COVER N. 290 - UZBEKISTAN

Postmark: O'zbekiston Toshkent 21 15.07.2023

Posted on the 15th July; Received on the 1st August 2023

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The Phantom strikes again... This time, the endless wanderer sent me a great cover from one of the seven neighbouring "stan" countries that are located in Central Asia, Uzbekistan, to me more precise.

Uzbekistan, a former Soviet Republic which became independent in 1991 and, on its days, one of the countries in the silk road, famous for the many and sometimes majestic mosques of which the gigantic Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand and the Kalân Mosque in Bukhara, are the most well-known.

Thank you so much, Alex. Thanks to you, another country joins my list!

Stamps left to right:

- In 2023, on various dates, Uzbekistan Post issued a second set of definitives, adding to the set previously issued in 2022, themed on Historical Monuments of Uzbekistan.

This set comprised seven stamps with face values of  100; 600; 1,200; 1,800; 2,100; 5,000 and 5,600 Som.

On the cover there are two stamps from the 2023 issue (100 and 600 Som) featuring images of the Hazrat Khizr Mosque  and the Shoizinda Necropolis, both in  Samarkand, and one from the 2022 issue (1900 som), illustrated with an image of the Sherdor Madrasa, also in Samarkand.

- The President's cup of 1998 was a tennis tournament held in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, integrated in the  international series of the ATP tour.

The singles challenge was won by the British player Tim Henman who beat Yevgeny Kafelnikov from Russia, while the doubles challenge went to the all Italian tem of  Stefano Pescosolido and Laurence Tieleman who defeated the Dane/Dutch pair of Kenneth Carlsen and Sjeng Schalken.

Celebrating the event, on 17AUG1998, Uzbekiston Pochtasi issued the 15 Som stamp that can be seen on the cover.

- The Melodies of the East Festival takes place every two years since 1997, in Samarkand. Its goal is to preserve and develop national musical art and it is open to participants from all over the world.

On 15JUL1998, Uzbekiston Pochtasi issued a 15 Som stamp , commemorating this important cultural event.

The very clear postmark indicates that the letter was posted in the country's capital, Tashkent.