{"product_id":"stamp-sheet-animal-world-of-ukraine-1997","title":"Stamp Sheet \"Wildlife of Ukraine\" 1997","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe 1997 miniature sheet \"Wildlife of Ukraine\" (Nos. 176–181) serves as a miniature gallery of the natural world, bringing together—within a single composition—the masters of the skies, quiet forest dwellers, and nomads of the steppes. Released on the eve of the New Year, this sheet was conceived as an artistic portrait of Ukraine’s natural wealth, ranging from familiar, childhood-recognized figures to rare species in need of protection.\u003cbr\u003eArtist Volodymyr Lesniak structured the composition as a contrasting dialogue between different elements and scales; alongside powerful giants, there is room for tiny, almost fairytale-like creatures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMasters of the Skies (stamps with a face value of 0.20 UAH)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top row of the sheet is dedicated to birds, each embodying a distinct landscape and mood of the Ukrainian natural environment.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eEurasian Skylark\u003c\/strong\u003e (*Alauda arvensis*). A living symbol of Ukraine’s boundless steppes and fields, whose resonant song is the first to herald the arrival of spring and the awakening of the earth.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eWhite-tailed Eagle\u003c\/strong\u003e (*Haliaeetus albicilla*). A powerful and majestic predator—ruler of vast river valleys and the stretches of the Dnieper—that embodies strength, freedom, and the rare beauty of the wild; it is listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.\u003cbr\u003e•\u003cstrong\u003e Black Stork\u003c\/strong\u003e (*Ciconia nigra*). Unlike its white-colored relative that settles near humans, this mysterious, striking creature chooses the remote, ancient forests of Polissia and the Carpathians, embodying the pristine silence of protected wilderness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eInhabitants of Forests and Steppes (stamps with a face value of 0.40 UAH)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bottom row introduces land-dwelling inhabitants, showcasing the remarkable diversity of temperaments found in our local fauna—from tiny nocturnal wanderers to the unbridled force of the wild forest.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eLong-eared hedgehog\u003c\/strong\u003e (*Erinaceus auritus*). An endearing and unusual inhabitant of the southern steppes; distinguished from the common forest hedgehog by its long ears and agility, it serves as a reminder of the fragility of steppe ecosystems.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eGarden dormouse\u003c\/strong\u003e (*Eliomys quercinus*). A miniature, graceful forest creature with large eyes and a bushy, tufted tail—rarely seen in the wild due to its nocturnal habits and scarcity.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eWild boar\u003c\/strong\u003e (*Sus scrofa*). The embodiment of primal energy, endurance, and the untamed power of Ukraine’s oak groves and floodplain forests; a creature essential to the natural balance of our region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConcept and Artistic Vision of the Issue\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough Ukrposhta did not publish an official manifesto for this issue, the selection of subjects eloquently reveals the concept behind this 1990s philatelic series. During the first decade of independence, the state sought to showcase its natural heritage to both the world and its own citizens.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eEcological Focus\u003c\/strong\u003e. Most of the subjects featured on the sheet are species listed in the Red Book or classified as vulnerable (the white-tailed eagle, black stork, long-eared hedgehog, and garden dormouse). These miniatures were intended to draw attention to the preservation of biodiversity, serving as a reminder that the country’s true treasures live right alongside us.\u003cbr\u003e• \u003cstrong\u003eGeographical Completeness\u003c\/strong\u003e. Together, the six subjects encompass all of Ukraine’s natural zones—from the forests of the Carpathians and Polissia to the steppes of the Black Sea region—forming a cohesive mosaic of the natural world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCountry\u003c\/strong\u003e - Ukraine\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRelease Date\u003c\/strong\u003e - 12\/30\/1997\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe circulation\u003c\/strong\u003e - 100 000\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichel number\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cspan\u003e176-181\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBlock size\u003c\/strong\u003e - \u003cspan\u003e113х122\u003c\/span\u003e mm\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Official Ukrposhta issue","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":68575931072672,"sku":null,"price":9.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0036\/4547\/2886\/files\/Stamp-Sheet-Animal-World-of-Ukraine-postal-ukraine.webp?v=1794596988","url":"https:\/\/postcardsua.com\/es\/products\/stamp-sheet-animal-world-of-ukraine-1997","provider":"Postal Ukraine","version":"1.0","type":"link"}