MaltaPost and Russian Post will mark their respective countries' long-standing relations by the release of a philatelic joint stamp issue.

The common theme chosen for this stamp issue relates to two paintings by Russian artist Nicholas Krassnoff and portrays the view of the Birgu waterfront for the Malta stamp and the Dulber Palace in Crimea for the Russian stamp.  Born in 1869, Nicholas Krasnoff was a painter, an architect and an author of many Yalta cultural objects. In 1920-1922, he lived in Malta where he took up watercolour painting and graphic art.

The set was designed by Marka from Russian Post and will be issued in sheets of 10 stamps. The two stamps each bear a value of €1.00. The stamps measure 31mm x 44mm with a perforation of 13.9 x 14.0 comb bearing the Maltese Cross mark while the sheet measures 158mm x 166mm. Printex Limited printed 85,000 stamps.

This philatelic issue will be available as from Tuesday 24 May from all Post Offices in Malta and Gozo, online at www.maltaphilately.com or by mail from the Philatelic Bureau, MaltaPost p.l.c. 305, Qormi Road, Marsa MTP 1001; Telephone 2596 1740, email: [email protected].