New Year's cards by artist V. Zarubin... 2
Words spoken orally are forgotten, but those written on a postcard are stored for many years, reminding of the love and tenderness addressed to you.... And if it is also a beautiful postcard, then your hand will never rise to throw it away. Postcards drawn by the artist Vladimir Chetverikov are precisely those that cannot be thrown away.
Chetverikov Vladimir Ivanovich
(16.03.1943-09.03.1992)
“My father was born in Moscow, graduated from the Stroganov Institute. Worked in the genre of graphics. Illustrated book publications. After some time, he came to the genre of postal miniatures, which became the crown of his creative career. By and large, he brought a new direction to it and made it more interesting. My father’s works were in great demand and people lined up for them, which I myself witnessed. The circulation of postcards has constantly increased, and, as far as I know, today this record has not yet been surpassed.
Vladimir Ivanovich was a talented draftsman, but he did not immediately develop his own style of “writing.” He gradually introduced, so to speak, the “Disney vibe,” which was his idol. But it was Soviet times and this was not welcomed. If you pay attention, the animals depicted are “our” hares, bears, and chanterelles. It was strictly forbidden to depict a foreign animal.
Even funny things happened. Father depicted animals sitting in the boat. And as soon as the trial edition was released, the publishing house received an angry letter from a war veteran, in which he reported that if the postcard was turned over, the ship resembled a fascist helmet. Indeed, with some imagination, the similarity was observed and the circulation was “cut down.”
In general, my father was a very cheerful and witty person..."
Gennady Chetverikov “Memories of Father”
You've probably seen colorful Soviet New Year's cards, which with their cuteness leave even cat videos far behind. They were created by the wonderful Russian artist Vladimir Ivanovich Zarubin. Few people know how interesting the fate of this amazing man was.
Volodya was born in a small village Andriyanovka Alekseevsky village council of Pokrovsky district Oryol region. There were three children in the family: the eldest son was drawn to technology, the middle one wrote poetry, and the youngest son loved to draw since childhood. Volodya's parents had a large collection of postcards and books with reproductions of paintings. My father was a representative of the working intelligentsia, worked as an engineer at a factory and bought books with pictures, which the children loved very much. Volodya looked at the paintings of old masters for a long time, listening to the explanations of the adults, and tried to draw something himself. One of his first drawings delighted the villagers so much that the picture began to be passed from hand to hand. The boy was only 5 years old, but probably one of his fellow villagers predicted his future as an artist.
The family moved to the city in Ukraine Lisichansk, where a large-scale industrial production cluster was created in the Soviet years. Life in the city promised great prospects for the already grown-up sons, but then the war began. Nazi troops invaded the territory of the USSR. Volodya's eldest sons went to the front to fight the aggressor, and Volodya, who was barely 16 years old, fell into occupation. After which he was hijacked by the Germans to Germany. There he ended up in a “labor camp” at one of the factories in the city of Ruhr.
Cruelty, bullying, meager food, fear of execution - this is how the childhood of the future artist ended. For several years Volodya was in labor slavery in a foreign country. In 1945, he and other prisoners were released by American troops. Immediately after his liberation, Vladimir wanted to return home and, having moved to the Soviet occupation zone of Germany, went to serve in the Soviet army. From 1945 to 1949 he served as a rifleman in the commandant's office. After demobilization, he moved to Moscow for permanent residence and got a job as an artist at one of the factories. Here begins the story of his success and future national fame.
One day, while reading a magazine, he saw an advertisement for enrollment in animator courses at the Soyuzmultfilm film studio. Vladimir became eager to master this profession and began studying. From 1957 to 1982 he worked as a cartoonist at Soyuzmultfilm. From his pen came the images of characters from about 100 cartoons, including his favorites: “Well, Just Wait,” “Mowgli,” “In the Footsteps of the Bremen Town Musicians,” “The Secret of the Third Planet” and many others.
At the same time, the artist began to try his hand at postal miniatures. In 1962, his first postcard was issued with the symbol of that time - a cheerful astronaut. 
Subsequently, Vladimir Ivanovich illustrated many books, but his main love remained postcards. In Soviet times, dozens of them were brought to every home - the tradition of congratulating relatives, friends, teachers, classmates, former neighbors by mail was established and beloved. 
Quite quickly, Zarubin’s postcards became the most popular in the country. People asked for them at the post office, queues lined up for them in stores, and children, of course, collected these postcards and wrote letters to the artist. Surprisingly, he found time to answer. The kindest artist in the country was also a very kind person. When Vladimir Ivanovich was asked what was the main thing in his work, he invariably answered: “Maybe my postcards will help people become a little kinder.”
Their total circulation, including envelopes and telegrams, amounted to 1,588,270,000 copies. At the end of the 1970s he was admitted to the Union of Cinematographers of the USSR.
This is truly a wonderful artist from God, the warmth of his heart was reflected in his work. And now people are touched by the simple beauty of his works; Vladimir Zarubin’s postcards are valued among collectors. But most importantly, his cards really bring joy to people. It’s worth looking at a perky, cheerful little squirrel or a hare peeking out from under the tree with a gift, and a person feels a surge of New Year’s mood.
I would like to give all the readers of my blog a New Year's mood. And, it seems to me that there is nothing better than eating a tangerine and looking at the paintings created by such a talented and kind person. With coming!
Chetverikov and Zarubin's favorite postcards are with us again!
In Soviet times, postcards were in every home. For a very long time, it was possible to buy such sets only from second-hand book dealers. But now there are reissues! And the sets are very inexpensive! These are modern reissues of those very favorite postcards of Soviet childhood - the drawings here are so cute and kind, familiar from childhood... Familiar postcards - sets for the New Year, for various holidays... these drawings are still remembered. Modern children also really like these cards. Highly recommended!
The article contains reviews of 4 sets (photos of all postcards for each set):
Hello, holiday!(Chetverikov).
Visiting a fairy tale(Zarubin).
Happy New Year!
Set of postcards, artist V. Zarubin
The New Year is just around the corner. The most beloved holiday is hurrying towards us. What happens in the New Year's forest? How do bear cubs, squirrels, and bunnies celebrate the holiday? Are they waiting for gifts, is Santa Claus rushing to them? The funny, mischievous postcards of Vladimir Ivanovich Zarubin will tell you about this and much more. A classic of postal miniatures, the most beloved artist of children, for several decades he congratulated millions of Soviet people on the New Year. New Year's miracles began with these cards.
Compiler of the set: Elena Rakitina.
This set contains 21 postcards.
Some of Zarubin's postcards presented here are more than 30 years old, which is when they were first issued. But they are not at all outdated. This is a classic!
Happy Holidays
Once upon a time there was a wonderful tradition of congratulating each other with cards. Not embarrassed by distances, they flew from different parts of the big country to end up in mailboxes like colorful leaves. More often than others these were postcards from V.I. Chetverikova.
They sold out instantly, despite huge circulations, and were always recognizable and loved. With cheerful cards the holiday will last longer. After all, it doesn’t end on postcards!
The set contains 15 postcards.
Favorite postcards from childhood! Now you can again send them to friends by mail - reviving this good tradition!
The set is called "Merry Holidays", with such cards, indeed, every holiday is more fun! Just look at these joyful, kind drawings by Vladimir Ivanovich Chetverikov! 15 pieces included! It’s great that the set also includes a portrait of the artist and his biography.
New Year's round dance
Set of postcards, artist V. Chetverikov
Characters from your favorite fairy tales dance in a New Year's round dance. They were invented and drawn by the cheerful artist V.I. Chetverikov, whose postcards were incredibly popular in Soviet times. Garlands on the Christmas trees were shining, snowflakes were flying, snowmen were growing, and Santa Clauses from V.I.’s postcards were smiling in every house. Chetverikova. The artist dreamed that the joy with which he painted them would be transmitted to people. This dream has come true, the relay of smiles and joy continues!
The set contains 15 postcards.
Thanks to the publishing house "Rech", which gave a second life to our favorite postcards by Vladimir Chetverikov!!! It is especially valuable that the biography of the artist and his photo are presented here. For many years, hundreds of collectors have been looking for this information and, finally, everyone has the opportunity to learn about the life of the classic postcard and see his portrait. The set contains 15 postcards, one of them is double, the rarest of V. Chetverikov’s postcards- "Snowmen tug of war." This postcard was released in 1988 with a circulation of only 500 thousand. For the USSR, this is a very small edition, so the postcard has become a rarity.
Holiday every day
Set of postcards, artist V. Chetverikov
Who among us hasn’t dreamed that the holidays would last forever? Especially in childhood, when you believe in miracles so much! There was a time when both they and the holidays began with postcards from V.I. Chetverikova.
Santa Clauses, cartoon and fairy tale characters came to life on them. The artist who invented them loved children very much, believed in goodness and wanted his cards to make the world kinder and more joyful. In the cheerful postcards of V.I. Chetverikov, our childhood dream is a holiday every day!
The set contains 15 postcards.
This set contains 15 cards: four New Year's, four "March 8", two "September 1", one "Happy Birthday" and the rest simply "Congratulations!", for all occasions!
Photos of postcards from each set
Happy holidays. Set of postcards, artist V. Chetverikov. The following photo shows all the postcards from this set.
Holiday every day. Set of postcards, artist V. Chetverikov. The following photo shows all the postcards from this set.
New Year's round dance. Set of postcards, artist V. Chetverikov. The following photo shows all the postcards from this set.
Words spoken orally are forgotten, but those written on a postcard are stored for many years, reminding of the love and tenderness addressed to you.... And if it is also a beautiful postcard, then your hand will never rise to throw it away. Postcards drawn by the artist Vladimir Chetverikov are precisely those that cannot be thrown away.
Chetverikov Vladimir Ivanovich
(16.03.1943-09.03.1992)
“My father was born in Moscow, graduated from the Stroganov Institute. Worked in the genre of graphics. Illustrated book publications. After some time, he came to the genre of postal miniatures, which became the crown of his creative career. By and large, he brought a new direction to it and made it more interesting. My father’s works were in great demand and people lined up for them, which I myself witnessed. The circulation of postcards has constantly increased, and, as far as I know, today this record has not yet been surpassed.
Vladimir Ivanovich was a talented draftsman, but he did not immediately develop his own style of “writing.” He gradually introduced, so to speak, the “Disney vibe,” which was his idol. But it was Soviet times and this was not welcomed. If you pay attention, the animals depicted are “our” hares, bears, and chanterelles. It was strictly forbidden to depict a foreign animal.
Even funny things happened. Father depicted animals sitting in the boat. And as soon as the trial edition was released, the publishing house received an angry letter from a war veteran, in which he reported that if the postcard was turned over, the ship resembled a fascist helmet. Indeed, with some imagination, the similarity was observed and the circulation was “cut down.”
In general, my father was a very cheerful and witty person..."
Gennady Chetverikov “Memories of Father”
When I was little, my grandmother often took me with her to the post office. On New Year's Eve this trip became a real event. A garland was hung over the oak post door, and the best New Year's cards - with hedgehogs, bunnies and squirrels - were displayed in small glass windows. Everyone crowded around the table with holiday stamps, congratulated each other on the upcoming holiday and asked: “Who are you sending it to?” And it seemed that here, in the post office building, everyone knew each other, and that it was here that the real Santa Claus came first and took letters with lists of gifts from the box.
My anticipation of the New Year's miracle always began with this hike. That's how it is now...
Rech Publishing House has released sets of wonderful New Year's cards from the classics of postal miniatures - Vladimir Zarubin and Vladimir Chetverikov.
Vladimir Zarubin is the most popular greeting card artist in the USSR. The total circulation of works exceeded two billion (!). His postcards are valued not only by children, but also by collectors; there is even a separate topic in philocarty.
in "Labyrinth"
Quality of the publication: I would like the cardboard to be thicker, the printing to be clearer and brighter, and the margins to be evener. But all this is small compared to returning to childhood...
On the inside of the folder are biographies of the artists. On the back there is a place for congratulations, address and stamp. Now there is a special price for these sets.
in "Labyrinth"
Other holiday cards from Vladimir Zarubin:
And Vladimir Chetverikov: