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03.02.2020
This is the fourth time that Latvijas Pasts in collaboration with the news portal Delfi call on all people of Latvia to cast their vote for the most beautiful, noteworthy or unusual stamp of the past year. In 2019 Latvijas Pasts issued 34 stamps and one stamp block, both as original releases and as part of the already traditional philately series, dedicated to personalities and events of special importance for Latvia, as well as natural, cultural and historical sites. The voting for the stamps is held in the section Gada pastmarka 2019 (Stamp of the Year 2019) on the portal Delfi. The voting will run for two weeks and will close at 11:59 PM on the 16th of February.
Postage stamps are valuable elements, which are used as means of payment for postal items, as collectible items and at the same time as national recognition symbols. Postal establishments throughout the world apply special criteria when deciding on the specific themes to depict on the stamps. In the case of Latvia these are events and personalities of significance for the country, their anniversaries, jubilees and commemorations, as well as natural, cultural and historical sites.
The total number of stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts In 2019 reached 5 million copies, consisting of both traditional stamp series and special original releases. Last year the series of Coats of Arms of Latvian Towns and Municipalities was supplemented by issuing new stamps with the coats of arms of Aizpute, Rucava and Tukums Municipalities, while the stamp in the series Outstanding Latvian Artists was dedicated to the painter Johann Walter (Jānis Valters).
New stamps were also issued in the series Lighthouses of Latvia featuring Šlītere Lighthouse, History of Latvian Automobile Construction – Motor Museum featuring the fire engine Ford-Vairogs and the Latvian Fund for Nature featuring the Lesser Spotted Eagle. Last year’s single pan-European Europa series was dedicated to the national birds of the countries, so Latvijas Pasts issued a stamp depicting the White Wagtail, while the annual Christmas Series in 2019 featured three stamps designed by the artist Anita Paegle.
The year 2019 also was marked by the continuing focus on the foundation of the Latvian state, celebrating the centenary of the Latvian Army, the Latvian National Armed Forces Staff Battalion, the University of Latvia and the Art Academy of Latvia – all the aforementioned centenary events were also reflected in postage stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts. A special stamp also commemorated the centennial events of the Bermondt affair, which concluded the year of heroism and state-building of the Latvian state’s centennial programme.
In 2019 Latvijas Pasts created two special stamps in collaboration with the Latvian parents’ organisation Mammamuntetiem.lv in honour of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day traditions. Last year, for the second time in its history, Latvijas Pasts also released an irregularly shaped stamp Līgo Wreath.
Voting within the competition for the most beautiful stamp of 2019 is possible for any stamp from one computer once a day. Choose your stamp and vote here!
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 over 3,500 employees. The quality measurements of Latvijas Pasts domestic mail deliveries are regularly conducted by Kantar TNS, 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 Kantar TNS, Ipsos and Quotas.
Additional information:
Gundega Vārpa | Head of External Communications
E-mail: pr@pasts.lv; gundega.varpa@pasts.lv
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