Latvijas Pasts releases a new stamp in the series of historical ships

26.01.2024

Latvijas Pasts releases a new stamp in the series of historical ships

Latvijas Pasts is making a new addition to the series of stamps Historical Ships of the 19th Century, this time featuring the gaff schooner Jupiters, a two-mast sailing ship built in Vitrupe. The first day cancellation of the stamp is scheduled to take place at Riga post office No. 10, 41/43 Elizabetes Street, Riga, from 9 AM to 6 PM on the 26th of January.

The latest stamp in the series of historical ships depicts the two-mast gaff schooner Jupiters built in Vitrupe in 1929 and manufactured by master builder J. Plūme. It is a classic coastal timber-carrying sailing ship, but it stands out among two-mast gaff schooners for its substantial hull, large sails, lifting capacity and speed. The sailing ship was in operation from 1929 to 1935.

Ships manufactured in Latvia are unique not only as a phenomenon specific to our coast, but also as a world-wide pride. It should be noted that they were constructed by local master builders who had learnt their trade from various professional shipbuilders as apprentices, not in higher schools. Robust, manoeuvrable and safe to navigate with a small crew, our ships traversed the waters of Europe and the globe, in addition to making coastwise voyages along the coast of Latvia.

The face value of the stamp is €1.65 and it corresponds to the postage of items in the weight class up to 20 grams throughout Latvia. The print run of the stamp is 30,000 copies. The release of the stamp is accompanied by the issue of a special cover with a print run of 500 copies. Both additions to the series have been designed by the artist Elita Viliama.

The stamp will first be available for purchase at the post offices of the largest cities and in the e-shop of Latvijas Pasts.

The new stamp and the cover Two-Mast Gaff Schooner Jupiters can be viewed here.

Latvijas Pasts launched the series of stamps Historical Ships of the 19th Century in 2016 in honour of the period of the rapid development of Latvian seafaring and shipbuilding in the 19th century. Six stamps have been released in this series over these years, featuring the sailing ship Andreas Weide built in Ainaži in 1891; the four-mast gaff schooner Abraham constructed in Ventspils in 1891; the four-mast motor-sailing ship Eurasia made in Engure Municipality in 1925; the three-mast barquentine Mercator built in Ainaži in 1895; the gaff schooner Eufrosine, a three-mast sailing ship constructed in Plieņciems in 1902; the brigantine Anna Wictoria, a two-mast sailing ship built in Ainaži in 1878; and the gaff schooner Jupiters, a two-mast sailing ship constructed in Vitrupe in 1929. All stamps in the series can be seen here.

The next philatelic release is scheduled for the 15th of February.

Philatelic works issued by Latvijas Pasts are highly valued both among the customers and philatelic collectors and experts. On the basis of stringently regulated standards, international associations of collectors of philatelic materials have determined that the stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts are on par with the philatelic releases issued by the largest countries in the world. As a result, these stamps are routinely included both in the catalogues of philatelic releases recognised around the world and in the collections of prestigious collectors.

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts

Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services in more than 600 post offices throughout Latvia. The company provides the universal postal service, commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a wholly state-owned company with around 2,300 employees.

Additional information:

Matīss Rutks | Communications Specialist

E-mail: pr@pasts.lv; matiss.rutks@pasts.lv

Latvijas Pasts social media profiles:

Twitter; Facebook; Instagram; Linkedin