RUSSIA – Cover sent from Krasnodar, Russia to Braga, Portugal

First Day Cover of the 2010 - ‘Historical-Cultural heritage of Russia - Valaam’ commemorative stamp issue, posted on October, 21 2010.
(Special thanks to my friend Vladimir Gritsay)

Valaam archipelago (Valaam), located in the north-western part of Lake Ladoga, is by right considered the pearl of Karelia and the unique historical and natural landscape area. The archipelago consists of the island of Valaam and more than 50 small islands. A dissected coastline, a lot of bays, inlets, sheer granite cliffs feature the landscape. Spaso-Preobrazhensky Monastery - supposedly founded in the XI-XIII centuries, during the colonization of the islands - is an essential part of a unique complex of Valaam archipelago.
Constructions of the beginning of the XVIII century - the end of the XIX century, including the Spaso-Preobrazhensky cathedral, belltower, the barbican church of Peter and Paul, church of the Assumption, the skete of St. Nicholas and many others have been preserved till nowadays.
In 1965, Valaam was granted the status of natural reserve; and in 1979 the national museum-reserve was created on the island.
The souvenir sheet depicts the panorama of the Valaam archipelago.

Date of Issue: 08-06-2010
Type: Commemorative souvenir sheet
Denomination: 25py
No. of Stamp in Set: 1 in souvenir sheet
Size: 95 x 95 mm
Perforation: 12
Color: Multicolor
Process of Printing: offset
Protection of the stamp:
Printer:
Designer: Moscovets A.