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13.02.2025
On 14 February, Latvijas Pasts will expand the Nineteenth Century Historical Ships series of stamps with a new philatelic release dedicated to the gaff schooner Director. It is a two-masted sailing ship built in Pāvilosta in 1901. While the first-day cancellation will take place in Riga, the stamp will be unveiled in Pāvilosta, the vessel’s place of origin.
The new stamp has a nominal value of EUR 2.30 and is intended for paying postage on items weighing up to 20 grams sent within Latvia. Its print run will be 20,000 copies. A special envelope, limited to a print run of 500 copies, was issued alongside the stamp.
These philatelic items will initially be sold at post offices in major cities as well as on the Latvijas Pasts e-store https://veikals.pasts.lv/. The first-day cancellation is scheduled for 14 February from 10.00 AM to 6.00 PM at the post office located at 41/43 Elizabetes Street, Riga.
On the same day at 3.00 PM, the stamp will be unveiled at Pāvilosta Town Library. The event will be attended by the stamp’s author — graphic designer and artist Elita Viliama, whose works have often prominently featured maritime subjects. Elita Viliama is equally charmed by the locale in and around Pāvilosta, where the locals have regularly been able not only to view the artist's works in various exhibitions but also to meet her in person. This February, the Pāvilosta Town Library is also hosting the artist’s exhibition Our Fishermen, showcasing the local community’s deep connection to seafaring and fishing traditions.
Up until World War I, Pāvilosta had a well-developed commercial port, home to three shipyards that built a total of 15 sailing vessels between 1894 and 1901. The largest sailing ship built in Pāvilosta was the two-masted gaff schooner Director. It was built under the watchful eye of master shipbuilder Andrejs Andersons in 1901.
Ships built in the territory of Latvia are unique not only as a feature of our coast but also in a global context. They were built by local master shipbuilders who honed their craft not in prestigious schools but under the guidance of various professional shipbuilders. Powerful and agile vessels, easily steered by a small crew, Latvian ships sailed both global and European waters as well as made cabotage trips along the Latvian coast.
Latvijas Pasts launched the Nineteenth Century Historical Ships series of stamps in 2016 in honour of the halcyon days of Latvian seafaring and shipbuilding in the 19th century. To date, seven stamps have been issued, depicting the sailing ship Andreas Weide built in Ainaži in 1891, the four-masted gaff schooner Abraham built in Ventspils in 1891, the four-masted motorised sailing ship Eurasia built in Engure Municipality in 1925, the three-masted barquentine Mercator built in Ainaži in 1895, the three-masted gaff schooner Eufrosine built in Plieņciems in 1902, the brigantine Anna Wictoria built in Ainaži in 1878 and the two-masted gaff schooner Jupiter built in Vitrupe in 1929.
The next stamp issue is scheduled for 27 February.
Philatelic products issued by Latvijas Pasts are highly appreciated among customers, collectors and experts alike. International philatelic associations have evaluated stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts according to strict standards as equivalent to those from the largest countries, and they are regularly included both in the catalogues of globally recognised philatelic products and in the collections of renowned philatelists.
About Latvijas Pasts VAS
Latvijas Pasts is a state-owned company, and its business branches include postal, logistics and financial services. The company specialises in domestic and international postal deliveries, ranging from e-commerce and parcel shipments to press, letter correspondence and personalised logistics solutions. Latvijas Pasts provides services to both private individuals and business customers via reliable air, water and land transit connections. The national post operator’s team is composed of approximately 1,900 employees.
Latvijas Pasts serves its customers at 155 post offices and operates the largest parcel locker network in Latvia. The company continuously introduces innovations and state-of-the-art technologies, developing the biggest network of parcel lockers in the country. Latvijas Pasts’ vision is to become the first choice postal service provider for every Latvian resident.
For additional information, contact:
Inita Fedko | Communication Specialist at the Communication and Philately Department
Mobile: +371 26663732
Email: pr@pasts.lv, inita.fedko@pasts.lv
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