Kyrgyzstan — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Kyrgyz Pochtasy (Кыргыз Почтасы) is Kyrgyzstan’s national postal operator. Kyrgyzstan declared independence from the Soviet Union in August 1991 and began issuing stamps in 1992. Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous Central Asian nation — 90% of its territory is covered by the Tian Shan and Pamir Alay mountain ranges — and its stamp programme reflects this dramatic alpine geography alongside the nomadic Kyrgyz culture, the epic of Manas (the world’s longest epic poem), and the country’s position on the ancient Silk Road.

Notable Stamp Issues

Kyrgyzstan’s first stamps in 1992 depicted the national arms featuring the Tunduk (the crown of a yurt viewed from inside) and the traditional felt hat (kalpak). Subsequent stamps have featured Issyk-Kul lake (one of the world’s largest and deepest mountain lakes), the snow leopard (national animal and Kyrgyzstan’s most recognisable wildlife), the Manas epic heroes, traditional felt carpet (shyrdak) patterns, and Tian Shan mountain peaks. The annual kumys (fermented mare’s milk) and horse-based culture appears on many stamps.

Collecting Tips

Scott Asia catalogue covers Kyrgyz stamps. Post-1992 stamps are the mainstream collecting area — Soviet-era stamps from Kyrgyz SSR are collected under the USSR. Snow leopard stamps attract endangered species collectors. Issyk-Kul lake stamps are popular with geography and mountain lake thematic collectors. The Manas epic stamps attract literature and folklore thematic collectors. Kyrgyzstan’s annual stamp programme is small — complete collections are achievable. Eagle hunting culture (using trained golden eagles) appears on unique stamps.

Part of the Asia Postal Directory.