Postage stamps and postal history of Latvia
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2009) |
Postal history in the territory that now constitutes
Livonian Postal Service
From 1581 to 1621, when
World War I
During World War I, Latvia was occupied by Germany, and used German stamps overprinted by the Ober Ost.
In 1919, German stamps were handstamped "LIBAU", but it was unclear whether they were officially issued; all used copies are
Independent Latvia
Latvia proclaimed its independence on 18 November 1918, and issued its first stamps on 18 December. The design was a depiction of the country's Coat of Arms. Unusually, since paper was in short supply, the first printings were on the backs of leftover German military maps; by 1919, paper with ruled lines was in use.
Latvia issued a variety of definitive and commemorative stamps through the 1920s and 1930s. Definitives used variations on a design featuring the arms, surmounted by three stars, representing Vidzeme, Courland, and Latgale.
World War II
As part of the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940, a series of 13 stamps were issued, depicting the arms of Soviet Latvia and inscribed "Latvijas // PSR".
These were shortly superseded by the
In April 1945, Germans stamps were overprinted "KURLAND" and used in the Courland Pocket.
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Early Soviet issue for Latvia, 1940
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Soviet issue for Latvia, 1940
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German occupation overprint for Latvia, 1941
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Stamp for the Reichskommissariat Ostland, 1941
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German stamp used in the Courland Pocket, 1945
Soviet era
Post-war, Latvia reverted to the use of
Restoration of independence
With the restoration of independence, Latvia resumed its own stamp program in 1991.
See also
References
- ^ "Latvia | Stamps and postal history | StampWorldHistory". Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 12 August 2018.[title missing]
External links
Further reading
- v. Hofmann, Harry (1988). Lettland; Handbuch Philatelie und Postgeschichte; Die Briefmarken Teil I. (in German). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 74963722.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (1988). Lettland; Handbuch Philatelie und Postgeschichte; Die Briefmarken Teil II/III (in German). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 180541542.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (1997). Latvia; Handbook of Philately and Postal History; Postal stationery and official postal forms 1918-1940 (in German and English). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 43671770.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (1998). Latvia; Handbook of Philately and Postal History; The Stamps, Ruble Period 1918-1922 (in German and English). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 43671830.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (1999). Latvia; Handbook of Philately and Postal History; The Postmarks and Post Offices 1918-1940 (in German and English). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 43675221.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (2000). Latvia; Handbook of Philately and Postal History; The Stamps, Lat Period 1923-1940 (in German and English). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 48622531.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (2001). Latvia; Handbook of Philately and Postal History; Latvia before and as part of the "Generalpostkommissariat Ostland" (in German and English). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 76325401.
- v. Hofmann, Harry (2006). Latvia; Handbook of Philately and Postal History; The Postgebiet Ob. Ost in the territory of the later Latvian Republic 1915-1920 (in German and English). Hamburg: Harry v. Hofmann Verlag. OCLC 198063199.