Following changeover to euro, Latvijas Pasts issued more stamps in 2014 than annual average; several dozens of stamps to be released next year as well

18.12.2014

Following the country’s changeover to the euro, Latvijas Pasts has released more stamps in 2014 than the annual average, as a whole range of standard stamps with different denominations in the euro has been issued. All 45 stamps released by Latvijas Pasts with a total print run of seven million copies in 2014 have been combined in a single edition and are available for collectors and other interested individuals at the biggest post offices and the philatelic e-shop on the website www.pasts.lv. Next year, Latvijas Pasts plans to issue about 30 new stamps.

After the introduction of the euro in 2014, Latvijas Pasts has released 10 new stamps with different denominations in the euro in the standard series of stamps suitable for payment for the widest range of postal items, thereby substantially increasing the total number of stamps issued in 2014. In 2015, Latvijas Pasts will return to the average number of stamps issued in one year and plans to release 32 stamps.

The theme of greatest importance in the next year’s stamps will be related to Latvian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The first stamp of the year to be issued on January 6, 2015 will be dedicated to this event. Latvijas Pasts also plans to release a special stamp in honor of Latvia as a partner country of the International Green Week Berlin, the world’s leading exhibition for the food, agriculture and gardening industry.

Other special stamps to be released in 2015 will be dedicated to the 750^th anniversary of the city of Jelgava, 25^th anniversary of the declaration of independence of Latvia, 150^th anniversary of Latvian Firefighters Movement and commemoration of the 150^th birthday of Rainis and Aspazija. The stamp Freedom of Expression devoted to UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize award ceremony to be held in Riga on May 3, 2015 will be released in collaboration with UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The only joint stamp issue of 2015 will be developed in collaboration with Turkey and will be dedicated to the national treasures of both countries.

To mark the 170^th anniversary of the establishment of the Latvian Museum of Natural History, the first stamp in the series Unique Exhibits of the Latvian Museum of Natural History will be released in 2015. The new series Zodiacs consisting of 12 stamps will see the light next year too. New stamps will be added to the previously issued series Coats of Arms of Latvian Cities and Municipalities, Flowers, Europa, Birds of Latvia, Architecture of Latvia, Lighthouses of Latvia, Republic of Latvia – 100 and Christmas.  

The Stamp Issue Plan 2015 is available for viewing here.

The next new philatelic release is scheduled for January 6, 2015.

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 wholly State-owned company with more than 4,200 employees. The quality measurements of Latvijas Pasts domestic mail deliveries are regularly conducted by TNS Latvia, one of the leading market, social and media research agencies in Latvia. In turn, the quality measurements of the cross-border deliveries are provided within the framework of the International Post Corporation through the intermediary of the research companies TNS, Ipsos and Quotas.

Additional information:
Gundega Vārpa,
Head of the External Communications Department
Phone: +371 67608505
E-mail: gundega.varpa@pasts.lv
twitter.com/latvijas_pasts; facebook.com/latvijas.pasts