ARMENIA

ARMENIA / ՀԱՅԱՍՏԱՆ.

Mount Ararat.
Sixth stamp in a un-issued set of 10 (11/1920). It is most likely a vintage fake.
Face value: 25 Russian rubles.
Design: Arshak Fetvadjian.
Printed in Paris.

Catalogues
- Scott No. 273.
- StampWorld No. 123.

Mount Ararat (in Armenian, Արարատ; in Turkish, Ağrı Dağı; in Kurdish, Çiyayê Agirî), at an altitude of 5137 m (16,854 ft), is the highest peak in Turkey and is located in the eastern part of the country, very close to the border with Iran and Armenia. It is an inactive volcano whose top is covered with perpetual snow. It is the principal national symbol of Armenia and has been considered a sacred mountain by Armenians. It is featured prominently in Armenian literature and art and is an icon for Armenian irredentism.

This set of 10 stamps, designed by the eminent Armenian artist Arshak Fetvadjian, were printed in Paris by the Chassepot Printing Works in November 1920, but were never delivered (Armenia was at war with Turkey at the time) and were sold to French merchants and collectors, already that the revolutionary Dashnaktsutyun party needed to obtain financial resources. Few sets (maybe 50) appear to have been printed, which were copiously reprinted as fakes. In fact, the set is considered un-issued.