A postal envelope depicting the Great Gold Medal of the Russian Geographical Society was issued on a memorable date — the 170th anniversary of the founding of the organization. It has a postage stamp with the official emblem of society, which is the globe, and the inscription ‘Russian Geographical Society. It was founded in 1845 “.

The Russian Geographical Society was founded by order of Nicholas I in 1845. The emperor approved the temporary charter of the Russian Geographical Society. The idea of ​creating the organization belonged to Admiral Fedor Litke, the educator of the future first chairman of the Russian Geographical Society of Grand Duke Konstantin Nikolaevich. The main task of the new organization was to gather and guide the best minds towards a comprehensive study of their native country.

Among the founders of the Russian Geographical Society are famous seafarers: admirals Fedor Litke, Ivan Kruzenshtern, Ferdinand Wrangel and Peter Ricord, as well as scientists — natural scientist Karl Baer, astronomer Vasily Struve, geologist Grigory Gelmersen, statistician Peter Keppen. Among them were prominent military figures — quartermaster general Fedor Berg, surveyor Mikhail Vronchenko, statesman Mikhail Muravyov, and representatives of the Russian intelligentsia — linguist Vladimir Dahl and Prince Vladimir Odoevsky.

This is how Peter Semenov-Tyan-Shansky described the essence of the Russian Geographical Society:

The Russian Geographical Society contributed to the study of the Urals, Siberia, the Far East, Central and Inner Asia, the Caucasus, Iran, India, New Guinea and many other territories. These explorations are associated with the names of famous travelers — such as Nikolai Severtsov, Ivan Mushketov, Nikolai Przhevalsky.

In Soviet times, the work of society changed. The Russian Geographical Society focused on relatively small but deep regional studies, as well as large theoretical generalizations. Today, the organization has more than 25,000 members in Russia and abroad. Regional offices are open in all 85 entities of the country.