Latvia 1918 First Issue, Map of Latvia, Imperforate Sheet

Latvia · 1918 · 5 Kapeikas

This is Latvia's first postage stamp, issued shortly after its declaration of independence. The design features a stylized sun with three stars above, representing the historical regions of Kurzeme, Vidzeme, and Latgale, all set within a map-like outline of the country. The back of the sheet features a printed map of Latvia, a unique characteristic of this early issue.

Issued on December 18, 1918, this stamp marks the birth of the Latvian postal service following the nation's independence from the Russian Empire at the end of World War I. The map on the reverse was a cost-saving measure, as the stamps were printed on the back of unfinished German military maps.