Front: Abu Nasr al-Farabi (870-950), philosopher and scientist

Farabi was born in the small village in Otrar, Kazakhstan of Turkic parents. He arrived in Baghdad to pursue his higher education in 901 and remained there for over 40 years. Farabi made notable contributions in many fields including mathematics, philosophy, medicine and music.

Back: Architectural drawings of mosque

Front: Aronuly Suinbai (1815-1898), poet

Suinbai is famous for his poetic talent and ability to perform and improvise. His creative work reflects the history, traditions, life and morals of the Kazakhs.

Back: Landscape of Alatau

Front: Chokan Valichanov (1835-1865), scientist

Valichanov was educated in a military college in Russia. At the age of 18 he became an aide-de-camp of the Governor of the South Siberia. He started his scientific career when he went to Kyrgyzstan in 1856. In 1859, at the age of 24, he was admitted to the prestigious Russian Geographical Society. He wrote more than 50 scientific investigative works, which are collected in 5-volumes.

Back: Landscape of Ok Zhetpes mountains

Front: Abai Kunanbaev (1845-1904), Kazakh poet, composer, and philosopher

Kunanbaev was born in Karaul, the son of a well-off feudal lord. He studied the writings of Mikhail Lermontov and Aleksandr Pushkin in a Russian school. Kunanbaev is famous for his poetry, which expresses great nationalism grew out of Kazakh folk culture.

Back: Equestrian hunter

Front: Abulkhair Khan (1428-1468), leader of the Uzbek confederation

Back: Native artwork