Confirmed varieties of Musa Djalil

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In 1959, the Soviet Union issued a postage stamp series devoted to the Tatar poet and Hero of the Soviet Union Musa Jalil. This release pays tribute to a figure whose literary talent and wartime heroism were deeply celebrated in the USSR.

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Historical and Thematic Context

 

Musa Jalil (1906–1944) was a prominent Tatar poet, a wartime partisan and martyr whose story became emblematic of Soviet resistance against Nazism. The 1959 stamp issue took place within a broader philatelic trend that honoured Great Patriotic War heroes, intellectual figures, and national identities.

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Design and Features

 

The stamp design is austere and formal: a portrait of Musa Jalil occupies the upper section, often accompanied by the inscription “Hero of the Soviet Union. Musa Jalil”. The palette uses sober tones — blue‑violet or black on a light background — signalling the solemn theme. The printing technique (photogravure or similar) reflects typical Soviet stamp-making of the late 1950s.

The physical format is standard for commemorative issues of that era: rectangular shape, framed portrait, minimal decorative elements.

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Purpose and Circulation

The issue commemorates a significant anniversary tied to the life and sacrifice of Musa Jalil. It served both postal and philatelic purposes: for everyday mail service and as a collectible piece emphasising Soviet values of cultural achievement and heroic struggle. The stamp thus merges literary commemoration with martial remembrance.

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Collecting Considerations

 

For collectors, this stamp represents a meaningful item within the theme “Famous People / War Heroes”. Important aspects include paper quality, condition of perforation, clarity of print and absence of damage. While cataloguing details such as perforation and print numbers matter to specialists, a general collector should focus on the overall state and authenticity of the issue.

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Postage stamp specifications:

• Design: A. Zavialov

• Print: Intaglio

• Raster: Square

• Perforation: Line 12½

• Circulation: 1 500 000

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Confirmed varieties of stamps of Musa Djalil

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1. dot over the upper frame

2. "К" with a tail

3. spot on the forehead

4. dot between "40"

5. black dot over "И" in "ТАТАРСКИЙ"

6. dot on the chin