Selo do Bloco.
Joint issue - Bulgaria and Russia.
Bulgaria Mi:BG 5356-5357 & BL447 & BL447a.
Count Iosif Vladimirovich Gurko (1828–1901) was a Russian general, one of the liberators of Bulgaria. He headed the advance detachment with the aim to capture the Balkan passes. He freed a major part of the country including Tarnovo, Kazanlak, Stara Zagora and Kalofer. In December 1877, he did a difficult crossing of the Balkan Mountains, and occupied Sofia in January 1878, which predetermined the outcome of the war.
