Home Catalogue index Volume 1 index Volume 2 index

Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

LATVIA

Latvija - Lettland - Lettonie - Lettonia

Return To Catalogue - Wenden

Currency: 100 Kapeikas = 1 Rubel; After 1923: 100 Santimi = 1 Lats

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

Before the independance of Latvia, the stamps of Russia were used, example:

1918 Arms of Latvia, imperforate or perforated

  3 k lilac
  5 k red
  10 k blue
  15 k green
  20 k orange
  25 k grey
  35 k brown
  40 k lilac (1921)
  50 k violet
  75 k green
  3 R blue and red (1919)
  5 R brown and red (1919)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Surcharged

  '2 DIWI RUBLI' on 10 k blue (1920)
  '15 SANTIMU' on 40 k lilac (1927)
  '15 SANTIMU' on 50 k violet (1927)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Some stamps of the 5 k value were printed on the back of maps. Example:

(Front and backside)

A nice site on the forgeries of this issue can be found at http://www.apsit.com/forgery.htm

Forgery with a sun ray ending just behind the "V" of "LATVIJA" instead of in front of it. Apparently the paper with the map is the same as used in the genuine stamps. There are also four stars in the design of this forgery (the genuine stamps only have three). The printing is badly done.

A second type of forgeries exists printed on forged German military maps. These forgeries are much more deceptive and were made in the 1980's (see above mentioned website for more details). Even a third type of forgeries seems to exist (Kull forgeries of the 3 k, 25 k and 75 k?). See also the Barefoot guide on forgeries of Latvia.

Later issues were also printed on the back of unfinished banknotes.

1919 Commemoration of the liberation of Riga

(Reduced sizes)

  5 k red
  15 k green
  35 k brown

Surcharged

  '2 DIWI RUBLI' on 35 k brown (1920)

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1919 Rising sun, imperforate or perforated, inscription "LATWIJA PASTA MARKA"

(Reduced sizes)

  10 k blue

These stamps are either imperforate or perforated 11 1/2.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1919 Commemoration of the liberation of Curland, man fighting with dragon

  10 k brown and red
  25 k blue and green
  35 k black and blue
  1 R green and brown

Surcharged

  'WEENS 1 RUBLIS' (red) on 35 k black and blue (1920)
  'DIVI 2 RUBLI' (red) on 25 k blue and green (1920)
  'DIVI 2 RUBLI' (blue) on 35 k black and blue (1920?) 

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1919 Commemoration of the independance inscription "1918 18 nov 1919"

(Smaller and larger sized stamp)

(Front and backside of a 1 R stamp, reduced size)

  10 k brown and red (2 sizes)
  35 k blue and green
  1 R green and red

Due to lack of paper the 1 R stamp was printed on the backside of banknote paper (see picture above).

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Surcharged
  '10 ruble' on 1 R green and red (1920)
  '10 ruble' and 'Desmit rubli.' on 1 R green and red (1921)
  '20 ruble' (brown) on 1 R green and red (1920)
  '30 ruble' (blue) on 1 R green and red (1920)
  'DIWI RUBLI 2' (red) on 35 k blue and green (1920)

1920 Independence commemoration

  50 k green and red
  1 R green and brown

Surcharged (1921)
  '10 DESMIT RBL' on 50 k green and red
  20 R on 50 k green and red
  30 R on 50 k green and red
  50 R on 50 k green and red
  100 R (blue) on 50 k green and red

1920 Inscription "SATVERSMES SAPULCES PEEMINAU"

  50 k red
  1 R blue
  3 R brown and green
  5 R grey and brown

Surcharged
  'DIVI 2 RUB.2' (blue) on 50 k red (1921)
  1 L on 3 R brown and green (1927)

1920 Red Cross issue

  20 k + 30 k brown and red
  40 k + 55 k blue and red
  50 k + 70 k green and red
  1 R + 1.30 R black and red

Surcharged (1921)
  'Rub 2 RUB' on 20 k + 30 k brown and red
  'Rub 2 RUB' on 40 k + 55 k blue and red
  'Rub 2 RUB' on 50 k + 70 k green and red
  'Rub 2 RUB' on 1 R + 1.30 R black and red

1921 Arms of Latvia, larger sizes for higher values

These stamps were first issued with value in 'Kap' and 'Rubel', later (1924) the set was re-issued in the currency 'Santimi' and 'Lati'.

  50 k violet
  1 R yellow
  2 R green
  3 R green
  5 R red
  6 R red
  9 R orange
  10 R blue
  15 R blue
  20 R lilac
  50 R brown (larger size)
  100 R blue (larger size)

1924 (new currency, "SANTIMI" and "LATI")
  1 s violet
  2 s yellow
  3 s orange (1931)
  4 s green
  5 s green
  6 s green on yellow
  7 s green (1931)
  10 s red
  10 s green on yellow (1932)
  12 s red
  15 s brown on lilac
  20 s blue
  20 s lilac
  25 s blue
  30 s lilac
  30 s blue (1928)
  35 s blue (1931)
  40 s lilac
  50 s grey
  1 L brown (larger size)
  2 L blue (large size)
  5 L green (larger size)
  10 L red (larger size)

Overprinted with cross and "KARA INVALIDIEN" and surcharged (all in blue)

  1 + 10 s violet
  2 + 10 s yellow
  4 + 10 s green

Overprinted "Latvijas razojumu izstade Riga 1932.g.10.-18.IX." (1932)

  3 s orange
  10 s green on yellow
  20 s lilac
  35 s blue

1921 First airmail stamps, triangular stamps with an earoplane in the center

  10 R green
  20 R blue

New value indication (1928) 

  10 s green
  15 s red
  25 s blue

Overprinted "LATVIA AIZGARCI" (1931)
  50 s (violet) on 10 s green (also exists imperforate)
  1 L (blue) on 10 s red (also exists imperforate)
  1.50 L (red) on 25 s blue (also exists imperforate)

Overprinted "LATVIJA - AFRICA 1933" (imperforate)
  10 s green
  15 s red
  25 s blue
  '50' on 15 s red
  '100' on 25 s blue

1925 Inscription "PARDOSANAS CENA 1625 LIEPAJA 1925", various designs

  6 s + 12 s brown and blue (harbour view)
  15 s + 25 s blue and brown (house)
  25 s + 35 s brown and green (house with garden)
  30 s + 40 s blue and brown (church)
  50 s + 60 s green and violet (arms)

Imperforate stamps appeared through illegal means on the philatelic market.

Imperforate 30 s + 40 s stamp

1928 Portrait of Janis Tschakste (president)

  2 s + 12 s orange
  6 s + 16 s green
  15 s + 25 s red-brown
  25 s + 35 s blue
  30 s + 40 s lilac

1928 10 years independence, inscription "1918 1928", various views

  6 s green and violet
  15 s brown and green
  20 s red and green
  30 s blue and brown
  50 s grey and red
  1 L brown and red-brown

1928 Charity issue for a national monument, various views (20 s with goddess), perforated or imperforate

  6 s + 16 s green
  10 s + 20 s red
  15 s + 25 s lilac
  30 s + 40 s blue
  50 s + 60 s grey
  1 L + 1.10 L brown

1928 Portrait of Z.A. Meierovics in an ellipse

  2 s + 4 s yellow
  6 s + 12 s green
  15 s + 25 s brown
  25 s + 35 s blue
  30 s + 40 s light blue

1930 Rainis foundation, various designs with Rainis

  1 s + 2 s lilac
  2 s + 4 s orange
  4 s + 8 s green
  6 s + 12 s green and brown
  10 s + 20 s red
  15 s + 30 s brown and green

Airmail (birthplace of Rainis with aeroplane)
  10 s + 20 s red and green
  15 s + 30 s green and red

1930 Tuberculosis charity stamps

  1 s + 2 s lilac and red (a misprint exists in the colors of 2 s + 4 s)
  2 s + 4 s orange and red (cross and flowers)
  4 s + 8 s green and red (woman and cross, 'LTAB' below)
  5 s + 10 s green and brown (G.Zemgal, 'LT' and 'AB' in upper corners)
  6 s + 12 s green and yellow (castle in Riga, 'LTAB' in label)
  10 s + 20 s red and black (J.Tschakste)
  15 s + 30 s red and green (flowers and cross, 'LTAB' at the bottom)
  20 s + 40 s red and blue (A.Kwesis)
  25 s + 50 s blue and red on lilac (hospital)
  30 s + 60 s blue and black (3 presidents)

Surcharged (1931)
  9 s on 6 s + 12 s green and yellow
  16 s on 1 s + 2 s lilac and red 
  17 s on 2 s + 4 s orange and red 
  19 s on 4 s + 8 s green and red 
  20 s on 5 s + 10 s green and brown 
  23 s on 15 s + 30 s red and green 
  25 s on 10 s + 20 s red and black 
  35 s on 20 s + 40 s red and blue 
  45 s on 25 s + 50 s blue and red on lilac 
  55 s on 30 s + 60 s blue and black 

The above surcharged stamps can be considered as a speculative issue.

1932 Various scenes of the history of Latvia, perforated or imperforate

  1 s + 11 s brown and blue
  2 s + 17 s green and orange
  3 s + 23 s brown and red
  4 s + 34 s green and bluish green
  5 s + 45 s olive-green and green

1932 Army issue, inscription "AISZARGI" or "AISZARGU JUBILEJA", various designs

  6 s + 25 s brown and lilac (marching army)
  7 s + 35 s green and blue (attacking army)
  10 s + 45 s green and brown (taking car of wounded soldiers)
  12 s + 55 s red-brown and green 
  15 s + 75 s red-brown and black (General Janis Balodis)

Airmail (triangular stamps with eagle)
  10 s + 20 s green and light green
  15 s + 30 s red and grey
  25 s + 50 s blue and grey
  

1932 Charity issue for deceased pilots, perforated or imperforate, various designs

  5 s + 25 s brown and green (Icarus)
  10 s + 50 s brown and green (Da Vinci)
  15 s + 75 s brown and green (balloon)
  20 s + 100 s green and red (Wright airplane)
  25 s + 125 s brown and blue (Bleriot airplane)

1932 Charity issue for deceased military pilots (perforated or imperforate), various designs

  2 s + 52 s yellow (Icarus)
  3 s + 53 s red (graveyard)
  10 s + 60 s green (statue)
  20 s + 70 s red

1932 Charity issue for deceased military pilots (perforated or imperforate), various designs

  3 s + 53 s red and grey (triangle)
  7 s + 57 s blue and brown (triangle)
  8 s + 68 s brown and black
  12 s + 112 s red and green
  30 s + 130 s blue and black
  35 s + 135 s blue and black (triangle)
  40 s + 190 s lilac and blue

1934 Various designs

  3 s orange (tower at Riga)
  5 s light green (arms)
  10 s green (design as 5 s)
  20 s red (woman guarded by soldiers)
  35 s blue (building)
  40 s brown (design as 3 s)

1936 Various famous persons (journalists)

  3 s orange (A.Kronvalds)
  10 s green (A.Pumpurs)
  20 s lilac (J.Maters)
  35 s blue (Auseklis)

1936 Charity issue

  3 s orange (shield with 'L' and cross)
  10 s green (plant with shield containing 'L' and cross below)
  20 s lilac (crying man with shield containing 'L' and cross in background)
  35 s blue (woman catching shield containint 'L' and cross)

1937 Various statues

  3 s orange
  5 s green
  10 s green
  20 s red
  30 s blue (statue with three stars on top)
  35 s blue
  40 s brown

1938 Portrait of man facing the left, inscription "TEVZEMES BALVAI" below curved "LATVIJA"; "LX" below portrait

  3 s orange
  5 s light green
  10 s green
  20 s lilac
  25 s violet
  30 s blue
  35 s blue
  40 s brown
  50 s black and green(?)

1938 Various designs, large sized stamps

  35 s blue (building)
  40 s brown (bridge)

I have seen these two stamps in a mini-sheet with inscription "CELTNIECIBAS FONDA PASTMARKS" on top and "1938 CENA LS 2.-" at the bottom. Below the 35 s stamp is written "TIESU FILS" and below the 40 s stamp "KEGUMA SPEKSTACIJA".

1938 Commemoration, inscription "1918 1938", various designs

  3 s brown (lake with forest)
  5 s green (lake with landscape)
  10 s green (famous person, soldiers and bridge, larger size)
  20 s red (famous person, woman with flag at right hand side, large size)
  30 s blue (view of city)
  35 s black (waterfall)
  40 s lilac (country side view)

1939 Commemorative issue, inscription "1934 1939 15 MAIJS", various designs

  3 s brown (building)
  5 s green (building)
  10 s black (castle)
  20 s red (statue)
  30 s blue (eagle with flag)
  35 s blue (building)
  40 s brown (castle)
  50 s black (saluting man)

1939 farmer and apples, inscription "8 X 1939" at the bottom

  10 s green (farmer)
  20 s brown (apples)

1939 Arms with "LATVIJA" written straight on top

  1 s violet
  2 s yellow
  3 s red
  5 s brown
  7 s green
  10 s blue
  20 s red
  30 s brown
  35 s blue
  50 s olive
  1 L green

1940 Sowjet Latvia issue, arms, inscription "LATVIJAN RSR"

  1 s ?
  3 s ?
  3 s red
  5 s olive
  7 s green
  10 s ?
  12 s ?
  15 s ?
  20 s brown
  25 s ?
  30 s ?
  35 s blue
  40 s ?
  50 s ? 

Railway stamps

First issued in 1926. These are relatively large stamps with an image of a winged wheel. I have seen the values 10 s brown, 15 s violet, 20 s red, 50 s green and 1 Lats orange, .

German Occupation

1941 Small sized stamps of the Sowjet Union (different designs), overprinted "LATVIJA 1941 1.VII"

  5 k red
  10 k blue
  20 k green
  30 k blue (pilot)

Miscellaneous

Overprint "LP" and cross on Russian stamps:

(Reduced size)

More stamps exist with this overprint, they were issued for the North West army of general Awalow - Bermondt, I don't know if these stamps were ever actually used.

I do not know if the next overprint is genuine or a bogus issue, I have seen the 50 k with the same overprint:

(Bogus overprint?)

Another overprint (I've been told that this was made for the Western Army?):

I have seen this overprint on the arms issue (3 k, 5 k, 10 k, 20 k, 25 k, 35 k, 50 k and 75 k) and the Riga 1919 issue (values 5 k, 15 k and 35 k).

Local stamps of Eleja, fiscal stamps 'STEMPELMARKA' overprinted 'PASTMARKA' (postage stamp) in red. I have seen the values 15 k orange and 30 k green.

Bogus Issues

Local bogus issue for Rauna - Walmeera (Wolmar - Ronnenberg), supposedly issued on 12th December 1918:

(Four different values on a letter with 'Rauna' cancel)

The designs are fairly similar, I've seen the values 5 k, 10 k, 25 k and 50 k. The inscription is "LATWIJA". I've seen them with a straight 'Rauna' cancel or a straight 'Walmeera' cancel.

Another bogus issue:

Click on Russia non issued stamps for more information

Fiscal stamps, examples, inscription "STEMPEL MARKA"

(Reduced sizes)

Inscription "ZIMOGMARKA" picture of a woman:

In this design I have seen: 20 s brown and green, 40 s green and brown.

Inscription "ZIMOGMARKA", arms of Latvia:

In this design I have seen 2 s orange, 3 s green, 5 s blue and 10 s olive.

Fournier Forged Cancel

A forged cancel made by the stamp forger Francois Fournier can be found in the Fournier Album (under Ethiopia). It was probably used on forged letters?

A forged Fournier cancel (reduced size) 'LEEPAJA LATWIJA 20 2.19 6-7?'

Stamps - Briefmarken - Timbres-Poste - Pastmarkas

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer