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10.02.2021
This is the fifth time that Latvijas Pasts, in collaboration with the news portal Delfi, is inviting all people of Latvia to participate in the Stamp of the Year competition to identify the most popular stamp released in 2020. In 2020 Latvijas Pasts issued more than 20 stamps with a total print run of 2 million copies: both new original stamp releases and stamps in already traditional and customers’ much-loved series came out last year despite the COVID-19 pandemic. You can vote for your favourite stamp in the section Gada pastmarka 2020 (Stamp of the Year 2020) on the portal Delfi. The voting will run for two weeks and will close at 11:59 PM on the 23rd of February.
Postage stamps are valuable elements, which are used to pay postage and as collectible items. Promoting national recognition is also an important function of stamps. Decisions on stamp releases in Latvia are made by the Stamp Issue Committee, selecting nationally important events, personalities and their anniversaries, as well as significant natural, historical and cultural objects, which are depicted on stamps that then travel around the world. Anyone interested can submit ideas on the theme of the stamps to the Committee, which will evaluate them when deciding on the stamps to be released the following year.
Despite the COVID-19 crisis, in 2020 Latvijas Pasts issued more than 20 new stamps, with a total print run of more than 2 million copies. The year 2020 began with standard stamps in the series Coats of Arms of Latvian Towns and Municipalities, depicting the coats of arms of Durbe, Krimulda, Koknese, Babīte and Viļāni Municipalities. In January a stamp dedicated to the centenary of Riga State Technical School and a stamp in the series History of Latvian Shipping, featuring the historical motor-sailing ship Eurasia were issued as well.
In 2020 the series Unique Exhibits of the Latvian Museum of Natural History was concluded with the final stamp release Baltic Amber, which features outstanding amber specimens from a museum collection. Last May Latvijas Pasts included two stamps in the joint stamp series of the European countries, which were dedicated to Ancient Postal Routes, recalling the delivery of postal items by horse transport and bicycle.
Continuing the series Water Towers, which recalls these interesting architectural and engineering objects, a stamp released in May was dedicated to the water tower at Alīses Street, Riga. A stamp was also issued to mark the International Year of Plant Health declared by the United Nations. June was marked by two new stamps in the Latvian Birds series, which is loved by many customers – the releases featured the hazel grouse and the common kingfisher.
As a tribute to the first production of the first Latvian opera Baņuta, composed by Alfrēds Kalniņs, a stamp was issued in July in honour of its centenary. The theme of art was continued in July by a two-stamp block dedicated to the renowned Latvian artist Gustav Klutsis (Gustavs Klucis), and in September a new stamp came out honouring the 100th anniversary of Emīlija Gudriniece, a merited chemistry scientist and sports enthusiast.
The issue of stamps dedicated to outstanding Latvian personalities continued in autumn too: the September release was a tribute to one of the most famous Latvian athletes – the first winner of an Olympic medal in Latvia and the first European champion in race walking Jānis Daliņš, while the November release in honour of the 100th anniversary of the Dailes Theatre perpetuated the memory of Eduards Smiļģis, its legendary founder and longstanding director.
2020 was concluded with the most awaited releases of the year – three stamps in the Christmas series.
Voting within the competition for the most favourite stamp of 2020 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 about 3,200 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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