Handbook of Modern Ukrainian Philately

"Handbook of Modern Ukrainian Philately -- A Catalog of Stamps, Stationery, and Cancellations, 1991-2000," by George D. Fedyk and Ingert J. Kuzych (vi + 230 pages, 8.5" x 11" format, ISBN 1-889581-14-3) $25.00 US.

Published by Ukrainian Philatelic Resources, this English-language book is a treasure of information and details. The catalog consists of five parts:

1. Part I covers all postage stamps, both regular issues and regional issues created from remaining Soviet stamps in 1992 by overprinting with tridents. The descriptions include all available information for every issue. In addition to the regular facts such as date of release, designer(s), colors, paper type, perforations, quantities produced, and printing format, additional information on major varieties is presented as well as descriptions for the fluorescence patterns exhibited by the stamps or souvenir sheets under UV light. This latter characteristic is a unique attribute of Ukrainian stamps and sheets. Moreover, the subjects depicted on the philatelic issues are concisely but completely described.
2. Part II details postal stationery items including first day covers, pre-stamped envelopes, pre-stamped postal cards, souvenir folders, souvenir cards, and stamp booklets. All available information is set forth including dates, sizes, designer(s), quantities, descriptions, and, where applicable, the unique Order Number that is assigned to every stationery item produced.
3. Part III describes Special Issues and includes joint issues, Europa issues, World Wildlife Fund issues, and other distinctive releases - such as maximum cards, post cards, and postal cards - prepared for certain philatelic events.
4. Part IV is perhaps the most impressive in the catalog, because in includes descriptions of all of the commemorative postmarks (837) produced in Ukraine during its first decade of independence. These descriptions are laid out not just chronologically, but also a second time grouped by oblast (province)! Of these postmarks, all those used as first day markings are also illustrated.
5. Part V is the last and it is composed of five detailed Appendices. These include an extensive listing of Thematics on Ukrainian Stamps (22 categories are set forth), a compendium of Ukrainian Stamp Series, a complete itemization of Ukrainian Postal Rates (from 1992 to 2000; 14 pages of minute but complete tables), an introduction to Ukraine's Official Transliteration System, and a glossary of Philatelic Terminology.