Description: This historical artifact is a genuine imperforate definitive stamp issued by the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR). The intricate central design, masterfully created by celebrated Ukrainian graphic artist Heorhiy Narbut, features a crisp left-facing profile of a young woman wearing a traditional floral crown and wreath. The upper corners cleanly present the numeral denomination flanking the Cyrillic text "30 ШАГІВ", while a formal banner spanning the bottom margin spells out the full name of the republic. Printed via a flatbed letterpress method in a rich blue-grey ink, this specific specimen is an unsevered, wide-margined imperforate variety lacking the traditional edge perforations. Because it is completely devoid of postmarks or mechanical ink cancellations, it remains in an unissued, clean mint state.
Circa: 1918.
Condition: Used example.
Notes:
Due to a severe national shortage of small metal coins during the chaotic transition of the Ukrainian War of Independence, the UNR government passed a law on April 18, 1918, authorizing these miniature stamps to circulate interchangeably as both standard postage and legal paper currency. To facilitate daily cash use, the reverse side of the thick cardstock sheets was originally printed with a small Ukrainian trident emblem alongside text stating the paper circulated "equal to ringing coin".