13.03.2012

Latvijas Pasts depicts interior and exterior of Riga Opera House in Europa series stamps this year

Latvijas Pasts is issuing two new stamps in the unified European stamp series, depicting one of the best-known culture sites of Riga and Latvia - the Opera House. This year's theme for the Europa stamp series is Visit…, and the Opera is one of Latvia's most internationally recognized and visited national symbols of art. The first-day cancellation of the stamps will take place on March 17, 2012, in post office Sakta, 32 Brīvības Boulevard, Riga, from 8 AM to 6 PM.

The designer of the latest stamps in the Europa series is artist Arta Ozola-Jaunarāja, and the print run is 100,000 of each stamp. The stamps have a denomination of LVL 0.55 and LVL 1.20, corresponding to the cost of mailing a regular letter and registered letter, respectively, within the European Union.

With the new stamp dedicated to the theme Visit…, Latvijas Pasts is urging both Latvians and addressees throughout the world to visit one of the most remarkable objects of culture in Riga and Latvia - the current building of the Latvian National Opera; the stamps depict both interior and exterior features of the Opera House, while also conveying its current status as a citadel of art.

The Latvian National Opera is situated in the building of the former City Theater, also known as the Riga German Theater, built in 1860-1863 with the design of the architect Ludwig Bohnstedt. The site was formerly the location of one of the elements of Riga's fortification system - "the Pancake Bastion". The Opera House is a building of Hellenic classicism; at its magnificent façade is a portico of Ionic columns and a group of allegorical characters.

The originator of the Europa series was the European postal association PostEurop, and stamps in this series, unified with the same logo throughout Europe, have been issued since 1994. Latvijas Pasts traditionally issues two stamps in the series each year. In past years, the topics of the series have been related to literature, nature sites, travel, etc.

See the new stamps of Latvijas Pasts in the Europa series.

The next new philatelic release is planned for April 14.

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts

Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides philately, transport and express mail, financial intermediation, payment, press subscription and retail services. Latvijas Pasts is a fully state-owned company with approximately 4,600 employees.

Additional information:
Gundega Vārpa,
SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Head of the External Communications Department
Phone: +371 67608505
E-mail: gundega.varpa@pasts.lv