19.09.2012

Latvijas Pasts to present stamps dedicated to 450^th anniversary of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia

As part of the international conference dedicated to the 450^th anniversary of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, which will take place in the castle of the Livonian Order in Ventspils, Latvijas Pasts will hold first-day cancellation and presentation events for the stamp block released to mark this event. The cancellation event will take place in the Ventspils Museum in 17 Jāņa Street on 21 September from 10 AM to 6 PM, while the presentation ceremony with participation of representatives of Latvijas Pasts and the Ventspils Museum is set for 12:00.

The stamp block 450^th Anniversary of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, created by artist Elita Viliama, includes two stamps with portraits of the best-known dukes of the Duchy. The design of the first-day cover incorporates a sailing ship, reminding about the development of shipping and colonies belonging to the Duchy during the rule of the famous Duke Jacob. The print run comprises 100,000 stamp blocks.

The stamp with a denomination of LVL 0.55, corresponding to the cost of mailing a regular letter within the European Union, depicts the Duke of Courland and Semigallia Jacob Kettler (1610-1682). He is considered the most notable Duke of Courland and Semigallia, as it was during Jacob's rule that the Duchy achieved peak prosperity. Kettler ruled from 1642 to 1682, promoting growth in industry, trade and shipbuilding. The duke effected international trade by concluding agreements with Spain, France, Venice, Portugal and many other lands, including the Ottoman Empire. He established colonies on St. Andrews Island at the Gambia River and Tobago in the Caribbean Sea.

The stamp with a face value of LVL 0.35, suitable for mailing a regular letter within the Republic of Latvia, depicts Duke Ernst Johann von Biron. He was born in 1690 and was the first Duke of Courland and Semigallia of the Biron dynasty. He became the Duke of Courland and Semigallia twice - from 1737 to 1741 and from 1763 to 1769. During his rule, palaces were built in Jelgava and Rundāle to a design by the Italian architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli.

The international conference A State in Western Latvia: 450^th Anniversary of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia, with participation of historians from the Baltic states and Poland, will take place on September 21 and 22 in the Ventspils Museum, which is housed in a castle of the Livonian Order.

The Duchy of Courland and Semigallia was an autonomous vassal state of Poland-Lithuania, which from 1562 to 1795 included most of Courland, Semigallia and Selonia. The Duchy was successively ruled by two dynasties - the Kettlers and the Birons - as well as several unrelated dukes.

Click here to see the stamp block 450^th Anniversary of Duchy of Courland and Semigallia and the first-day cover.

The next new philatelic release is scheduled for October 8.

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 commercial transport, express mail, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a fully state-owned company with more than 4,500 employees.


Additional information
Zane Plone
SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Public Relations Specialist
Phone: +371 67608504
E-mail:zane.plone@pasts.lv