Russia - History of the Russian Cossacks 2010

Country/ Post: Russian Federation
Date of Issue: 20 August 2010
Primary theme: Mankind (Clothes & costumes) & History (History of Peoples) 
Subject: History of the Russian Cossacks
Width: 37.0 mm
Height: 48.5 mm
Denomination: 12.00 RUB
Number in set: 3 (show set)
Layout/Format: miniature sheet of 3 of 3 designs
Perforations: 12 by 12 ½
Stamp issuing authority: MARKA Publishing & Trading Centre
Printer: Association GOZNAK of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation
Printing technique: offsetprint 
Colour: multicolour 
Size of souvenir sheet: 160х100 mm 
Artist: Beltyukov V


Since ancient times Cossack troops have fulfilled the function of the border guards, they have always been the main force of military campaigns beyond Eastern and Western borders of the State.
Don Cossacks are the first on seniority and the largest of the Cossack troops of the Russian Empire. The historical name is connected with the River Don (the Azov Sea basin). Don Cossack troop occupies separate territories of the modern Lugansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine, Rostov, Volgograd and Voronezh regions and the republic of Kalmykia in the Russian Federation.
Kuban Cossacks are the Russian Cossacks of the Northern Caucasus, they occupy the territories of modern Krasnodar region, the western part of the Stavropol Territory, as well as the Republics of Adygea and Karachay-Cherkessia. The troop was officially established in 1860 on the basis of the Black Sea Cossack troop and part of the Caucasian linear Cossack army.
Terek Cossacks are the ethnic group of Cossacks, living along the rivers Terek, Sunzha, Assa, Kura, Malka on the north side of the Caucasus. Headquarters of the Terek Cossack army situates in Vladikavkaz.


The stamps depict:
12 Russian Rubles - Don Cossack men and women in traditional clothes of the end of XIX century.
12 Russian Rubles - Kuban Cossack men and women in traditional clothes of the end of XIX century.
12 Russian Rubles - Terek Cossack men and women in traditional clothes of the end of XIX century.


On the margins of the souvenir sheet are the banners of the three troops and symbols of the Russian Cossacks.