Kyrgyzstan’s stamps are one of those true design gems that rarely get the recognition they deserve. The Kyrgyz Republic’s annual program is a bit of a puzzle to the unwary. They are the only country in the world that has 2 UPU recognised post offices, Kyrgyz Express Post (KEP) and Kyrgyz Post (KP). While KP has been in operation since 1993, the UPU formally recognised the status of a second post office May 21, 2013. Both have been granted the authority to print stamps, and this causes a bit of confusion for some. 

In 2022, a major shake-up of both the KEP and KP resulted in delays in stamp releases in the last 2 years.  This means stamps released by KEP for 2024, are marked 2023 and last year’s stamps are marked 2022.  It’s taken me a while to get a handle on the dating and issues, but hopefully I have the details correct. A big thank you to the KEP post office for their help in clarifying the details. They have been very generous with their time in explaining everything. I will be going back to the previous articles and clarifying which are KEP stamps and which are KP, as well as finally getting the 2023 year posted. That will take time, there’s a huge que of articles I’m working through, so the ETA is a bit loose. 

Stamps will be issued by date, but each entry will be identified by either KEP or KP, so you can distinguish which postal authority issued the stamps. 

You’ll see the name Daria Maier appear a lot for this program. She has been lead designer with Kyrgyz Express Post since 2017. She has worked as an illustrator for such organisations as MD Science Publishing, World of Nature and Prut International Publishing. One of her great strengths is in nature illustration.  

The foundation of my artwork is built upon two interconnected themes: the preservation of history through visual art and the protection of nature. I am deeply fascinated by detail, which initially led me to explore and recreate old architecture. These buildings, having lost their original luster and gradually fading into the past, became symbols of enduring beauty and the importance of historical heritage. I believe that history demands our respect and careful consideration, and through my works, I aim to show how crucial it is to value and preserve it for future generations. Daria Maier – About Daria Maier, Biography, Exhibitions and More | Artfinder

If you decide to start collecting KEP stamps, you have to download the album pages they offer for free. KEP offers album pages back to 2014-2015 and in multiple languages, including English.  Just select the language you speak in the drop-down menu at the top right of the page and start downloading. Very few post offices offer this type of bonus, but it’s a great idea that more post offices should provide.  It would certainly encourage young collectors on a budget. 

Enjoy this year. It’s already beautiful and I’m itching to see the rest. 

Cheers 
Catpaw

April

Lunar New Year – Year of the Dragon (KEP)

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, maxi card, sheet of 5
offset

Covers are limited to 400 issues and maxis are limited to 500. 

Designer: Daria Maier
Moldovian born artist Maier has been Lead Designer /Graphic Artist with Kyrgyz Express Post (KEP) since 2017

Release date: April 30, 2024

Ishembay Abdraimov Kyrgyz Aviation Institute, 50th Anniversary (KEP)

2 stamps, souvneir sheet, 2 sheetlets of 5, 4 FDCs, cancel
offset

• Ishembai Abdraimov
• Boeing 737-484

Abdraimov was Kyrgyzstan’s first pilot, serving in both Kyrgyz and Soviet airforces. He trained at the Tashkent Flight School in 1933, first flying U-2 training biplane (later renamed Po-2).  He flew the Li-2 transport airplane, ferrying both cargo and passengers in and out of the mountainous country. Abdraimov was one of the primary pilots who established many of the flight routes through the mountains. 

He served in WW2 with the 62nd Guards Separate Aviation Regiment of the 16th Air Army, flying a staggering 155 sorties. Post war he returned to school to earn his pilot engineering degree. He continued flying, eventually racking up 17,000 air hours in 16 different aircraft. He was called Kyrgyzstan’s No. 1 pilot and assumed the role of the head of the Kyrgyz Civil Aviation Administration

Abdraimov wrote 3 books Steel Birds over Ala-Too, Half a Century in the Sky of Kyrgyzstan, Flights Continue. He previously appeared on Commemoration of Ishembay Abdraimov (1914-2001), Pilot in 2009. 

Designer: Daria Maier

Release date: April 30, 2024

The Anniversaries of Great Personalities (KEP)

4 stamps, 4 sheets of 5 stamps, 5 FDCs, 4 maxi cards
offset

• Omar Khayyam (1048 – 1131)
• Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 – 1543)
• Blaise Pascal (1623 – 1662)
• Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873 – 1943)

Designer: Daria Maier

Release date: April 30, 2024

30th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Kyrgyzstan and Brazil, Indonesia and Czechia (KEP)

3 stamps, 4 FDCs, cancel, 3 maxi cards, 3 sheets of 5
offset

• Golden trumpet tree (Handroanthus chrysotrichus) – national flower of Brazil. Trumpet Trees – Gardening Solutions – University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)
• Rafflesia Arnold (Rafflesia arnoldii) – national flower of Indonesia Rafflesia arnoldi | Kew
• linden (Tilia cordata) – national flower of Czech Republic Tilia cordata|small-leaved lime/RHS Gardening

Designer: Daria Maier

Release date: April 30, 2024

Bird of the Year (V). The Bar-headed goose (KEP)

1 stamp, 2 FDCs, cancel, sheets of 5
offset

Bar-headed goose (Anser indicus)  ADW: Anser indicus: INFORMATION (animaldiversity.org)

Designer: Daria Maier

Release date: April 30, 2024

XIX Asian Games (KEP)

2 stamps, 4 FDCs, cancel, souvenir sheet, 2 sheets of 5
offset

• The first stamp translates to Киберспорт eSports
• Fencing

Designer: Vitaliu Pogolșa
Moldovan artist Pogolșa’s extensive stamp portfolio began with his 1997, 6 stamp Protection of Buildings series. His Europa (C.E.P.T.) 2017 – Castles stamp won 3rd place in the Best Europa stamp 2017.  As well as stamps, Pogolșa illustrated books, designed coins and worked extensively as a sculptor (plastic arts). Among the awards he won included: 

3rd Prize for best political poster (1988, Kyiv);
3rd Prize UJM, “Free Press” political poster (1996);

1st Prize, Romanian Post, Bucharest classical architecture 2000
1st Prize, Post of Moldova, Postal Factors Ball (2001);
First prize, UAP Republic of Moldova, Best book graphics (2010).

Sadly, Pogolsa died in January 2023. 

Release date: April 30, 2024

Kyrgyz Republic Red Data Book (IV). Insects (KEP)

4 stamps, 1 stamp on souvenir sheet, souvenir sheet of 4, 7 maxi cards, 5 FDCs, cancel
offset

• Kuznetzov’s Longicorn Wasp (Masaris longicornis) 
• Matriarchal Katydid, or Predatory Bush Cricket (Saga pedo) Predatory Bush-cricket (Saga pedo) · iNaturalist
• Galatea Tiger Beetle (Cephalota galatea) Cephalota galathea · iNaturalist
• Southern Swallowtail (Papilio alexanor)
• Kirghizobia Longicorn Beetle (Kirgizobia bohnei) – single stamp on souvenir sheet

The artwork on the stamps is outstanding. If you click on each stamp, they’ll open up supersized. I recommend doing that so you can see all the details Melnyk included, especially the wasp and beetle.   

Designer: Volodymyr Melnyk 

Release date: April 30, 2024

Trainspotting. Locomotives in Kyrgyzstan (KEP)

4 stamps, souvenir sheet, 4 mini sheets of 4 stamps, 6 FDCs, cancel
offset

• Locomotive PEU1   
• Lokomotiv TEM2 
• Locomotive 2TE10V
• Locomotive TE33A

Designer: Daria Maier
Photographers: Zalesskii Aleksandr, Valerij Lotz, Alexei Poliakov and Mikhail Utkin

Release date: April 30, 2024

Prehistoric Fauna of Kyrgyzstan (KEP)

3 stamps souvenir sheet, 3 mini sheets of 5, 4 FDCs, cancel
offsest

• Sharovipteryx  (Sharovipteryx mirabilis)
• Stegasaurus (Stegosauria)
• Ferganasaurus  (Ferganasaurus verzilini)

Designer: Daria Maier

Release date: April 30, 2024