Ukraine - Bud's Big Blue

Coin minted during the reign of Prince Volodymyr the Great (1)

Bud's Big Blue

Bud's Observations

Ukraine philately overwhelms most worldwide collectors. Count me among the dumbfounded. Some 28 postal authorities operated in Ukraine over the years 1900-1945, many concurrently. During these years Ukraine did not achieve stable political unity. Periodically parts of it declared independence and issued stamps, only to be swept quickly into some other political entity.

Ukraine did enjoy a brief sovereign adventure (1918-20). Big Blue (BB) provides spaces for stamps from this era, both the overprinted czarist Russian stamps and those issued by the fledgling Ukraine postal authority. A full account of Ukraine’s postal oddity, however, must consider the complications that preceded and followed this momentary self-rule. Fortunately, online resources can help average collectors sort out the complexity, insofar as possible (2).

Through all the turbulence and in the absence of political unity, the cultural identity of Ukrainians remained distinctly strong. The Ukraine trident marks that strength hovering, as it does, over all things rightly Ukrainian – including stamps.

For example, postal authorities gleefully overprinted czarist stamps with tridents, the first postage used in newly independent Ukraine. Their enthusiasm generated at least 58 distinct trident varieties (3). Some of these are showing in the top line of BB’s Ukraine page (below), others follow on the supplement page.

Various trident overprints on czarist stamps

A medieval symbol, the Ukraine trident originally may not have been intended as a three-pronged fishing spear, such as Neptune’s mythological trident. It more likely symbolizes the Holy Trinity, taking the stylized form of a diving gyrfalcon, a royal bird favored by falconers. Sometimes the central dent appears as a cross, as shown on coins minted during the reign of Prince Volodymyr (Vladimir) the Great of Kyiv, reigning 980-1015, aka Saint Vladimir.

Never placed in use

Ukraine cultural identity has deep roots. Vladmir was buried in Church of the Tithes, the first church in Kyiv – built between 989 and 996, burned in 1017, rebuilt in 1037, destroyed by Mongol armies in 1240, …, rebuilt again in the 1850s, razed again by Soviets in 1928. Rebuilding was once more being contemplated until this year’s Russian invasion (2022). Stubborn, deep roots – firmly resisting multiple attempts at cultural genocide.

Ukraine did issue some stamps of their own design in 1918 and following, all with tridents, but, because of rapid political changes, some of these were never placed in use. BB accommodates a sampling.

So, it’s no surprise that gyrfalcon/trident overprints soared again on Ukraine’s stamps following independence from Russia in 1991, this time placed on redundant Soviet era postage.

I thought, during the early stages of Russia’s 2022 invasion, that ordering stamps from a dealer in Ukraine would be an efficient way to get funds into that besieged country. Although Ukraine dealers continued to offer their wares on most internet auction platforms, I assumed any I ordered would never come. I was wrong. In a few weeks the requested stamps did arrive.

Ukraine Local issues, Boyarka, 1993 

I chose some of the 1992-93 overprints. They are “local” issues meant for stopgap use in various Ukraine postal districts. I particularly like the ones where the gyrfalcon/trident appears to be divebombing a Russian warship.

Ukraine local issues, Kyiv, 1992, two with inverted surcharges

More recently, Ukraine Post has had a similar idea about getting foreign money into their country. They released a particular limited issue almost exclusively to local stamps dealers – the now famous stamp depicting a Ukraine soldier signaling a Russian warship with his middle finger, the universally recognized gesture of contempt. Sales and prices have soared. The Kyiv dealer who sold me the stamps showing above reports standing in line for hours to get his share. And because of this stamp, collectors throughout the world appear to be doing their bit to support beleaguered Ukrainians.

The soldier’s raised fist, sometimes called a middle finger salute or “flipping a bird,” might be construed as yet another version of the Ukraine gyrfalcon/trident. A few days before the stamp’s release the Moskva – the Russian ship depicted on the stamp – was destroyed by a non-mythological Neptune missile. Russia’s current ruler, Vladimir the Astonished, is said to be hiding somewhere in the Ural Mountains. And Ukraine’s current leader, Volodymyr the Persistent, continues to astound. If the patron saint of both Russia and Ukraine -- the Holy Great Prince Volodymyr (Vladimir) -- were still alive today, which namesake would he bless?

Notice the tridents

Census: 30 in BB spaces, six tip-ins, 39 on supplement pages – including several never issued.

Notes:

1) Credit: www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CT%5CR%5CTrident.htm

2) https://classic.stamps.org/userfiles/file/MyAPS/Exhibits/UkrainePostalHistory-363017.pdf

3) Roman Procyk. “Why are there so many different Podilla Tridents?” Ukrainian Philatelist No. 124 (2020). Also available online.

An afterthought. The Ukraine government, exiled to Warsaw in 1923 because of the Soviet invasion, intended to recapture their lost homeland. They even printed and planned to use field post stamps, but it never happened.

Field mail postage, sadly never used 

Jim's Observations

Bud's essay on contemporary and past Ukraine is marvelous. 

My contribution is found with the link below: It shows a number of the forgeries.

Ukraine Blog Post & BB Checklist

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Supplements

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Comments appreciated!