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Friday 16 November 2018

846) Issyk-Kul Lighthouses, Kyrgyzstan: Two Stamps of the values of 100 KGS and 150 KGS issued by Kyrgyz Express Post on 16.1.2018:

846) Issyk-Kul Lighthouses, Kyrgyzstan: Two Stamps of the values of 100 KGS and 150 KGS issued by Kyrgyz Express Post on 16.1.2018:

For other interesting posts on Kyrgyzstan Express Posts (KEP) issues, please visit the following links:








About Lake Issyk-Kul:



Issyk-Kul is an endorheic lake in Northern Tian Shan mountains in Eastern Kyrgyzstan. Issyk-Kul means "warm lake" in the Kyrgyz language, although it is surrounded by snow-capped peaks - it never freezes, hence its name.



It is the 7th deepest lake in the world having an average depth of 278.4 metres (or 913 feet) and maximum depth is about 668.0 metres (or 2,192 feet). 

It is the 10th largest lake in the world by volume (which is about 1,738 cubic kilometres (or 417.0 cubic miles). Its maximum length is about 178 kilometres (or 111.0 miles) and its maximum width is about 60.1 kilometres (or 37.7 miles).

 Its surface area is about 6,236.0 square kilometres (or about 2,408 square miles). Its shore length is about 669.0 kilometres (or 416.0 miles) 

It is also the second largest saline water lake in the world, after the Caspian Sea.

The lake is a Ramsar site of globally significant bio-diversity and forms a part of the Issyk-Kul Biosphere Reserve.

Historically, Issyk-Kul was once owned by the Qing dynasty of China before being ceded to Russia. It was a stopover on the Silk Road, a land route for travellers from the Far East to Europe.

Stamps issued by the Kyrgyz Express Post (KEP) on the Issyk-Kul Lighthouses on 16.11.2018:

On 16.11.2018, the Kyrgyz Express Post (KEP) has issued a set of stamps on the - "Issyk-Kul Light Houses".

The First Day cover (FDC) issued on the date of release of the set of two stamps 

At left the FDC is titled "Issyk-Kul Lighthouses". An image of the Issyk-Kul Lake together with the dotted impressions of the lighthouses which surround the lake is also seen at left bottom. Further below is mentioned "KYRGYZ EXPRESS POST. OFFICIAL FIRST DAY COVER".
On top right are affixed the two stamps of the values of 100 KGS and 150 KGS.

The Special Cancellation has been carried out today (16.11.2018) at the Bishkek KEP Office.

The FDC and special postmark have been designed by Oleg Cojocari and Aliona Cojocari.

The dimensions/size of the FDC are C6 (162.0 mm x 114 mm). The printing method used is Full Colour offset. The endorsing ink colour is black. The no. of FDCs issued is 400 pieces. 

The Collective Miniature Sheet (CMS) issued  of both the 100 KGS and 150 KGS value Stamps. The two labels show the Lake Issyk-Kul and bear the names of eight Lighthouses which dot the Issyk-Kul Lake

                 An image of the Lake Issyk-Kul taken by satellite

The 100 KGS Stamp shows a Lighthouse and a tug with a barge

The 150 KGS Stamp shows luminous signs, a buoy and a motor ship

The two Stamps of 100 KGS and 150 KGS values placed together

                  The Mini-Sheet of six Stamps of 100 KGS value

                 The Mini-sheet of  six stamps of 150 KGS value


The technical specifications of this two Stamp issue are:

Paper: coated, gummed, 105 g/sq m

Printing method: Full colour offset, lithography.

Stamps perforation: comb 14:14-1/2

Stamps size: 46.0 mm x 27.50 mm

Stamps have been issued in mini-sheets of six stamps. They have also been issued in collective minisheet of 2 stamps (1 complete set and 2 coupons). On the sheet borders there are different navigation symbols and names of the Series in Kyrgyz, English & Russian languages. The labels on the collective mini-sheet show a map of Issyk-Kul, indicating the locations of the lighthouses along the shoreline.

Mini-sheet size: 113.0 mm x 108.00 mm

Collective Minisheet size: 113.0 mm x 78 mm

No. of stamps issued: 8,000 pieces each stamp, including the quantity of the collective Mini-sheet - 2,000 pieces.

Designers: Oleg Cojocari & Aliona Cojocari

Printing House: "Novo imprim"





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