Latvia: 10 s. brown Latvian Railways Newspaper Stamp, wmk. Wz 4, maker's mark

Condition: used (ʘ).

Issued: 1926.

Catalogue Reference:

Catalogue number(s):

Seller's Reference: SB/(ʘ)/025.

Additional descriptive notes (if applicable): this stamp was issued by Latvian Railways for the prepayment of the cost of carriage of newspapers by train.  Railway newspaper stamps are not listed in the Michel catalogue.

The stamps were printed on the same watermarked paper used for the printing of Latvian postage stamps.  When first issued in 1926 the stamps were printed on paper watermarked with wavy lines (Michel Wz. 4) and from 1938 on paper watermarked with multiple swastikas (Michel Wz. 5) (see: Michel Europa-Katalog Band 11: Baltikum und Finnland 2020/2021, p. 324, Wz. 4 and Wz. 5 Y and Z).

The  stamp in this sale bears the watermark listed in the Michael catalogue as Wz. 4 (watermark 4).  It comprises wide vertical wavy lines running down the paper.  In addition to the wavy lines, the sheets of watermarked paper also contained a manufacturer’s mark.

The paper was manufactured at the A.-g. Riga Paper Mills in Ligat, and the inscription ‘PACTIEN LIGAT MILLS 1858’ in double letters and numerals appeared across some sheets of stamps.  The inscription is much larger than a single stamp, so only fragments of the manufacturer’s mark appear on any single stamp.

Fragments of the numerals ‘58’ (reversed when viewed from the back of the stamp) can be seen on the postage stamp included in this sale.

General notes:

1) Listing of used postage stamps: multiple copies: as my fine used material is of comparable quality, where I have more than one copy of a particular stamp for sale I list one generic sale for used singles and sets of postage stamps, showing one representative image of that particular item, but indicating how many copies/sets are for sale.

A purchaser who wishes to buy one copy/set will be sure that the item/set that they receive will be the one displayed in the image on the sales page. Once that stamp/set is sold, the image shown on the site will be updated with an image of a sale that I still have in stock.

If a potential purchaser wishes to buy more than one copy of a fine used postage stamp, and would like to see images of all copies available via eBid before they buy, or a purchaser would like to choose one copy from a range of possible purchases, I do retain an image library of all the material that I offer for sale. Images can be e-mailed upon request to assist in informing choice, so please do not hesitate to ask.

2) Shipping charges for multiple purchases: in addition to postage my shipping charges include a handling and packing charge. My basic charges for this item are shown on the sales page. However, postage, processing and packing charges for multiple purchases will be combined and will be based upon the actual cost of despatching a package containing all the items bought.

Purchasers who buy more than one item should ensure that they request an invoice, so that they benefit from the consolidated charge for postage and packing.