International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Latvia

=Latvia=


 * Latvia was an independent country until the German occupation of 1941 – 1945 and the Soviet Union occupation which began in 1945. Latvia regained its independence after the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991.
 * The stamps are inscribed “LATVIJA”, “LATVIJAS”, or are without country inscription but have a Latvian town mark.
 * The stamps are grouped according to political period:
 * A - Period of independence, 1928 – 1942
 * B - First period of Soviet Union occupation, 1940 - 1941
 * C - Period of German occupation, 1942 – 1945
 * D - Second period of Soviet Union occupation, 1945 - 1991
 * E - Period of independence, 1991 to present

Sub-group AA: Upright frank with rounded corners


'''AA1. Universal “Midget” ''' (FV-3/-5), 1928. [$35]
 * Four-line border around value figure in center.
 * Country name at top, “SANT” at bottom.
 * Without M#.
 * Only two machine were placed into use.
 * TM: BIC with horizontal bar
 * Values: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg 2, 6, 7, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35

Sub-group AB: Square frank
'''AB1. Francotyp “B” ''' (MV), 1928. [$15]
 * Country name in banner at top.
 * Flowering plant ornaments at sides.
 * “SANTIMI” in panel at bottom.
 * TM: BIC with horizontal bar
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg MeterCat 5-point asterisk.jpg


 * a. Used without TM on business reply card. MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[Add $50]

Sub-group AC: Horizontal oval frank
'''AC1. Francotyp “A” ''' (MV), 1928. [$20]
 * Large horizontal oval inscribed “LATVIJA” at top and “SANT” at bottom.
 * Spacing between centers of date and value figures around 60 mm.
 * Four-digit impression counter number high between TM and frank.
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A) MeterCat 5 spaces.jpgMeterCat 5-point asterisk.jpg (A) MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg◆000 (G)

'''AC2. Francotyp “B” ''' (MV).
 * As Type AC1 but distance between centers of date and value figures 74-75 mm.
 * Four-digit impression counter number high between TM and frank.
 * Date with stops after D and M.
 * A. Frank is curved at top and bottom, "SANT." is curved MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[$25]
 * B. Frank is flat at top and bottom, "SANT." is straight MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[$15]
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A) MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg MeterCat 5-point asterisk.jpg (A)


 * a. Without TM

'''AC3. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV).
 * As Type AC2 but spacing between centers of date and value figures is slightly wider at 77-79 mm.
 * With or without 4-digit impression counter number high between TM and frank.
 * Date without stops.
 * A. Frank is 34-35 mm wide and curved at top and bottom MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[$15]
 * B. Frank is 38-39 mm wide and flat at top and bottom MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[$10]
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A,G)

'''AC4. Hasler “F22” ''' (MV), 1931.
 * Frank is always flat at top and bottom and always has 5-digit impression counter number.
 * A. Wide spacing with impression counter number and slogan between TM and frank MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[$25]
 * B. Narrow spacing with impression counter number and slogan to the left of the town mark MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg[$75]
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg ★00

'''AC5. Neopost''' (LV-6), 1931. [$25]
 * Without impression counter number.
 * Value figures only 1- or 2-digit.
 * TM: BIC
 * Values: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg 2, 6, 15, 20, 30



'''AC6. Safag''' (MV), 1939. [$75]
 * Large frank with relatively thin border design.
 * Spacing between TM and frank narrow.
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

NOTE: Zero cent proofs are more common than postally used examples. Value of a proof is about half that of a postally used example.

GROUP B: First period of Soviet Union occupation, 1940-1941
'''B1. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV), 1941. [$50]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Type AC3 but country inscription removed from the top of frank, “KAP.” at bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and blank at top, “RIGA” at bottom right
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''B2. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV), 1941. [$35]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Type B1 but with “КОП.” at bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and blank at top, “RIGA” at bottom right
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''B3. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * As Type B1 but inscribed “LATVIJAS PSR” at top.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and with “CCCP” and star at top, bilingual town name at bottom
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''B4. Francotyp “A” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * As Type AC1 but inscribed “ПОЧТА ☆ CCCP” at top and “КОП” at bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and with “CCCP” and star at top, bilingual town name at bottom
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg probably 0000 or MeterCat 5-point asterisk.jpg

'''B5. Francotyp “B” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * As Type AC2B but inscribed “ПОЧТА ☆ CCCP” at top and “КОП” at bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and with “CCCP” and star at top, bilingual town name at bottom
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg probably 000 or MeterCat 5-point asterisk.jpg

'''B6. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * As Type AC3B but inscribed “ПОЧТА ☆ CCCP” at top and “КОП.” at bottom.
 * Hammer & sickle at both sides of value figures.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and with “CCCP” and star at top, bilingual town name at bottom
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A,G)



'''B7. Neopost ''' (LV6). [Exceptionally rare]
 * As Type AC5 but inscribed “ПОЧТА ☆ CCCP” at top and “КОП.” at bottom.
 * Hammer & sickle at both sides of value figures.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and with “CCCP” and star at top, bilingual town name at bottom
 * Values: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg seen but 2, 6, 20 and 30 may exist

NOTE: Types B4 through B7 have inscriptions identical to those of the USSR. They are cataloged under Latvia because stamps of this oval design were used only in Latvia and not elsewhere in the Soviet Union.

Sub-group CA: Oval frank
'''CA1. Francotyp “A” ''' (MV), 1942. [$20]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Type AC1 but “SANT” either removed from bottom or partly or fully obliterated.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg MeterCat 5-point asterisk.jpg (A) MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg◆000 (G)


 * a. With just “S” (of ‘SANT’) at bottom

'''CA2. Francotyp “B” ''' (MV). [$20]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Type CA1 but with wider spacing, 74-76mm between centers of date and value figures.
 * Frank is narrower than with CA1.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg



'''CA3. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$35]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Types CA1 and CA2 but even wider spacing, 77-79mm between centers of date and value figures.
 * Frank is wide as with CA1.
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A,G)

'''CA4. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$20]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Types B1 and B2 but blank at bottom as well as top.
 * TM: DC with inner circle flattened at top
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CA5. Francotyp “A” ''' (MV), 1942. [$20]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * Blank at top, “Rpf” at bottom.
 * TM: SC with boxed date
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CA6. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$20]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Type CA5 but with wider spacing, 77-79mm between centers of date and value figures.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CA7. Francotyp “B” ''' (MV). [$35]
 * Provisional stamp.
 * As Type CA6 but with “RM” at bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened and blank at top, “RIGA” at bottom right
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CA8. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV), 1943. [$10]
 * Frank with “LATVIJA” at top, “Rpf” at bottom.
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CA9. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$35]
 * Frank with “LATVIJA” at top left, blank at top right and bottom.
 * TM: DC with inner circle flattened at top
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CA10. Hasler “F22” ''' (MV), 1942. [$35]
 * As Type AC4B, but with “Rpf” at bottom.
 * Five-digit impression counter number high left of TM.
 * TM: BIC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg ✳00

Sub-group CB: Rectangular frank
'''CB1. Francotyp “A” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * This is Germany Type F1 but with town mark “RIGA / OSTLAND”.
 * TM: SC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''CB2. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$75]
 * This is Germany Type F3 but with town mark “RIGA”.
 * TM: DC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A,G)

'''D1. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * Identical to Type B6 except for dates of use.
 * A. Inscription at top 3.5 mm tall
 * B. Smaller inscription at top, 3 mm tall
 * TM: DC or DC with inner circle flattened at top
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A,G)

'''D2. Francotyp “C” ''' (MV). [$50]
 * As Type D1 but country inscription at top is straight across.
 * TM: DC with inner circle flattened at top.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg (A,G)

NOTE: Many other meter stamp types were used in Latvia during the period of Soviet occupation, however, except for the town name, they are indistinguishable from types used throughout the USSR. See UNION OF SOVIET SOCIALIST REPUBLICS for these stamps.

Sub-group EA: Provisional issues without identification
'''EA1. Perm''' (MV).
 * Frank is small, upright rectangle containing only the value figures.
 * Date at far left without town mark.
 * Printed in red.
 * All examples seen have a purple circular hand stamp between the date and value box identifying the mailer.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''EA2. Perm''' (MV).
 * Value figures only at left with date at right.
 * Slogan at center identifies the mailer.
 * Printed in black.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''EB1. Perm''' (MV).
 * Frank has small envelope logo at top and “LATVIJAS / PASTS” at bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flattened at top and bottom
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''EB2. Perm''' (MV). [$5]
 * Frank has three flowers along each side.
 * “LATVIJAS” at top, and “PASTS” at bottom.
 * TM: DC with inner circle flattened at top and bottom
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

Sub-group EC: Frank is upright octagon, town mark, date and value figures vertical
'''EC1. Perm''' (MV).
 * “LATVIJA” stacked at left and “PASTS” stacked at right.
 * Blank at top and bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flat at top (left) and bottom (right)
 * Known printed in red as well as black.
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''EC2. Perm ''' (MV).
 * As Type EB2 with flowers at sides, but with vertical orientation to date and value figures.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flat at top (left) and bottom (right)
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

'''EC3. Perm ''' (MV). [$5]
 * “LATVIJA” reading up at left and “PASTS” reading down at right.
 * “SANT.” at bottom.
 * TM: DC with inner circle flat at top (left) and bottom (right), or SC
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg


 * a. Printed in a color other than black. Blue known. (shown)

'''EC4. Perm''' (MV). [$5]
 * “LATVIJA” stacked at left, “PASTS” stacked at right.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flat at top (left) and bottom (right)
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg


 * a. Printed in a color other than black. Purple known. (shown)

'''EC5. Perm''' (MV). [$5]
 * Similar to Type EC4 but with small circles centered at top and bottom.
 * TM: DC, inner circle flat at top (left) and bottom (right)
 * V/F: MeterCat 5 spaces.jpg

{{font|color=blue|Sub-group EF: Horizontal rectangular frank
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