4 of each, not serrated on one side, edition: 20,000 booklets) and that non-serrated versions of the whole series (booklet, block, stamps) were also put into circulation with a very small circulation.
The 2 stamps of this series above (print run: 120,000 each) also represent postal messengers on horseback (called "gasid") with in the background, different cities (some of which are not located in Azerbaijan today) located from the 16th century on this postal network: Baku, Shamakhi and Tabriz (0.5 manat), Derbent, Shamakhi, Nakhchivan, Ganja and Yerevan (0.6 manat).
To note that these 2 stamps were also issued in the same booklet of 8 stamps (4 of each, imperforated on one side, print run: 20,000 booklets) and that imperforated versions of the whole series (booklet, s / s, stamps) were also put into circulation with a very limited print run.
source: https://timbredujura.blogspot.com/2021/01/europa-2...