LITHUANIA

Lietuva - Litauen - Lithuanie

Return To Catalogue - Central Lithuania

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
contact me if you want to purchase them:
evert@klaseboer.com.


1918 Inscription "Lietuvos Pastas"

Circles touching each other (4 lines of text,
   Vilnius printing, inscription 'pasta' without final 's')

  10 s black
  15 s black
  20 s black
  30 s black
  40 s black
  50 s black

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 s RR RR  
15 s RR RR  
20 s *** ***  
30 s *** ***  
40 s R R  
50 s R ***  
Circles don't touch each other (4 lines of text, 'skatiku',
  first Kaunas issue, inscription 'pastas' with final 's')

  10 s black
  15 s black
  20 s black
  30 s black

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 s R ***  
15 s R ***  
20 s R ***  
30 s R ***  
3 lines of text, currency 'sk' behind the value 
  (second Kaunas issue, inscription 'pastas')

  10 s black
  15 s black
  20 s black
  30 s black
  40 s black
  50 s black
  60 s black

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 s *** *  
15 s *** *  
20 s *** *  
30 s *** *  
40 s *** *  
50 s *** *  
60 s *** *  
3 lines of text, currency ('sk') in front and behind value 
  (third Kaunas issue, inscription 'pastas')


(Reduced size)

  10 s black
  15 s black
  20 s black
  30 s black
  40 s black
  50 s black
  60 s black

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 s *** *  
15 s *** *  
20 s *** *  
30 s *** *  
40 s *** *  
50 s *** *  
60 s *** *  

Forgeries exist, by the way, I'm not sure if the above stamps are genuine, example of a forgery:

Deceptive forgeries exist of the first and second Kaunus issue, made by the postmaster of Lithuania (mr. Sruongo). He used the genuine printing plates to make them. They have the cancel '* MARIJAMPOLE * a' in a double circle with date in the center. Genuine stamps with this cancel were never found. Sruongo also made forgeries of other stamps of Lithuania with 'plate errors' and 'perforation errors'. He usually made sure a few of them were actually sold at the post office, such that genuinely used 'errors' existed. He was convicted to a prison sentence for this in 1935.

 

1919 Grodno issue, stamps of Russia, overprinted 'Lietuva', value and russian text (rare)

Image reproduced with permission from: http://www.sandafayre.com

  50 s on 3 k red
  50 s on 5 k lilac
  50 s on 10 k blue
  50 s on 15 k brown and blue
  50 s on 25 k green and violet
  50 s on 35 k brown and green
  50 s on 50 k lilac and green
  50 s on 70 k brown and red

 

1919 Three different designs with arms of the country

  10 s red (two shades of red were issued)
  15 s violet (two shades)
  20 s blue (two shades)
  30 s orange
  30 s brown
  40 s brown (two shades)
  50 s green (two shades)
  60 s violet and red
  75 s yellow and red (two shades of yellow)
  1 A grey and red (two shades)
  3 A brown and red (two shades)
  5 A green and red (two shades)

Imperforate stamps exist. In 1922 many of these stamps were surcharged:

  '1 CENT.' on 10 s red
  '1 CENT.' on 15 s violet
  '1 CENT.' on 20 s blue
  '1 CENT.' (red) on 20 s blue
  '1 CENT.' on 30 s brown
  '1 CENT.' on 40 s brown
  '1 CENT.' (red) on 40 s brown
  '2 CENT.' on 50 s green
  '2 CENT.' on 60 s violet and red
  '2 CENT.' on 75 s yellow and red
  '3 CENT.' on 1 A grey and red 
  '3 CENT.' on 3 A brown and red 
  '3 CENT.' on 5 A green and red 
  '5 CENT.' (green, vertically) on '4 AUKSINAI' on 75 s yellow and red
  '5 CENT.' (green, vertically) on '4 AUKSINAI' and bars on 75 s yellow and red
  '4 AUKSINAI' on 75 s yellow and red
  '4 AUKSINAI' and bars on 75 s yellow and red


With overprint 'SRODKOWA LITWA Poczta', issued for Central Lithuania

 

A very rare local issue for Telsiai exists. It consists of a cancel with a horsrider inside it, the text 'TELSIAI' on top and 'PAST.- TELEGR.' below. Below this cancel the text 'ARMOKETA SK .... SK.' is written. The value is manually included between the 'SK's. Sorry, no image available yet.

 

1920 Commemoration of the independance, inscription 'LIETUVA 1918-11-16', various designs

  10 s red
  15 s lilac
  20 s blue
  30 s brown
  40 s brown and green
  50 s red
  60 s lilac
  80 s violet and red
  1 A green and red
  3 A brown and red
  5 A green and red

 

1920 National Assembly, inscription 'STEIG SEIMAS' or 'STEIGIAMASIS SEIMAS'

  10 s red
  15 s blue
  20 s green
  30 s brown
  40 s green and violet
  50 s brown and orange
  60 s red and orange
  80 s grey and red
  1 A black and orange
  3 A black and green
  5 A black and grey

Some very rare proofs(?) (not more than a few thousand exist) were actually used for postage. The colors were different: 20 s green and lilac, 40 s olive, violet and yellow, 50 s brown and violet, 60 s red and green, 80 s green, red and black.

 

1921 Sower, harvester, King Keistut and man on horse, perforated

Sower
  10 s red
  15 s violet
  20 s blue
  4 A blue and yellow (1922)
  8 A black and green (1922)

Harvester

  30 s brown
  50 s green (also exists imperforate)
  60 s green and violet

King Keistut

  40 s red
  80 s orange and red
  1 A brown and light green
  2 A blue and red

Man on horse carrying torch

  3 A light brown and blue
  5 A grey and red
  10 A red and lilac
  25 A light brown and green
  100 A red and green (1922)

Surcharged (1922)

  '1 CENT.' on 50 s green (also exists imperforate)
  '3 CENT.' on 10 s red
  '3 CENT.' on 15 s violet
  '3 CENT.' on 20 s blue
  '3 CENT.' on 30 s brown
  '3 CENT.' on 40 s red
  '5 CENT.' on 50 s green
  '5 CENT.' on 60 s green and violet
  '5 CENT.' on 80 s orange and red
  '10 CENTU' on 1 A brown and light green
  '10 CENTU' on 2 A blue and red
  '15 CENTU' on 4 A blue and yellow
  '25 CENT.' on 3 A light bronw and blue
  '25 CENT.' on 5 A grey and red
  '25 CENT.' on 10 A red and lilac
  '30 CENTU' (red) on 8 A black and green
  '50 CENTU' on 25 A light brown and green
  '1 LITAS' on 100 A red and green

 

1921 Airmail stamps, woman with wings holding aeroplane

  20 s orange and violet
  40 s blue and red
  60 s violet and green
  80 s orange and green
  1 A green and blue
  2 A grey and red
  5 A lilac and blue

 

1921 Airmail stamps

Posthorn with wings
  20 s blue
  40 s orange
  60 s green
  80 s red

Other designs

  1 A green and red (aeroplane above road)
  2 A brown and blue (aeroplanes following each other)
  5 A olive and yellow (aeroplane and tower)

Aeroplane above tower (design as 5 A, but smaller)

  2 A blue and red
  4 A brown and red
  10 A black and light blue
  

Surcharged (1922)
  '10 CENTU' on 20 s blue
  '10 CENTU' on 40 s orange
  '10 CENTU' on 60 s green
  '10 CENTU' on 80 s red
  '20 CENTU' on 1 A green and red
  '20 CENTU' on 2 A brown and blue
  '25 CENT.' on 2 A blue and red
  '30 CENTU' (red) on 4 A brown and red
  '50 CENTU' on 5 A olive and yellow
  '50 CENTU' on 10 A black and light blue

 

1922 Non issued airmail stamps (triangle) with overprint 'ZENKLAS'

  1 A brown and red
  3 A violet and green
  5 A blue and yellow

Surcharged
  '1 LITAS' on 5 A blue and yellow

 

1922 Portraits of famous men, inscription 'LIETUVA DEJURE'

  20 s black and red
  40 s green and violet
  50 s lilac and blue
  60 s violet and orange
  1 A red and blue
  2 A blue and brown
  3 A brown and blue
  4 A green and lilac
  5 A brown and red
  6 A blue and light blue
  8 A blue and yellow
  10 A violet and green (3 men on one stamp)

 

1923 Unification of Memel and Lithuania

  1 c red, black and green
  2 c black and lilac
  3 c black and yellow
  5 c blue, black and yellow
  10 c black and orange
  15 c black and green
  25 c black and lilac
  30 c black and red
  60 c black and olive
  1 L black and green
  2 L black and red
  3 L black and blue
  5 L black and blue

 

1923 Permanent set, various designs

Village
  2 c brown (1924)
  3 c olive (1924)
  5 c green (1924)
  10 c violet
  15 c red
  20 c brown
  25 c blue
  36 c brown (1924)
  
Castle
  50 c green
  60 c red

Town
  1 L orange and green
  3 L red and grey
  5 L brown and blue

Overprinted 'KARO NASLAICIAMS' in an arc (different for some values) 
and surcharged (charity issue, 1924)
  2 c + 2 c brown
  3 c + 3 c olive
  5 c + 5 c green
  10 c + 10 c violet
  15 c + 15 c red
  20 c + 20 c brown
  25 c + 25 c blue
  34 c + 36 c brown
  50 c + 50 c green
  60 c + 60 c red
  1 L + 1 L orange and green
  2 L + 3 L red and grey
  3 L + 5 L brown and blue

Overprinted 'KARO NASLAICIAMS' in an arc (different for some values) 
and surcharged, further surcharged (charity issue, 1926)
  1 c (gold) on 2 c + 2 c brown
  2 c (gold) on 3 c + 3 c olive
  2 c (gold) on 5 c + 5 c green
  5 c (gold) on 10 c + 10 c violet
  5 c (gold) on 15 c + 15 c red
  10 c (gold) on 20 c + 20 c brown
  10 c (gold) on 25 c + 25 c blue
  14 c (gold) on 34 c + 36 c brown
  20 c (gold) on 50 c + 50 c green
  25 c (silver) on 60 c + 60 c red
  30 c (silver) on 1 L + 1 L orange and green

Overprinted 'KARO NASLAICIAMS' in an arc (different for some values) 
and surcharged further surcharged with 'VP' and value in gold (charity issue, 1926
  1 c on 2 c + 2 c brown
  2 c on 3 c + 3 c olive
  2 c on 5 c + 5 c green
  5 c on 10 c + 10 c violet
  10 c on 15 c + 15 c red
  15 c on 20 c + 20 c brown
  15 c on 25 c + 25 c blue
  19 c on 34 c + 36 c brown
  25 c on 50 c + 50 c green
  30 c on 60 c + 60 c red
  50 c on 1 L + 1 L orange and green
  2 L + 3 L red and grey
  3 L + 5 L brown and blue

 

1924 Airmail stamps

  20 c yellow
  40 c green
  60 c red
  1 L brown

Overprinted 'KARO NASLAICIAMS' in an arc (different for some values) 
and surcharged (charity issue, 1924)
  20 c (red) + 20 c yellow
  40 c (green) + 40 c green
  60 c (green) + 60 c red
  1 L + 1 L brown

 

1926 Airmail stamps, bird with letter

  20 c red
  40 c violet and red
  60 c blue and black (exists with inverted center)

 

1927 Arms, double cross, 'LIETUVA' curved on top

  2 c orange
  3 c brown
  5 c green
  10 c violet
  15 c red
  25 c blue
  30 c blue (1929)

 

1927 Death of Basanavucius, with black border

  15 c red and black
  25 c blue and black
  50 c green and black
  60 c violet and black

 

1927 Knight on horse

  1 L green and grey
  3 L violet and green
  5 L brown and grey

 

1928 10 years of indepence, some stamps with inscription '1918 1928'

Portrait of Smetona
  5 c brown and green
  10 c violet and black
  15 c orange and brown
  25 c blue and black

Man holding cross
  50 c blue and lilac
  60 c red and black

Man with angel
  1 L brown and dark brown

 

1930 500 years death of Vytautus, inscription 'VYTAUTAS DIDYSIS 1430 1930'

Image of king

  2 c light brown and dark brown
  3 c brown and violet
  5 c green and orange
  10 c violet and green
  15 c red and violet
  30 c blue and violet
  36 c lilac and black
  50 c green and blue
  60 c blue and red

Larger size (image of knight on horse)
  1 L green, grey and brown
  3 L brown and blue
  5 L brown, grey and orange
  10 L blue, light blue and black
  25 L brown, red brown and grey

Airmail (image of Juozas Tubelis)

  5 c black, olive and yellow
  10 c blue, black and grey
  15 c red, blue and grey

Airmail (woman with sword and aeroplane)

  20 c brown, red and orange
  40 c blue, violet and light blue

Airmail (portraits of two men, aeroplanes above their heads)

  60 c green, black and grey
  1 L red, black and lilac

 

1932 Charity issue for the orphans committee, various designs, perforated or imperforate

  5 c blue and yellow
  10 c brown and yellow
  15 c brown and green
  25 c blue and green
  50 c grey and green
  60 c grey and lilac
  1 L blue and grey
  3 L brown and green

Airmail (triangular stamps)
  5 c red and green (map of Lithuania)
  10 c brown and yellow
  15 c blue and yellow
  20 c brown and orange
  40 c brown and yellow
  60 c blue and yellow
  1 L brown and green
  2 L blue and yellow

 

1932 Charity issue for the 'Lithuanian Child Committee', various designs

  5 c red and brown (escape scene, inscription 'VYTAUTAS PASEGA IS KREVES PILIES 1362M.')
  10 c brown and red-brown (design as 5 c)
  15 c lilac and green (conversion, inscription 'VYTAUTAS IR JOGAILA KRIKSTIJA LIETUVA 1386M.')
  25 c brown and light brown (design as 15 c)
  50 c green and red (battle scene)
  60 c green and lilac (design as 50 c)
  1 L blue and grey (meeting of royals at Luzk)
  3 L brown and green (design as 1 L)

Airmail (triangular stamps)
  5 c green and lilac (battle scene, inscription 'MUSIS PRIE SAULES 1236M.')
  10 c green and red (design as 5 c)
  15 c lilac and brown (coronation scene, inscription 'MINDAUGO VAINIKAVIM 1253M.')
  20 c red and violet (design as 15 c)
  40 c brown and black (King with knights)
  60 c orange and black (founding of city by King)
  1 L violet and green (conquering)
  2 L blue and brown (King standing in front of Moscow)

 

1933 Airmail, various designs in a triangle

  5 c olive and blue
  10 c violet and brown
  15 c blue and violet
  20 c brown and violet
  40 c blue and violet
  60 c brown and blue
  1 L olive and blue
  2 L violet and green

 

1933 Lithuanian freedom fighters

  5 c green and red
  10 c blue and red
  15 c orange and red
  25 c blue and brown
  50 c olive and blue
  60 c brown and dark brown
  1 L red and brown
  3 L blue and brown

 

1933 Lithuanian child charity, various designs, perforated or imperforate

  5 c green and brown (mother and child)
  10 c brown and blue
  15 c green and brown
  25 c orange and black
  50 c green and red
  60 c black and orange
  1 L brown and blue
  23 L violet and green

 

1933 Airmail, triangular stamps with images of famous persons

  5 c red and blue
  10 c violet and green
  15 c green and brown
  20 c lilac and blue
  40 c brown and green
  60 c blue and brown
  1 L olvie and blue
  2 L green and brown

 

1933 Airmail stamps commemorating deceased pilots

  20 c red and black (portrait of two pilots)
  40 c red and blue (aeroplane above sea)
  60 c violet and black (design as 20 c)
  1 L black and orange (angel standing above crashed aeroplane)
  3 L grey and orange (earoplane above globe)
  5 L brown and light blue (aeroplane with knight and horse on background)

Overprinted 'F.Vaitkus nugaleja Atlanta 21-22. IX 1935' (1936)
  40 c red and blue (RR, not officially issued)

 

1934 President Smetona full face

  15 c red
  30 c green
  60 c blue

 

1935 Various designs

Arms in shield in upper left corner, value in shield in lower right corner

  2 c red and orange
  2 c orange (slightly smaller size, 1936)
  5 c green and light green
  5 c green (slightly smaller size, 1936)

Three small arms in center, surrounded by ornaments

  10 c brown
  35 c red

Harvesting woman

  25 c brown and green
  50 c blue and light blue

Two women sitting with their back at each other

  1 L brown and lilac
  3 L green and light green

Knight holding sword

  5 L red-brown and light blue
  10 L brown and yellow

Overprinted 'LTSR 1940 VII 21' (1940)

  2 c orange

 

1936 Airmail, image of F.Vaitkus and map

  15 c red
  30 c green
  60 c blue

 

1936 Smetona facing the right, 'LIETUVA' on top

  15 c red
  30 c green
  60 c blue

I've seen these stamps with overprint 'Memelland ist frei' and swastika; the overprint is in blue on the 15 c, in red on the 30 c and in green on the 60 c:

 

1938 Olympic games

  5 c + 5 c green
  15 c + 5 c red
  30 c + 10 c blue
  60 c + 15 c brown

This set exists with a boy-scout overprint.

 

1938 20 years of independence

  15 c red (reading the declaration of independence)
  30 c green (president A.Smetona)
  35 c lilac (design as 15 c)
  60 c blue (design as 30 c)

Overprinted 'VILNIUS 1939-X-10' (1939)

  15 c red
  30 c green
  35 c lilac
  60 c blue

 

1939 Basketball, various designs

  30 c + 15 c black
  15 c + 10 c brown 
  60 c + 40 c violet (larger design)

 

1939 Inscription '1939 - X -10', various designs

  15 s green (view of Vilnius)
  30 s green (portrait of man, inscription 'GEDIMINAS')
  60 s blue (view of Trakai)

I've seen a souvenir sheet with the above three stamps pasted on it. The inscription reads '1323 1939 URBS VILNIUS METROPOLIS LITHUANIAE RECUPERATA' in gold.

 

1939(?) Arms with knight on horse in shield, ornaments at the right hand side, 'LIETUVA' at the bottom, with network underprint

 

  10 c green
  25 c lilac
  35 c red
  50 c brown
  1 L blue

Overprinted 'LTSR 1940 VII-24'

  50 c brown (blue overprint)

 

1940 Various designs

  5 c red-brown (knight on horse)
  10 c green (angel with cross)
  15 c orange (woman releasing dove, exists imperforate)
  25 c brown (family)
  30 c blue (bell, exists imperforate)
  35 c red (lion with tree)

Overprinted 'LTSR 1940 VII-24'

  5 c red-brown (blue overprint)
  10 c green (red overprint)
  15 c orange (blue overprint)
  25 c brown (red overprint)
  30 c blue (red overprint)
  35 c red (blue overprint)
  

 

In 1940 Lithuania was annexed by the Sowjet Union.


Local Issue?

Inscription 'Raseiniu Apskricio Pasto zenklas' (1919?):


Local issue? 15 k green and black


Fiscal Stamps

Inscription 'VALSTYBES RINKLIAVA':

In the above design I have seen: 30 c lilac and red, 50 c brown and red, '1 LITAS' on 10 a blue and red.

In the above large design I have seen: 2 L black and red, 5 L orange and red. I have also seen a surcharge stamp: '2 LITU' on 100 a blue and red.


German Occupation

1941 Various stamps of the Sowjet Union, overprinted 'NEPRIKLAUSOMA LIETUVA 1941 - VI - 23' in three lines vertically

Small sized stamps
  2 k green
  5 k red
  10 k blue
  15 k green (soldier)
  20 k green (woman)
  30 k blue (pilot)
  50 k brown (woman)
  60 k red (arms)

Larger size (with larger overprint)
  80 k blue

Telsiai local issue

Stamps of the Sowjet Union, overprinted 'Laisvi Telsiai 1941. VI. 26.'


Websites

http://members.fortunecity.com/jtckaptein/philatelyoflithuania/onaeng.htm


Memel

In 1920 the Memel territory (formerly belonging to Germany) was put under the influence of France. It joined Lithuania in 1923. For examples of these stamps see Cd 1.


Copyright by Evert Klaseboer