The big azure-blue Big Tsarskoselsky (Ekaterininsky) palace is one of the main sights of the Tsarskoye Selo (Tsar Village). Its construction began at Ekaterina I, wife of Peter the Great, and the Palace was named in her honor. Empress Elizaveta Petrovna signed an edict for fundamental reconstruction of the old palace of Ekaterina I on the 10th of May, 1752 and F.B Rastrelly, a chef architect of the court, showed his creation to Elizaveta Petrovna and to foreign ambassadors in 1756 already. The Big Palace had become the center of the court life where not only balls and masquerades took place but the important state affairs were directed since 1756. The Ekaterininsky palace was opened as a museum on the 9th of June, 1918.

Belarus #457 

Belarus #456 

Belarus #455 

Switzerland #454 

Indonesia #453 

Finland#452 

  
Underwater fishing. The underwater fishing requires a snorkel, an underwater rifle, and fins. When fishing in cold waters a hydrosuit is used. The stamp features episodes of underwater fishing in the Black Sea. In the left part of the stamp there is the underwater equipment and the Black Sea fish species.

 
Spinning fishing. A fisherman casts the spoon-bait into the water, a fish catches it and gets hooked. Spinning is used to fish for pikes, perches, and zanders. The stamp features spinning fishing and equipment.

  
Spinning fishing. A fisherman casts the spoon-bait into the water, a fish catches it and gets hooked. Spinning is used to fish for pikes, perches, and zanders. The stamp features spinning fishing and equipment.

Summer line fishing. In summer many fishermen fish using a float line, sinker-float, and other methods. Line fishing is one of the most popular methods, when you can fish from a boat or a bank using a light and resilient fishing rod. This method is widely used to fish for roaches, breams, perches, and other freshwater fishes. The stamp shows summer-time fishing from a boat and a river-bank, as well as the fishing equipment.

"Circle" fishing. Fishing using a "circle", i.e. a large float with a rod in the middle. The float is placed on the water surface, the fishing-line and the sinker with a triple hook with a sprat go under water. When a fish takes the sprat, the float turns upside down. The lower part of the float is painted white, and the upper - red. The stamp features an episode of circle fishing, with the floats and a pike, a perch, and a zander.

Hong Kong #451 

Canada #450 

Malaisia # 449 

Malaisia #448 

Hong Kong #446 

USA #445 

USA #444 

Japan #443 

Brasil #442 

Germany #441 

Costa Rica #440 

Austria #439 

Norge #438 

Norge #437