Postage stamps and postal history of Latvia
Encyclopedia
Postal history in the territory that now constitutes Latvia
began during the 13th century, when the Archbishopric of Riga was included to the postal work zone of the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights
and the Hanseatic League
. 1580 the Hanseatic League issued their first known regulations on courier work and payroll , regulations that also were active in the territory that now constitutes Latvia.
was under the rule of Duchy of Livonia
, and also from 1621 to 1710, when it was a part of Swedish Livonia
, postal services was only for governmental purposes. In the 16th century several postal organisations existed — for governmental purposes, as well as for clerics, universities
, cities
and merchant
s. In 1632 the Postmaster
General of Prussia
and Livonia
, Jacob Becker, who was instated in Swedish Livonia by the King of Sweden, organised the first regular public mail delivery
. Initially, the postal service was private property of the Postmaster General, which also received yearly fundings from the Riga City Council
and the Governors of Swedish Livonia. 1644 the Livonian Postal Service was linked to the Stockholm Postal Service routes in Finland
.
1685 the Duke of Courland
Friedrich Casimir initiated his own postal service and asked the Swedish authorities to cease their postal work within his territory, but King Charles XI of Sweden
ignored his request and stood for his rights in Courland
. 5 July 1710, Russian troops under the command of Czar Peter I of Russia
took over Riga and made it a part of the Russian Empire
.
, Latvia was occupied by Germany
, and used Germany 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 cancelled to order.
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
.
, a series of 13 stamps were issued, depicting the arms of Soviet Latvia and inscribed "Latvijas // PSR".
These were shortly superseded by the occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany
. At first existing stocks of Russian stamps were used, overprinted "LATVIJA // 1941 // 1. VII", then regular German stamps came into use, in October 1941.
In April 1945, Germans stamps were overprinted "KURLAND" and used in Courland.
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
began during the 13th century, when the Archbishopric of Riga was included to the postal work zone of the Monastic state of the Teutonic Knights
Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights
The State of the Teutonic Order, , also Monastic State of the Teutonic Knights or Ordensstaat , was formed in 1224 during the Northern Crusades, the Teutonic Knights' conquest of the pagan West-Baltic Old Prussians in the 13th century....
and the Hanseatic League
Hanseatic League
The Hanseatic League was an economic alliance of trading cities and their merchant guilds that dominated trade along the coast of Northern Europe...
. 1580 the Hanseatic League issued their first known regulations on courier work and payroll , regulations that also were active in the territory that now constitutes Latvia.
Livonian Postal Service
From 1581 to 1621, when RigaRiga
Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia. With 702,891 inhabitants Riga is the largest city of the Baltic states, one of the largest cities in Northern Europe and home to more than one third of Latvia's population. The city is an important seaport and a major industrial, commercial,...
was under the rule of Duchy of Livonia
Duchy of Livonia
The Duchy of Livonia was a territory of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania — and later the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth — that existed from 1561 to 1621...
, and also from 1621 to 1710, when it was a part of Swedish Livonia
Swedish Livonia
- Swedish infantry and cavalry regiments:Infantry regiments:* Garnisonsregementet i Riga * Guvenörsregementet i Riga * Livländsk infanteribataljon I...
, postal services was only for governmental purposes. In the 16th century several postal organisations existed — for governmental purposes, as well as for clerics, universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
, cities
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
and merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
s. In 1632 the Postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
General of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Livonia
Livonia
Livonia is a historic region along the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea. It was once the land of the Finnic Livonians inhabiting the principal ancient Livonian County Metsepole with its center at Turaida...
, Jacob Becker, who was instated in Swedish Livonia by the King of Sweden, organised the first regular public mail delivery
Latvijas Pasts
VAS Latvijas Pasts is the company in charge of the Latvian postal service. Established in 1992 following newly regained Latvian independence, it took over the mail delivery duties of its predecessors that began in the year 1632...
. Initially, the postal service was private property of the Postmaster General, which also received yearly fundings from the Riga City Council
Riga City Council
Riga City Council is the government of Riga City, the capital of Latvia. It is located in the Riga Town Hall at the Town Hall Square in the very heart of Riga....
and the Governors of Swedish Livonia. 1644 the Livonian Postal Service was linked to the Stockholm Postal Service routes in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
.
1685 the Duke of Courland
Duchy of Courland and Semigallia
The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia is the name of a duchy in the Baltic region that existed from 1562 to 1569 as a vassal state of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and from 1569...
Friedrich Casimir initiated his own postal service and asked the Swedish authorities to cease their postal work within his territory, but King Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI of Sweden
Charles XI also Carl, was King of Sweden from 1660 until his death, in a period in Swedish history known as the Swedish empire ....
ignored his request and stood for his rights in Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
. 5 July 1710, Russian troops under the command of Czar Peter I of Russia
Peter I of Russia
Peter the Great, Peter I or Pyotr Alexeyevich Romanov Dates indicated by the letters "O.S." are Old Style. All other dates in this article are New Style. ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire from until his death, jointly ruling before 1696 with his half-brother, Ivan V...
took over Riga and made it a part of the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.
World War I
In World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Latvia was occupied by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, and used Germany stamps overprinted by the Ober Ost
Ober Ost
Ober Ost is short for Oberbefehlshaber der gesamten Deutschen Streitkräfte im Osten, which is a German term meaning "Supreme Commander of All German Forces in the East" during World War I. In practice it refers not only to said commander, but also to his governing military staff and the district...
.
In 1919, German stamps were handstamped "LIBAU", but it was unclear whether they were officially issued; all used copies are cancelled to order.
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 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
Vidzeme
Vidzeme is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. Literally meaning "the Middle Land" it is situated in north-central Latvia north of the Daugava River...
, Courland
Courland
Courland is one of the historical and cultural regions of Latvia. The regions of Semigallia and Selonia are sometimes considered as part of Courland.- Geography and climate :...
, and Latgale
Latgale
Latgale is one of the four historical and cultural regions of Latvia recognised in the Constitution of the Latvian Republic. It is the easternmost region north of the Daugava River...
.
World War II
As part of the Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940
The Soviet occupation of Latvia in 1940 refers, according to the European Court of Human Rights, the Government of Latvia, the State Department of the United States of America, and the European Union, to the military occupation of the Republic of Latvia by the Soviet Union ostensibly under the...
, a series of 13 stamps were issued, depicting the arms of Soviet Latvia and inscribed "Latvijas // PSR".
These were shortly superseded by the occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany
Occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany
The occupation of Latvia by Nazi Germany was completed on July 10, 1941 by Germany's armed forces. Latvia became a part of Nazi Germany's Reichskommissariat Ostland — the Province General of Latvia...
. At first existing stocks of Russian stamps were used, overprinted "LATVIJA // 1941 // 1. VII", then regular German stamps came into use, in October 1941.
In April 1945, Germans stamps were overprinted "KURLAND" and used in Courland.
Restoration of independence
With the restoration of independence, Latvia resumed its own stamp program.See also
- Latvijas PastsLatvijas PastsVAS Latvijas Pasts is the company in charge of the Latvian postal service. Established in 1992 following newly regained Latvian independence, it took over the mail delivery duties of its predecessors that began in the year 1632...
- Joint issues of Latvia
- Postage stamps and postal history of EstoniaPostage stamps and postal history of EstoniaThis is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Estonia. The stamps of Estonia are issued by the postal administration Eesti Post which is the country's only provider of universal postal services....