Armenia’s 2024 stamps are here, and yes, I went with the cheesy title for the article. It could have been worse. I had a vigorous debate with myself and almost went with “A fisheye lens view of Armenian stamps” or “Fishing around for Armenia’s 2024 stamps”. Blame Hay Post for tossing this temptation in my way:
EUROPA 2024. Underwater Fauna & Flora | Եվրոպա 2024. Ստորջրյա ֆաունա և ֆլորա
You’ll notice two major changes to the page. First is an expanded table of contents so it’s easier to skip down to specific stamps. This change will make it easier to navigate the year as the program grows, as well as help readers who come back looking for details on certain issues. Hope you find it helpful.
The second change is the fun one. You’ll spot stamps from previous years that fit the 2024 topics. If an artist or theme appeared on an earlier stamp you’ll be able to see them listed just below the description. Its far more interesting to see them laid out with the current release. It helps to appreciate the changes in how stamps are designed over the years and how the same topic can be re-interpreted.
Enjoy the year.
Catpaw
** All stamp images are courtesy Hay Post.
Armenia’s 2024 stamps – January
Thematic Collection of Science and Technology | Թեմատիկ հավաքածու «Գիտություն և Տեխնիկա»
Release of 27 stamps from different years all celebrating the sciences.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: January 16, 2024
March
Armenian Coat of Arms Հայկական զինանշաններ
Series: 18th in symbols of Armenia series
topic: history | symbols of Armenia
9 stamps, 9 sheets of 20
offset
“ROYAL COAT OF ARMS” and “ARMENIAN KINGDOM OF CILICA”
«ԹԱԳԱՎՈՐԱԿԱՆ ԶԻՆԱՆՇԱՆ» և «ԿԻԼԻԿԻԱՅԻ ՀԱՅՈՑ ԹԱԳԱՎՈՐՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ»
The image on the stamp are the the 13th-14th century coat of arms used by the Armenian Kingdom of Cilicia. The coat of arms currently used by the Armenian government was adopted on June 15, 2006:
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: March 17, 2024
May
125th Anniversary of the Birth of Aksel Bakunts | Մեծանուն հայեր. Ակսել Բակունցի ծննդյան 125-ամյակ
Series: famous Armenians
topic: writers | literature
1 stamp, sheets of 8
offset
Writer, poet, activist (1899-1937)
Born into a family of peasants in 1899 and executed during Stalin’s Reign of Terror in 1937, Aksel Bakunts made the most of his short-lived life as a writer and activist. His collection of short stories, Mtnadzor, or The Dark Valley, was first published in 1927, and told the story of the years during Armenia’s transition to communism.
Dancing Mania by Aksel Bakunts – The Armenite
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Painting: Փանոս Թերլեմեզյանի| Pagan Terlemese
Release date: May 7, 2024
The Big Win| Հայկական ֆիլմեր
Series: Armenian films
topic: film
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, souvenir folder
offset
The Big Win (1980) directed by Albert Mkrtchyan| Խոշոր շահում (1937-2018)
The film follows the life of a crane operator who wins a car in a lottery, and how the car complicates his simple life.
You can watch this movie, free, on YouTube courtesy Armenia National Film Center https://youtu.be/i99K5xSeAao?si=oCG50Zxan7dcEap9
The film is in Armenian with no subtitles.
Previous stamps in this series include 2023 The Saroyan Brothers (1968), 2022 A Bride from the North.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: May 9, 2024
A Tale about the Mirror | ՀԵՔԻԱԹ ՀԱՅԵԼՈՒ ՄԱՍԻՆ
Series: Children’s Philately
Մանկական ֆիլատելիա. Հայկական մուլտֆիլմեր
topics: cartoons
1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset
1982 children’s cartoon directed by Arman Manaryan.
The Mirror Tale tells of a kingdom where no one had ever seen a mirror. A peasant goes to the market to sell wool and meets a merchant on the way who convinces him to buy a mirror. The mirror rolls out of the peasant’s hand and into the kingdom. Whoever looks in the mirror sees his own image. The trick reaches the king. The king looks at his image and thinks that it is a man who has planted his eyes on his throne and will look like a man-eating beast, but we know that in the mirror, the king sees himself.. Հեքիաթ հայելու մասին I Fast TV
If you are interested in learning more about children’s literature from Armenian illustrators and writers, see A journey through Armenian children’s literature (armenianweekly.com). In English.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: May 13, 2024
Mount Aragats in Armenian Paintings | Արագած լեռը հայ գեղանկարչության մեջ
topic: Armenian art | landscape
5 stamps on souvenir sheet
offset
Artists: Gevorg Bashinjaghyan | Գևորգ Բաշինջաղեան, Gabriel Gyurjian and Hovhannes Zardaryan
Գևորգ Բաշինջաղյանի, Գաբրիել Գյուրջյանի և Հովհաննես Զարդարյանի
First three stamps show Bashinjaghyan’s art, the fourth Gyurjian and the last Zardaryan.
Mountain Aragats / The Highest Summit of Armenia (armgeo.am)
Mount Aragats previously appeared on Armenian stamps in 1997 Mount Aragats, 2022 Mount Aragats, and 2005 Mount Aragats by Martiros Saryan (1925)
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: May 15, 2024
100th Anniversary of Charles Aznavour (1924-2018)
Series: Famous Armenians
topics: music | singers
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, souvenir folder
offset
French – Armenian singer, actor, civil rights activist and diplomat.
La Poste France also issued a Charles Aznavour stamp this year.
Designer: Vahagn Mkrtchyan | Վահագն Մկրտչյան
Release date: May 29, 2024
June
EUROPA 2024. Underwater Fauna & Flora | Եվրոպա 2024. Ստորջրյա ֆաունա և ֆլորա
topic: EUROPA | oceans seas
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, souvenir folder
offset
Within the fish’s eye you can see “a crayfish, a snake, underwater plants as well as different types of fish (i.e. Salmo ischchan gegarkuni, Capoeta capoeta sevangi, Sevan barbel) endemic to the underwater world of freshwater Lake Sevan and rivers of Armenia.” Online Shop | Stamps of Armenia
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: June 11, 2024
100th Anniversary of Vruir Galstyan | «Մեծանուն հայեր. Վրույր Գալստյանի ծննդյան 100-ամյակ»
postcard
Series: famous Armenians
topic art | painters
1 pre-stamped postcard, stamp: Vruyr Galstyan or Vruir Galstian issued 2024 for this post card
Four paintings: “Landscape” (1966), “Self-portrait” (1964), “Students” (1967) and “Still life. Coffee cups” (1986)
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: June 16, 2024
100th Anniversary of Valentin Podpomogov | Մեծանուն հայեր. Վալենտին Պոդպոմոգովի ծննդյան 100-ամյակ
Series: famous Armenians
topic art | painters
2 stamps, sheets of 8, FDC, cancel, souvenir folder
offset
…My works are first of all dedicated to the rebirth of Armenian people from the death of the Genocide…
Painter, writer, director, actor
Two paintings appear on this set. The first stamp, behind the artist’s profile is The Last Mile, and on the second stamp My Sin or Mea Culpa depending on which translator you use.
Valentin Podpomogov – PeopleOfAr has a very brief writeup, just a couple of paragraphs, but better than most pages.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: June 17, 2024
100th Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov | Աշխարհահռչակ հայեր. Սերգեյ Փարաջանովի ծննդյան 100-ամյակ
Series: famous Armenians
topic: art | painters | film
2 stamps, souvenir sheet of 4 (plus labels), FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 10, souvenir folder
offset
Artist, director, (1924-1990)
The second stamp shows Repentance (Variations on Themes by Pinturicchio and Raphael with Shells), 1989
Born into an Armenian family, raised in Tbilisi, and creating early works in Ukraine, Parajanov famously stated, “Everybody knows that I have three motherlands.” His declaration of allegiance(s) is reciprocated by each of his designated “motherlands.” Yerevan, the Armenian capital, is home to the Sergei Parajanov Museum; a street in Old Tbilisi is named after him; and the Ukrainian World Congress, noting the 100th anniversary of his birth, claimed him as “the Ukrainian-Armenian film director.” This magnanimous identification with multiple “motherlands” arises from a time when perhaps national boundaries were not as clear-cut as today’s nationalists would have us believe, and when ethnically homogeneous nation-states (as popularly imagined at present) did not exist.
Remembering Sergei Parajanov, the Bard of the Caucasus – New Lines Magazine
The New Lines Magazine article offers a substantial look into Parajanov’s life and works. It’s lengthier than most posts and was written to celebrate the 1999 Parajanov stamp (see below)
Parajanov previously appeared on stamps in 1999 75th Birth Anniversary of Sergei Parajanov from both Armenia and Ukraine. In 2016 Armenia issued the Sergey Paradjanov Museum 2 stamp set.
Designer: Vahagn Mkrtchyan | Վահագն Մկրտչյան
Release date: June 19, 2024
125th Anniversary of Yervand Kochar | Երվանդ Քոչարի ծննդյան 125-ամյակ
Series: famous Armenians | art
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, souvenir folder
offset
1899-1979 sculptor, modernist painter
1923-36 In Paris, he created an art that placed his name among the greats who influenced the European Avant-Garde and the subsequent course of world fine art. Kochar is the founder of spatial painting /”Peinture dans l’espace”/. plastic — a new form of artistic expression that incorporates time as an additional fourth dimension. European artistic thought considered Kochar one of the pioneers of modern art, who in a few years transformed the ideas of modern painting and turned the world upside down… kochar.am/en/museum
The above quote comes from the brief bio on Kochar courtesy the Kochar Museum. It’s not a long read, but is a good start. In Armenian and English.
Kochar’s art previously appeared on the 1999 Family, Generations by Yervand Kochar (1899-1979) stamp.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: June 20, 2024
July
75th Anniversary of Hrant Vardanyan (1949-2014) | Հրանտ Վարդանյանի ծննդյան 75-ամյակ
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 8, info folder
offset
Designers: Vahan Abraham, David Dovletian | Վահան Աբրահամյան, Դավիթ Դովլաթյան
Photographer: Harutyun Avagyan | Հարություն Ավագյան
Release date: July 30, 2024
September
Eurasian Economic Union
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 6, info folder
offset
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: September 30, 2024
October
World Congress on Innovation and Technology
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, folder
offset
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: October 4, 2024
150th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union
1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset
Many members of the UPU have issued stamps celebrating the 150th year of operation. They have incorporated a common design (the logo) created by Sonja Denovski.
Designers: David Dovlatyan (Armenia), Sonja Denovski (UPU) Դավիթ Դովլաթյանի (Հայփոստ), Սոնյա Դենովսկու (ՀՓՄ)
Release date: October 8, 2024
33rd Summer Olympiad Games – Paris 2024
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, folder
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: October 10, 2024
150th Anniversary of Edgar Chahine (1874-1947)
2 stamps, 1 FDC, cancel, 2 sheets of 10
offset
French (Armenian heritage) master engraver, painter and the Knight and Medal Holder of the French Legion of Honor.
EDGAR CHAHINE | Bak.am\
The first stamp uses a 1905 photograph of Chahine laid in front of his 1923 etching The Greek District. Venice.
The second stamp uses a 1908 etching Ball in the street (July 14).
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: October 15, 2024
100th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Yerevan State Choreographic College
postcard
1 pre-stamped postcard
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: October 17, 2024
100th Anniversary of Yervand Manaryan
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, folder, sheets of 10
offset
Iranian born, Armenian actor. A statue of the “People’s Artist of Armenia” was unveiled the same time as this stamp was released. Statue of Renowned Armenian Actor Yervand Manaryan Unveiled in Yerevan • MassisPost
Its difficult to translate how beloved Manaryan was in Armenia. This is the best translation I could find to convey how he was seen:
Yervand Manaryan’s name is inseparable from the 50-year old history of Armenian cinematography. Our film industry is a national heritage, and Manaryan represents one of the brightest colors of that richness,” Davit Muradyan, Honored Art Worker of Armenia, Professor at Yerevan Institute of Cinema and Theatre told reporters at the funeral ceremony of Yervand Manaryan.
Muradyan, who had come to bid farewell to the renowned actor, noted that people love Manaryan as a famility member. “He was not the type of actors to speak to the audience from a pedestal but was among the people – in every family. Kids and elderly, ordinary workers and academicians equally admired him. That is a virtue beyond the artistic and remains a very human characteristic. The art created by Manaryan came from his human essence, his humor, kindness, and the decency of truly art lover,” added Muradyan.
Armenian public bids last farewell to prominent actor Yervand Manaryan – Panorama | Armenian news
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: October 30, 2024
November
Silicon Mountains 2024 International Summit
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, folder, sheets of 10
offset
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: November 14, 2024
State Award of the Republic of Armenia for Global Contribution in High-Tech Sphere
2 stamps, 2 FDCs, cancel, folder
offset
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: November 14, 2024
100th Anniversary of Hovhannes Badalyan
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, folder, sheets of 10
offset
Tenor Badalyan was the People’s Artist of the Armenian SSR (1961) as well as a Professor at Yerevan State Conservatory.
Designer: Վահագն Մկրտչյան Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Release date: November 20, 2024
European Football Championship “Euro-2024”
1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset
Designer: Վահագն Մկրտչյան Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Release date: November 21, 2024
100th Anniversary of Paruyr Sevak
1 stamp on souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
Poet, literary critic, translator
Honoring the 100th Anniversary of Paruyr Sevak: A Century of Armenian Literary Legacy
Designer: Վահագն Մկրտչյան Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Release date: November 26, 2024
December
Lunar New Year – Year of the Snake
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, folder, sheets of 8
offset
This year’s Lunar New Year celebrates the snake.
According to Chinese mythology, the order of the zodiac animals was decided by a Great Race hosted by the Jade Emperor. The Snake, clever and strategic, coiled around the Horse’s hoof, managing to finish the race ahead of the Horse and claim sixth place.
Unlike the bold and outgoing Dragon, the Snake represents calmness and introspection. These traits are seen as essential for guiding one’s life with wisdom and grace.
Lunar New Year 2025: A Guide to the Year of the Snake
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 4, 2024
100th Anniversary of Gohar Gasparyan
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, folder, sheets of 10
offset
The Nightingale of Armenia
Gohar Gasparyan (Armenian: Գոհար Գասպարյան; 14 December 1924 – 16 May 2007) also known as the “Armenian nightingale”, was an Armenian opera singer.
Born in an Armenian family in Cairo, Gasparyan studied at a Music Academy in the city. In 1948, she migrated to Soviet Armenia along with thousands of other Armenians from the Middle East.
Gasparyan performed at the Yerevan Opera Theatre in 23 operas during her long career, as well as performing at concerts. In 1951 she was the soprano in Haro Stepanian’s “A Heroine” in Yerevan. This opera won one of “Stalin’s music prizes”.
She also taught at the Yerevan State Musical Conservatory. Gasparyan was a People’s Artist of the USSR, a Hero of Socialist Labour and a Mesrop Mashtots order-bearer.
Gohar Gasparyan | Opera-Arias.com
A coin was also issued
Designer: Վահագն Մկրտչյան Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Release date: December 13, 2024
New Year & Christmas
This stamp uses lenticular technology. If the stamp is moved back and forth, a second design is revealed.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 22, 2024
Armenian Men’s Chess Team – Best Team of the Century
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 26, 2024
Flora and Fauna of Armenia
4 stamps, mini sheetlet, FDC, cancel, 4 sheets of 10, folder
offset
- Magpie mushroom (Coprinopsis picacea)
- Armenian tulip (Tulipa confusa)
- Oriental hornet (Vespa orientalis)
- Eurasian jay (Garrulus glandarius)
Designer: Վահագն Մկրտչյան Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Release date: December 29, 2024
Dominican Republic
postcard
1 pre-stamped postcard
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 29, 2024
Sights of Armenia
4 stamps, 4 sheets of 8
offset
- Mount Khustup
- Dilijan Reserve
- Srter Waterfall (Hearts Waterfall)
- Bjni Fortress
Designer: Վահագն Մկրտչյան Vahagn Mkrtchyan
Photographer: Էդգար Հարությունյան Edgar Harutyunyan
Edgar Harutyunyan Photography | Reels (@edgar_harutyunyan_photography) • Instagram photos and videos
Release date: December 29, 2024
100th Anniversary of Vladilen Balyan
postcard
1 pre-stamped postcard
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 29, 2024
200th Anniversary of the Foundation of Nersisian School of Tiflis
1 stamp, sheets of 8
offset
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 29, 2024
100th Anniversary of the Foundation of the National Quartet Komitas
postcard
1 pre-stamped postcard
The Komitas Quartet was established in November 1924 by Avet Gabrielyan, Levon Ohanjanyan, Michael Teryan and Sargis Aslamazyan-students of Moscow Conservatoire.
In January 1925 the Quartet started regular rehearsals and practice under the mentorship of Professor E.M. Guzikov, who also put together the Quartet’s performance program for the period of January to the end of the academic year.
The first musical piece that the young musicians worked on was Beethoven’s Quartet N 1 and it took them almost two months to perfect its presentation.
KOMITAS QUARTET
The first performance occurred on March 1, 1925.
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 29, 2024
The First Christian Cathedral – The Mother Cathedral of Holy Etchmiadzin
1 stamp on souvenir sheet
offset
MSoHE | Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Artist: Levon Lachikyan
Release date: December 30, 2024
150th Anniversary of the Foundation of Gevorkian Seminary of Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin
1 stamp
offset
Designer: Դավիթ Դովլաթյան | David Dovlatyan
Release date: December 30, 2024
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