LATVIA: THE FIRST BANKNOTE STAMP AND ITS OVERPRINTS Purpose/Scope: This traditional exhibit examines a single stamp issued in January 1920 to acknowledge the 1st Anniversary of Latvia's independence. It had a denomination of 1 Ruble - the highest at the time. The stamp was printed on unfinished banknotes due to a severe shortage of paper. Within a time span of 15 months, the single stamp was used for 3 surcharged values and an additional overprinted issue. Organization: This exhibit is presented in chronological order: + Proofs of the original 1 Ruble stamp + January 1920: Original issue - printing varieties and usage + September 1920: Surcharged issue - printing varieties and usage + April 1921: Overprint on surcharge - printing varieties and usage ORIGINAL ISSUE OVERPRINT ON 8 , SURCHARGED ISSUE (3 VALUES) Historical/Philatelic Background: Although Latvia had declared independence in November 1918, the territory remained in political and economic turmoil. Inflation was rampant and the shortage of quality paper clearly evident. Atthe same time, there was demand for higher denomination stamps. Such were needed for insured mail, money transfers and shipments of parcels. Due to its higher face value, the stamp was not intended for local or domestic ordinary mail The 1 Ruble stamp wasissued in January 1920 to celebrate the 1st Anniversary of Latvia; it wasthe highest denomination stamp at the time. The total printing was 531,024; no others were printed for the subsequent two overprints. The first overprint was necessitated by the need for even higher value stamps; 10, 20 and 30 Ruble surcharges on the 1 Ruble stamp were created. The second overprint was surmised to have been done to alleviate confusion as the surcharges were difficult to read. The 10 Ruble surcharged stamp was thus over printed with the words “Desmit Rubli” (10 Rubles). Rarity and Condition: Proofs are exceedingly rare as they originated during times of duress. Postal usage of any ofthe issues involved higher than normal franking, specialized mail and parcels. Usages shown have been chosen forvariety and clarity. Especially significant itemsare highlighted in maroon.PROOFS, the ISSUE, 1st ANNIVERSARY ISSUE COLOR VARIETIES Having been confiscated at the Riga printing office unfinished 5 Ruble “Riga Worker's Council” banknotes were used as paper. The banknotes are blue and watermarked with triangles and stars. Due to the severe paper shortage, all proofs were printed on the same paper as the subsequent isue. Archival Proof Pair; Emerald Green/Red Proof of Stamp; Proof of Frame Only Emerald Green/Orange-Red Issued in a quantity of 531,024 on Printed in sheets of 78 January 20, 1920 stamps (13 x 6) to commemorate the Ist Anniversary Perforated 11 1/2 of independence THE ISSUE ‘There are three distinct color differences of green and red inks. Emerald Green/ Orange Red Carmine Dark Green/Red_ PAPER, PERFORATION and 1st ANNIVERSARY ISSUE PRINTING VARIETIES Complete banknote on which stamps are printed; the text, cn the reverse ofall stamps can have the text running top to bottom OR bottom to top. This depends on which - direction the sheets of paper were turned when fed into the printing device. Rough Perforations Offset Vertical Pair on Reverse Imperf Between‘Ist ANNIVERSARY ISSUE PRINTING VARIETY Each sheet of stamps contained 78 stamps. As much of the banknote paper was used as possible; stamps were printed side-ways in relation to the banknotes. There were no plate numbers. Instead, accounting numbers were hand stamped in the margin of sheets - either on the front of the back. The face of the sheet (shown below in a reduced photocopy), shows printer's guidelines for alignment of colors. There were no other printed markings. Obverse (Copy)ist ANNIVERSARY ISSUE POSTING TO AUSTRALIA Registered to Perth, Australia with 47 day travel time: Block of 4 with margin accounting numbers. February 1921 posting using newly increased rates. Correctly franked with 10 Rubles of adhesives: Foreign Rate: 500 Kop. (5 Rubles) Registration Charge: 500 Kop. (5 Rubles) Reverse (Copy)THE ISSUE and THE ISSUE - SURCHARGED SHADE VARIETIES Surcharging of the original issue was necessitated by the worsening postwar inflation. This particular issue was chosen as there ‘was substantial remaining stock. Higher value denominations were needed to satisfy the postal need for registered mail, packages, money orders and insured mail. Originally, mint stamps were not sold to the public (for fear of being an easy overprint to forge). Instead, mail requiring higher postage had to be brought into the post office where postage would be affixed on site. The original stamp had three different surcharges: 10 Rubli, 20 Rubli and 30 Rubli. All 3 color varieties of the original stamp were used. For an unexplained reason, the 30 Rubli value with olive green/red is scarce and represented in used condition. All ‘overprinted stamps were issued on September 1, 1920. Emerald Green/Red Olive Green/ Emerald Green/ 10 Rubli Overprint: Surcharged in Black ae Crane ed Quantity: 234,000 Soe Emerald Green/Red Olive Green/ 20 Rubli Overprint: Surcharged in Brown Emerald Green/ Orange Red Quantity: 156,000 Carmine Emerald Green/Red ve Greeny oiecen 30 Rubli Overrint Surcharged in Blue Emerald Groen! usnty 76,008THE ISSUE - SURCHARGED Extra Row of, Vertical Perforations Broken “o” in “now” 10 Rubli RIGHT: Registered money letter to Liepaja, Latvia in the amount of1430 Rubles - November 19, 1920. Correct franking: 5 Rubles (quintuple weight), 1 Ruble for registration, 14.30 Rubles for 1% insurance and Broken “w” in “now 30 Rubli PERFORATION, PRINTING VARIETIES & CASH ON DELIVERY, INSURED MONEY LETTER ur Registered money letter to Bol, Latvia (far easter part of Latvia) in the amount cof 2030 Rubles - April 6, 1921. Provisional Russian COD label used. Franked with 2% COD Commission paid addition te id registration. revere Conn in addition to postage and reg. DOMESTIC MONEY TRANSFER & THE ISSUE - SURCHARGED PARCEL TO FOREIGN DESTINATION Domestic personal postal money transfer from Liepaja to Talsi for 1300 Rubles. Itwas normal practice to cut slits into the franking of money orders. Until December 20, 1920, the rate for money transfer was 1%. Correctly franked with 13 Rubles in adhesives. eee: Bio Registered bulky parcel to Cincinnati, USA. February 19, 1921 posting; rete change in May 1921. Foreign Franking: 5 Rubles Reverse (Copy) Registration: 5 Rubles ‘Additional Weight: 10 x 250 kop. = 25 RublesTHE ISSUE - SURCHARGED PARCEL and LETTER TO FOREIGN DESTINATIONS Prior to the issuance of this surcharged issue, the highest denomination stamp was 5 Rubles. In order to satisfy the postal need to frank packages, money orders and insured mail, highest denomination stamps were required. However, postal authorities were ‘concerned that higher value stamps might lead to forgeries and deprivation of revenue. Special regulations were issued: mail { requiring higher postage had to be physically brought to the post office and postage applied there by employees and stamps “ 4 cancelled on ste. Therefore, the highest denomination surcharged stamps (20 and 30 Rub.) are often found on larger, more bulky mailings. Parcel to Hamburg, requiring customs inspection. Foreign Rate: Registerec to the Belgian Congo: 10 Rubles Bi Igian Congo: May 9, 1921 posting with Registration: London Transit Marking. 10 Rubles Extra Weight: Yio 10x 500 kop. for 183 gr. = i" 50 Rubles Correctly franked with single 10 Rubles stamp. Foreign Rate: 5 Rub. Registration Charge: 5 Rub. Additional / 20 Rubles | : franking, } F ¥ % on reverse. } ¥ 4 Diese Senduny erp tiers he \st vom Empfangapastamt dom zustandigon Zollamt xu2Uithr ; Postiberwachung: Berlin W. 3. Reverse (Copy)SHADE, PERFORATION THE ISSUE - SURCHARGED and OVERPRINTED and PRINTING VARIETIES. Only the 10 Rubli surcharged stamp was overprinted with the words “Desmit rubli” (Ten rubles) and issued on April 30, 1927. The overprint used the same words as the surcharge. The official reason is unknown although, surmised, that the different denominations of the 3 oval surcharges were hard to distinguish; 215,668 stamps were overprinted. Aer, February 1, 1921, the 10 Rubli value was useful to pay the registered foreign letter rate. After April 1, 1921, the 10 rubles rate also satisfied the local or domestic letter rate with registration or the double weight letter rate. The stamp was valid for usage until May 1, 1922 at which point the newly issued definitive series with higher face values predominated. Olive Green/ Emerald Green/Red Emerald Green) ‘Orange Red Carmine | | | | | | eee 7 Overprintand Surcharge _-_Overprint Shifted Right Imperforate Right Shifted Left Text Running Top Down Text Running Down Up Depending on position of sheet as it was fed into the press, the text of the unfinished banknote is top/down or down/up.THE ISSUE - SURCHARGED and OVERPRINTED. To Dresden, Germany May 27, 1921. Slogan machine cancel promotes International Trade Expo. Correctly franked: 10 Rubles io Registered posting to Jena, Germany - June 29, 1921. Correct franking: 10 Rubles to foreign destination with 10 Rubles for registration.‘To FOREIGN DESTINATIONS: REGULAR MAIL & REGISTERED To Berlin, Germany June 12, 1921 Correctly franked: 10 Rubles ss Bes “SgELttre eoeeten Shee ee ‘machine cancel beginning Sotcrna teleosts, MH agbed jit. lEL. May 24, 1921 Registered posting to Stargard, Germany - June 29, 1921 from Ventspls. Overfranked 40 Kap.; additional inflation driven overprinted stamps used.CASH ON DELIVERY PAYMENT THE ISSUE - SURCHARGED and OVERPRINTED with COMMISSION PAID Cash on Delivery (COD) letter from the Fruit and Vegetable Company to the Consumer Union in Tukums, Pink label in Russian notes that this is a COD item; additional surcharged issue franking on reverse. Correctly franked as per increased rate of May 11, 1921: Postage: 5 Rubles tration: 5 Rubles COD Commission of 2% (always rounded up): 50 Rubles Reverse (Copy)