Turkmenistan

Dinosaurs on stamps of Turkmenistan

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Contents:
Turkmenistan, formerly known as Turkmenia is a country in Central Asia.
Turkmenistan has been at the crossroads of civilizations for centuries. In medieval times, Merv was one of the great cities of the Islamic world and an important stop on the Silk Road, a caravan route used for trade with China until the mid-15th century.
Annexed by the Russian Empire in 1881, Turkmenistan later figured prominently in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Central Asia.
In 1924, Turkmenistan became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union, Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic (Turkmen SSR); it became independent upon the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Turkmenistan possesses the world's fourth largest reserves of natural gas resources. Most of the country is covered by the Karakum (Black Sand) Desert. [R1]


The first stamps of Turkmenistan were issued on 26 April 1992.
Before then, Turkmenistan used stamps of the Soviet Union.
Unlike other ex-Soviet republics, Turkmenistan did not overprint Soviet stamps to meet their postal needs after independence, although a number of overprints were carried out on Turkmenistan stamps in 1992 and 1992. [R2]

As of this date, no paleontological or paleoanthropological stamps have been issued by Turkmenistan.
In 1994, some stamps depicting prehistoric animals were planned.
However, the sample designs prepared by a German design company were rejected. A few proofs of the designs exist.
The design company adjusted the design for a contract with Tajikistan’s Postal Service where these stamps were later issued.

Dinosaurs  and prehistoric bird on unadopted stamps of Turkmenistan 1994
Dinosaurs and prehistoric bird on unadopted stamps of Turkmenistan 1994.



References:
  •   [R1] Turkmenistan: Wikipedia, FlagCounter
  •   [R2] Postal History and Philately of Turkmenistan: Wikipedia
              Links to official website of the Post Authority, stamp catalog and a list of new stamps of Turkmenistan are here



Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice from Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, for the draft page review and his valuable comments.


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