The stamp block released by Latvijas Pasts is included in the international philatelic exhibition in support of Ukraine

31.01.2023

The stamp block issued by Latvijas Pasts in support of Ukraine is included in the international philatelic exhibition organised by the Ukrainian postal establishment Ukrposhta, where stamp releases dedicated to Ukraine from 15 countries are being displayed. Latvijas Pasts was the first postal establishment in the world to issue stamps dedicated to the support of Ukraine. The exhibition can currently be viewed virtually, but it will probably also be held in a real environment in the coming months. The stamp block released by Latvijas Pasts consists of three stamps, and 50% of the proceeds from the sales of the block are channelled to the charity fund Ziedot.lv programme in support of Ukraine – nearly 17,000 euro has been donated this way so far.  

Latvijas Pasts was the first postal company in the world to issue a stamp block and a special cover in support of Ukraine on the 10^th of March 2022, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The stamp block consists of three stamps and an explanatory coupon, featuring the national flags of Ukraine and Latvia, Ukraine's Independence Monument in Kyiv and Latvia’s Freedom Monument in Riga. The stamp block has inscriptions in Ukrainian and Latvian saying We Are with You! and Glory to Ukraine!

The stamp block issued by Latvijas Pasts is included in the international philatelic exhibition organised by the Ukrainian postal establishment Ukrposhta, showcasing stamps dedicated to the support of Ukraine. For now, the exhibition can be viewed virtually – here – but it will probably also be held in a real environment in the coming months.

50% of the proceeds from the sales of Latvijas Pasts stamp block dedicated to Ukraine are being donated to the charity fund Ziedot.lv programme in support of Ukraine, and so far Latvijas Pasts has transferred €17,000 to Ziedot.lv under this programme thanks to the customers who have purchased the stamps.

“We could not stand by as the war broke out in Ukraine because we perceived it as our own misfortune. We knew that many people wanted to support and help Ukraine, but did not know how to do it. That is why we designed the new block of stamps with the opportunity for everyone who buys it to donate to the support of Ukraine. We were the first postal establishment to issue stamps in support of Ukraine, but others followed in our footsteps, and this proves that our idea and execution came at the right time,” Edmunds Bebrišs, Director of the Stamp and Philately Department of Latvijas Pasts, points out. It has always been the intention of Latvijas Pasts to release stamps that are not only of high artistic value, but also carry an important informative role.

The philatelic releases dedicated to supporting Ukraine – stamps, a coupon and a cover – form a single patriotic composition depicting the symbols of independence of both countries: the Independence Monument in Kyiv and the Freedom Monument in Riga, the national flags of Ukraine and Latvia, and inscriptions in Ukrainian and Latvian: We Are with You! and Glory to Ukraine! The print run of the stamp block is 20,000 copies, and the print run of the cover is 800 copies. 

The face value of each of the stamps included in the block is €1.44, and they can be used as postage in combination with stamps of other face values. For example, two stamps worth a total of €2.88 can be used to send ordinary letters weighing up to 20 grams to any country. The philatelic releases dedicated to the support of Ukraine have been designed by the artist Ģirts Grīva.

The stamp block is available for purchase at the post offices and in the e-shop of Latvijas Pasts, which is the most convenient way of buying stamps, as it offers deliveries by courier to any address most suitable for the customer, as well as to Latvijas Pasts parcel lockers and post offices throughout Latvia

The stamp block and the cover released in support of Ukraine can be viewed here. 

About SJSC Latvijas Pasts
Latvijas Pasts ensures the widest availability of postal services throughout Latvia by maintaining more than 600 post offices and an extensive network of indoor and outdoor parcel lockers. The primary function of the company is provision of the universal postal service; Latvijas Pasts also provides commercial transport, express mail, parcel locker, payment, press subscription, retail and philatelic services. Latvijas Pasts is a wholly State-owned company with around 3,000 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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