1342) "Ancient Postal Routes - by Horse Transport & Bicycles", Latvia: EUROPA 2020 Theme: A set of two postage stamps of 1.35 Euro & 1.42 Euro issued by "Latvijas Pasts" (Latvian Post): 08.05.2020:

1342) "Ancient Postal Routes - by Horse Transport & Bicycles", Latvia: EUROPA 2020 Theme: A set of two postage stamps of 1.35 Euro & 1.42 Euro issued by "Latvijas Pasts" (Latvian Post): 08.05.2020:

On 08.05.2020, "Latvijas Pasts" (Latvian Post)has released two new Stamps in the "Ancient Postal Routes" Theme/Series for "EUROPA" Stamps for the year 2020.

                   The two stamps of 1.35 Euro & 1.42 Euro

One Stamp depicts the delivery of postal items by Horse Transport (1.35 Euros) and the other by Bicycle (1.42 Euros).

The Stamp with the face value of 1.35 Euros corresponds to the postage of items in the weight class up to 20.0 grams to the countries located in Zone 2.

Depicted on this stamp is the delivery of post by bicycle - although the use of bicycles in the postal sector started more than 100 years ago, this manner of delivery still is popular amongst postmen today.

The Stamp with the face value of 1.42 Euros covers the postage of letter-post items in the weight class up to 20.0 grams to countries in Zone 3.

Depicted on this stamp is the delivery of post by horse, recalling the ancient history of hundreds of years, when letters and other valuable items were delivered by special postal riders.

The First Day Cover (FDC) shows at left, a post rider on his way to the mail delivery destination on his horse.

At top right are affixed the two stamps issued in the set, cancelled with a special Handstamp/Postmark dated - "08.05.2020".

Two Full Sheets (FS) of 10 Stamps each of the two variants issued in the set.

Technical Specifications:

Date of Stamp set issue: 08.05.2020

No. of Stamps issued: 104,000 copies each (x2 Stamps).

First Day Cover (FDC): 1,000 copies.

Designer: Ludis Danilans

About EUROPA Stamps:

EUROPA Postage stamps (also known as EUROPA-CEPT - European Conference Postal and Telecommunication Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.

EUROPA Stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.

As such, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and cooperation.

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the EUROPA issues. The CPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPE" leaning towards the right hand side.

Each year, PostEurop's Stamps & Philately Group selects the EUROPA Stamp theme:

1993 - Contemporary Art

1994 - Great Discoveries

1995 - Peace and Freedom

1996 - Famous Women

1997 - Tales and Legends

1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations

1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks

2000 - Common Design, Tower of 6 Stars

2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature

2002 - The Circus

2003 - Poster Art

2004 - Holidays

2005 - Gastronomy

2006 - Integration through the Eyes of Young People

2007 - Scout Centenary

2008 - Writing Letters

2009 - Astronomy

2010 - Children Books

2011 - Forests - International Year of Forests

2012 - Visit ...... (for instance "Visit Finland")

2013 - Van of the Postman

2014 - Musical Instruments - National Musical Instruments

2015 - Old Toys

2016 - Ecology in Europe - "Think Green", Common Design

2017 - Castles

2018 - Bridges

2019 - National Birds

2020 - Ancient Postal Routes

2021 - the theme will be "Endangered National Wildlife"

2022 - the theme will be "Stories and Myths"

Links to posts on "Ancient Postal Routes" on this Blog, the theme of PostEurop for 2020:

1) Ancient Postal Routes - Mail Ships, Guernsey. a British Crown Dependency (BCD): A EUROPA set od six stamps brought out by Guernsey Post depicting six Mail Ships that sailed between Guernsey and the United Kingdom: Date of Stamp set issue: 01.04.2020

2) "Ancient Postal Routes, Romanian Principalities XIX Century", Romania: A set of two Postage Stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued by "Romfilatelia" (Romanian Post) depicting Ancient Postal Routes and modes of postal transport: Date of Stamp Set issue: 09.04.2020

 3) "Ancient Postal Routes, Biga", Bosnia & Herzgovina: Two EUROPA stamps of 3.00 Euro each depicting a Wagon and the two faces of a Silver Coin issued on 05.04.2020

4) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020

 5) "Ancient Postal Routes - Mail Ships", Jersey, A British Crown Dependency (BCD): A set of six stamps depicting the Mail Ships - Rover, the Atalanta, the Cygnus, the Lydia and Isle of Jersey and The Caesarea III, issued by Jersey Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 07.04.2020

6) "Ancient Postal Routes - The Postal Route from Christiania to Bergen", Norway: A Europa Stamp of 20g issued by Posten Norge (or Norwegian Post)depicting the difficult mountain route/stretch at Vindhellvegen & Kongevegen: Date od Stamp issue: 17.04.2020

7) "Ancient Postal Routes through blizzards, snow covered mountain routes and straits", Faroe Islands: Two Stamps of 17KR and 20KR issued by Posta (Faroe Islands Post) under the Europa theme for 2020: Date of stamp set issue: 27.04.2020

8) "Ancient Postal Routes during the time of Louis the Great - 14th century", Hungary: A set of two postage stamps issued by Magyar Posta of 650 HUF each: Date of Stamp set issue: 04.05.2020

9) "Ancient Postal Routes in the Ottoman Empire - 17th century" Serbia: A set of two Stamps issued by Serbian Post in the denominations of 74 ans 108 Dinaras (Dinars): Date of Stamp Set issue: 05.05.2020 

10) "Ancient Postal Routes, Santa Claus", Finland: A EUROPA Stamp released by "Posti" (Finland Post): Date of Stamp release: 06.05.2020

11) "Ancient Postal Routes, through Rheinhausen-Basel-Zurich", Switzerland: EUROPA theme for 2020: A set of two Postage stamps of 100 Swiss francs each issued by Swiss Post: Date of Stamp set issue: 07.05.2020

12) "Ancient Postal Routes - Packet ships The Lady Mary Wood (1842) and SS Iberia (1836)", Gibraltar: EUROPA 2020 Theme: A set of two Postage stamps in the denominations of 1.66 Pounds & 2.86 Pounds issued by Gibraltar Post: Date of Stamps issue: 08.05.2020

13) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Kholmogory post road (Arkhangelsk - Vologda - Yaroclavi - Moscow), Russia: Europa 2020 theme: A stamp brought out by "Pochta Rossii"(Russian Post) featuring this important post road: Date of Stamp issue: 15.01.2020

14) "Ancient Postal Routes - by Horse Transport & Bicycles", Latvia: EUROPA 2020 theme: A set of two postage stamps of 1,35 Euro and 1.42 Euro issued by "Latvijas Pasts" (Latvian Post): Date of Stamp set issue: 08.05.2020

For other posts on Latvian Coins/Stamps, please visit the following links:

1) Latvian Folk Songs: "Smith Forges in the Sky": A 5 Euro Silver Coin issued by the LATVIJAS BANKA in 2017

2) Honey Coin: A 5 Euro Gold plated Silver coin minted by the Mint of Lithuania on behalf of the Bank of Latvia titled "Honey Coin" featuring honey-comb cells issued on 22.05.2018

3) Birds of Latvia (2018): Common Redshank (Tringa tatanus) and Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus): A set of two stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts (Latvia Post) on 08.06.2018

4) The Garden of Destiny ("Likendarzs") : A 5 Euro Silver coin commemorates the National Memorial Site/Project in Latvia, dedicated to all Latvians and their collective strength: Coin minted by the Royal Dutch Mint on behalf of the Bank of Latvia and issued on 22.06.2018

5) A 5 Euro Silver-Perculor Coin titled "The Earth" issued by the Bank of Latvia on 22.12.2016

6) Blind Talents, Latvia: Latvijas Pasts has issued a Postage stamp of 0.90 Euro featuring works of art created using the tactile painting technique - a method of painting adapted to visually impaired persons: Stamp issue date: 26.07.2019

7) "Gifts of the Forest", Latvia: A 5 Euro Silver Proof Coin issued by the Bank of Latvia and minted by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (the Royal Dutch Mint) on 14.10.2019

8) Centenary Celebrations of Latvia's "Freedom Fights" (or the "War of Independence") (1918-1920): Lat6vijas Banka ("Bank of Latvia") has issued a Silver 5 Euro Commemorative Coin celebrating the Centenary of the "Liberation of Riga" (1919-2019): Coin minted by Lithuanian Mint: Coin issue date: 07.11.2019

9) Coat of Arms of Cities and Regions of Latvia: A set of five stamps issued by Latvijas Pasts (Latvia Post) depicting the Coats of Arms of Babite (1.42 Euro), Durbes (1.0 Euro), Koknese (1.35 Euro), Krimuldi (1,29) and Vilani (1.54 Euro) Municipalities: Stamp set issue date 03.01.2020