COVER N. 644 - KYRGYZTAN

Postmark: ? 24.07.2025 

Posted on the 24th July; Received on the 18th August 2025

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I have just noticed that I forgot to post a cover I got from the wondrous wanderer, The Ghost that Walks, my friend  The Phantom, I received back in August, mailed from Kyrgyzstan.

Better late than never, they say... Danke sehr, Alex!

In 2005, quite a few Postal Administrations issued stamps celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first CEPT/EUROPA stamps, and what I find quite remarkable is that many of the countries that issued these celebratory sets were not even part of CEPT or Post Europe.

Kyrgyztan is one such case, and on the cover Alex sent me we can see three of the six (15; 20; 25; 45; 60; 85 som) stamps issued on 29DEC2005, celebrating this fact.

As a side note, I should mention that the stamps were issued in perforated and imperforated versions, the latter being used on the cover.

The Kyrgyz issue highlighted "50th anniversary of the first EUROPA stamps - The great silk path - The first link between Asian and European Cultures" as can be read on the legend on top of the stamps, to the right of the CEPT logo.

Each of the stamp is then illustrated with a landmark of the silk road . Left to right we have:

The Uzgen Minaret, dating from the 11th century, this minaret located in Uzgen, a town in the Osh region, is built in bricks and stands 27.5 metres tall;

the Acropolis, Athens, not technically a silk road location, but very relevant to the formation of an European identity, Athens is represented by its most famous landmark, the Parthenon at the Acropolis, dating from the 5th century BC.

The Kolossi Castle, at Limassol in Cyprus, built in 1454 on the location of an earlier 13th century infrastructure.

And yes the castle is ok, but really impressive is the 200 + years old  Rosewood tree that lives in its yard.... absolutely amazing.

The Postmark of the  Kyrgyz Pochtasy SE - one of the two postal operators of Kyrgyztan - was issued at the town of Osh.

 POSTCARD N.112 - KYRGYZTAN

Postcard sent on the 10th September; received on the 24th September 2023

Postcard image: A Yurt in Kyrgyztan  
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While on his recent foray into "Stan" countries, The Ghost Who Walks  not only generously sent me some covers, but he also sent me this nice postcard of a Kyrgyzstani yurt in a clearing in some local forest. Thank a lot, Mr. Phantom.

Strange to see a yurt amidst trees. I thing that our collective imagination usually associates yurts with the deserted vastness of Mongolia, but in fact it is also used by several nomadic populations in central Asia, in the "stan" countries, such as in Kyrgyzstan, as the postcard illustrates.

The stamp on the card is really curious. In fact, postage is ensured by means of a 57 som label, and onto it Alex glued a vignette, without any face value, but clearly resembling a stamp, illustrated with the image of a mountain sheep, the Argali (ovis ammon), a highly menaced species, endemic to the mountains of central Asia.

The Postmark of the  Kyrgyz Pochtasy SE - one of the two postal operator of Kyrgyztan - was issued at the town of Cholpon Ata.

 COVER N. 297 - KYRGYSTAN

Postmark: ? 12.07.23

Posted on the 12th July; Received on the 14th August 2023

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And here is proof that even if C6 envelopes are not allowed to be used in Kyrgystan, they are at least allowed to be postmarked, thanks to the persuasive powers of Alex.... small wonder, though...who would say no to The Phantom?

So this was the cover that was inside the C5 envelope (#296) Alex sent me. A double treat, that allowed me to tick the box for the second Kyrgyz postal operator. Thanks a lot, mate.

Two historic personalities were chosen for the stamps Alex used on this cover:

- Absamat Masaliyev (1933-2004) was the leader of the Kyrgyz Communist party from 1985 until his death in 2004, having thus led the party throughout the transition of Kyrgystan from a soviet republic into a independent country, that is to say, from first secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kirghizia into first leader of the actual Party of Communists of Kyrgyzstan.

On 10APR2008, Kyrgyz Pochtasy SE issued a two stamp set (10 and 15 som) honouring Kyrgys heroes. Masaliyev portrait features on the 15 som stamp as well as the Ak-Shumkar Medal, the country's highest  state award, identifying its holder as Hero of the Kyrgyz Republic.

- Taylak Baatyr (1796-1838), from what I could grasp over sparse notes on the Internet, was the leader of Kyrgyz tribes in their fight against neighbouring Kokand invaders, and it seems that this fact played a key role in the preservation of a Kirgiz national identity, so much so that his memory was honoured by Kyrgyz Pochtasy SE with the 55 som  stamp issued on 30JUL2016,on the occasion of the 220th anniversary of his birth.

The Postmark is  not easy to read, but I think I can read Bishkek (the country's capital) on the bottom part of it.

 COVER N. 296 - KYRGYSTAN

Postmark: ? 12.07.23

Posted on the 12th July; Received on the 14th August 2023

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Postal rules can be complex. I remember my wife telling me they had made her write her name as sender on the front of the envelope in Azerbaijan, even though I had my full address on its back, as I always do.

Now the Phantom tells me in Kyrgyzstan, our beloved C6 envelopes would not be accepted... still that did not refrained Alex from finding a way of circumventing this strange disposition...

So tanks a lot, Alex, for your C5 envelope with a C6 inside. You are a resourceful and tenacious cover collector, indeed. 

Again I can't express how deeply grateful I am to Alex for always sending me interesting overs from interesting places. I am pretty sure my friend Mr. Postman must be very intrigued by the unusual letter traffic he drops into my letterbox.

The stamp Alex used is the 2017 RCC (Regional Commonwealth for Communications)  issue of Kyrgyzstan, with a face value of 76 som, it is illustrated with two examples of handcrafted "Chynykap", a sort of case for cups.

Kyrgyzstan has two designated postal operators - "Kyrgyz Pochtasy" SE and "Kyrgyz Express Post" LLC. both issuing stamp sets. I believe this particular stamp and envelope are Kyrgyz Pochtasy SE isues.