RUSSIA – Cover from St. Petersburg, Russia to Braga, Portugal.

Cover with stamps posted on January, 15 2011.

(Special thanks to my best friend Yu Kitaev)

The 75th anniversary of a rank of the Hero of Soviet Union

The Rank of the Hero of the Soviet Union is the highest honorary rank in the USSR, which was  assigned for heroic deed. It was established by the decision of the Central Electoral Committee of the USSR from 16.04.1934. The medal «Gold Star» was established by the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR on August 1, 1939 « On additional signs of honour for Heroes of the Soviet Union» and became the main symbol of the rank of the HSU in our country.
The first people who were awarded the rank of the HSU in 1934 were pilots, who rescued the crew of the steamer «Chelyuskin». In total more than 12.7 thousand people have been awarded the rank of the HSU.

Date of Issue: 29-10-2009
Type: commemorative stamp in sheets of 10
Denomination: 9.00 rubbles
No. of Stamp in Set: 1

Size of stamp: 65х32,5 mm
Size of coupon: 32,5х32,5 mm
Size of se-tenant: 162,5х32,5 mm
Size of sheet: 182х182 mm
Circulation: 90 thousand se-tenants, (se-tenant of 2 stamps+coupon)

Perforation: comb 12 x 12 ½
Colour: four
Process of Printing: offset + gold foil stamping
Protection of the stamp: Coated paper
Printer:
Designer: A. Moscovets

World cultural heritage in Russia. Curonian Spit.

The value and uniqueness of the Curonian Spit is recognized by the world community. In 2000, the international Russian-Lithuanian object Curonian Spit was added to the World Heritage List as "a good example of traditional human settlement or land-use typical for the culture (or cultures), especially if it (the culture) is collapsing under the impact of irreversible changes. The Spit has been qualified as "an exclusive example of the landscape, which consists of sandy dunes and is under the constant threat from the side of natural forces - such as wind and water. After the destructive human intervention threatening the existence of the Spit, due to the works on the stabilization and protection started in the XIX century and continuing up to the present day, it has been restored. The territory of the Curonian Spit is officially under the protection of the Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (UNESCO). The stamps depict the landscape of the Curonian Spit.

Date of Issue: 26-07-2010
Type: se-tenant of 2 stamps coupon
Denomination: 2x 15.00 rubbles
No. of Stamp in Set: 2

Size of stamp: 65х32,5 mm
Size of coupon: 32,5х32,5 mm
Size of se-tenant: 162,5х32,5 mm
Size of sheet: 182х182 mm
Circulation: 90 thousand se-tenants, (se-tenant of 2 stamps+coupon)

Perforation: comb 13 ½
Colour: Multicolour
Process of Printing: offset print + partial template varnishing with effect of "sand" (a matte varnish)
Protection of the stamp: Chalk paper
Printer:
Designer: A. Povarihin