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31.03.2025
In celebration of a milestone in Latvian book publishing — the 500th anniversary of the first book printed in Latvian — Latvijas Pasts, in collaboration with the National Library of Latvia (NLL), has issued a stamp “500 Years of Latvian Books” and also dedicated to this event a specially designed envelope, the latter being limited to 500 copies. The stamp, with a print run of 20,000 copies, has a face value of €2.54, corresponding to the postage rate for letter-post items weighing up to 20 grams sent to countries in the European Economic Area. The first-day cancellation of the stamp will take place at the LNN atrium on 3 April, from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The history of books in Latvian began in 1525, marking a turning point in strengthening the Latvian language, shaping the nation and paving the way toward Latvian statehood.
Latvian book culture became one of the cornerstones of the nation. Therefore, the history of the written and printed word in Latvian has been a crucial chapter for Latvia and Latvians — one whose beginning we now celebrate, 500 years after the first book was printed. The LNN’s wide-scope five-year (2021-2025) event series, “500 Years of Latvian Books”, is devoted to the most significant developments that have influenced the spread of the Latvian written and printed word, with the culminating events of the series taking place this year.
The stamp “500 Years of Latvian Books” was designed by Madara Lesīte-Volmane and illustrated by Ella Mežule. The visual design of the stamp serves as a reminder that every resident of Latvia is an integral part of the nation’s culture, and that the contribution of each individual is essential to its preservation. The stamp radiates brightness and conveys internal dynamics, embodying the hope for the future of Latvian book publishing — to continuously evolve, with the reader at the heart of its focus.
Anyone who purchases the stamp will symbolically thank all the authors, teachers, publishers, librarians, artists and typographers who continue to foster the dissemination and furtherance of Latvian book culture.
At 5:00 pm, in the “World of Rarities” room on the 5th floor, a collection titled “Stamp = Value Instrument. Latvian Stamp Collection 1918–1945” from the archive of Latvijas Pasts will be unveiled. As part of the event, Raimonds Jonītis, President of the Latvian Philatelic Association, will give a lecture: “History of Postal Development in Latvia. Stamps”.
After the lecture, Edmunds Bebrišs, Head of the Philatelic Department of Latvijas Pasts, will present the stamp collection.
About the collection “Stamp = Value Instrument. Latvian Stamp Collection 1918–1945”:
During this period, Latvia underwent significant changes — from an independent state to occupation and through the events of the Second World War. The stamps reflect this history, offering a glimpse into both the independence jubilee issues and those from the occupation period. Many of these stamps were issued in limited quantities, and the surviving copies are considered highly valuable.
Latvian stamp collections are recognised and appreciated at international exhibitions. Uniquely designed stamps, those that depict the symbols and history of Latvia, are an important part of Europe’s philatelic heritage.
The Latvian Stamp Collection 1918–1945 is not only historically significant but also holds considerable monetary value. Its unique design, rare misprints and limited print run make these stamps a valuable investment for history enthusiasts and collectors alike.
It should be noted that the rarity and value of stamps depend on their condition, print run as well as demand among philatelists. Misprints on stamps, especially if they are rare, significantly increase their value. Many stamps from this period were issued in limited quantities, and during the war, many letters were destroyed or lost. As a result, well-preserved stamps from this time are rare and highly valuable.
Several important stamp series were issued in Latvia between 18 December 1921 and year 1945: First Issue of Latvian Stamps (1918), Stamps on General Staff Maps (1918), Coat of Arms Series (1921-1922), Latvian Independence 10th Anniversary series (1928), Latvian Independence 20th Anniversary series (1938), Latvian Coat of Arms Series, Latvian Landscape Series, and Rare and Misprinted Stamps. Stamps with misprints or other production anomalies that make them unique are particularly sought after by the philatelic community. These include double overprints (where some stamps accidentally feature two overlapping prints), imperforate stamp versions (while most stamps are perforated, some series were mistakenly issued without perforations) and colour mismatches (where some stamps were printed with incorrect colours or tonal deviations).
The stamp collection will be on display from 3 April to 3 May during the opening hours of LNN.