Lithuania
Postal Rates 1795-1918

001 24-10-1795 – 17-04-1807
local letter
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (2 kopecks)
  
heavier local letter 1)
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (4 kopecks)
  
inland letter 2) 3)

2 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

4 kopecks

  
international letter
basically the sum of the rates of the postal services involved. International letters are often carried by a commercial traveller or a sea captain, who posts them somewhere on his way
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) up to 100 versts; 1 kopeck per lot for each additional 50 versts (1 verst = 1067 meters)
3) surcharge for insured letter 0.5% of its worth
► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots
► inland = Russia
► on 24 October 1795 the Third Partition of Poland takes place and the biggest part of Lithuania is subjected to Russian rule. The present Lithuanian province of Marijampolė is a part of Prussia
   
002 17-04-1807 – 18-12-1818
local letter
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (6 kopecks)
  
heavier local letter 1)
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (12 kopecks)
  
inland letter 2) 3)

6 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

12 kopecks

  
international letter
basically the sum of the rates of the postal services involved. International letters are often carried by a commercial traveller or a sea captain, who posts them somewhere on his way
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) up to 100 versts; 2 kopecks per lot for each additional 100 versts (1 verst = 1067 meters)
3) from 05-11-1811 money letters 3× normal rate
► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots
► inland = Russia
► the present Lithuanian province of Marijampolė is from 1807 at first a part of the Duchy of Warsaw, then of the Kingdom of Poland. The Russian czar is also king of Poland. In Poland roubles and kopecks are in use, just like in Russia. Poland has a postal service of its own. It is possible, though improbable, that Poland uses slightly different postal rates. Between 22 June and 18 December 1812 a big part of Lithuania is occupied by the French under Napoleon
 
003 18-12-1818 – 04-06-1830
local letter
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (12 kopecks)
  
heavier local letter 1)
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (24 kopecks)
  
inland letter 2)

12 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

24 kopecks

  
international letter
basically the sum of the rates of the postal services involved, but during this period postal treaties are concluded with Prussia and Sweden
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) up to 100 versts; 4 kopecks per lot for each additional 100 versts (1 verst = 1067 meters)
► parcels up to 32 lots and up to 100 versts 24 kopecks; after 02-02-1821 12 kopecks
► inland = Russia
 
004 04-06-1830 – 01-01-1840
local letter
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (20 kopecks)
  
heavier local letter 1)
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (40 kopecks)
  
inland letter 2)

20 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

40 kopecks

  
international letter
partly laid out in postal treaties between two countries, or simply the sum of the rates of the postal services involved, partly a matter of private enterprise
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) up to 300 versts; 10 kopecks per lot for each additional 300 versts; letters within the same province always 20 kopecks per lot (1 verst = 1067 meters)
► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots
► inland = Russia
► in 1831 the Kingdom of Poland is de facto disbanded. By that the Polish province of Suwałki (its northern part is the present Lithuanian province of Marijampolė) becomes a Russian province. Nevertheless Poland gets postage stamps of its own on 2 December 1859 and keeps them until 1 April 1865
 
005 01-01-1840 – 01-01-1844
local letter
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (5 kopecks)
  
heavier local letter 1)
if carried by the mail same as inland rate (10 kopecks)
  
inland letter 2)

5 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

10 kopecks

  
international letter
partly laid out in postal treaties between two countries, or simply the sum of the rates of the postal services involved, partly a matter of private enterprise
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) up to 300 versts; 300-800 versts 10 kopecks; 800-1100 versts 15 kopecks; 100-1800 versts 20 kopecks; > 1800 versts 25 kopecks; within the same province always 5 kopecks per lot (1 verst = 1067 meters)
► the same rates apply to parcels up to 32 lots
► inland = Russia
 
006 01-01-1844 – 09-04-1862
local letter

10 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

20 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
inland letter 2)

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) regardless of distance
► on 23 December 1857 Russia issues its first postage stamp with a value of 10 kopecks. However, as from 1845 envelopes with an imprinted stamp on the flap are in use
► inland = Russia
 
007 09-04-1862 – 13-05-1864
local letter

10 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

20 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
inland letter 2)

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
2) value-declared letter 25 kopecks
► inland = Russia
 
008 13-05-1864 – 15-12-1865
local letter

10 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

20 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
local printed matter

3 kopecks

 (local = inland rate)
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

3 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
009 15-12-1865 – 21-05-1866
local letter

5 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter

3 kopecks

  
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

3 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
010 21-05-1866 – 01-01-1870
local letter

5 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter

1 kopeck

  
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

1 kopeck

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination.
A letter to Prussia costs 14 kopecks
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
011 01-01-1870 – 01-01-1872
local letter

5 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter

1 kopeck

  
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 1)

20 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

2 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination.
A letter to Prussia costs 14 kopecks
  
particulars 1) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
012 01-01-1872 – 01-01-1875
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
local printed matter 2)

2 kopecks

  
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 3)

20 kopecks

  
inland postcard

5 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

2 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination.
A letter to Germany costs 14 kopecks
  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local mail
2) small printed matters (like visiting cards) 1 kopeck
3) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
013 01-01-1875 – 19-06-1875
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local letter

13 kopecks

  
local postcard 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

13 kopecks

  
local printed matter

2 kopecks

  
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 2)

20 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

20 kopecks

  
inland postcard

5 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

15 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

2 kopecks

  
international letter
subject to individual postal treaty with country of destination.
A letter to Germany costs 14 kopecks
  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local mail
2) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
014 19-06-1875 – 20-03-1879
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local letter

13 kopecks

  
local postcard 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

13 kopecks

  
local printed matter

2 kopecks

  
inland letter

8 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 2)

16 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

18 kopecks

  
inland postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

14 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

2 kopecks

  
international letter

8 kopecks

  
registered international letter

18 kopecks

  
international postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

14 kopecks

  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local mail
2) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
015 20-03-1879 – 08-03-1889
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local letter

10 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter

2 kopecks

  
inland letter

7 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 2)

14 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

14 kopecks

  
inland postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

10 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

2 kopecks

  
international letter

7 kopecks

  
registered international letter

14 kopecks

  
international postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

13 kopecks

  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local letters
2) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
016 08-03-1889 – 19-03-1899
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local letter

10 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter

2 kopecks

  
inland letter

7 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 2)

14 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

14 kopecks

  
inland postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

10 kopecks

  
inland printed matter

2 kopecks

  
international letter

10 kopecks

  
registered international letter

20 kopecks

  
international postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

14 kopecks

  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local letters
2) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
017 19-03-1899 – 15-03-1909
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

3 kopecks

  
registered local letter

10 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter 2)

1 kopeck

  
inland letter

7 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 3)

14 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

14 kopecks

  
inland postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

10 kopecks

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 kopecks

  
international letter

10 kopecks

  
registered international letter

20 kopecks

  
international postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

14 kopecks

  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local letters
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
3) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
018 15-03-1909 – 09-10-1913
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

4 kopecks

  
registered local letter

10 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter 2)

1 kopeck

  
inland letter

7 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 3)

14 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

14 kopecks

  
inland postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

10 kopecks

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 kopecks

  
international letter

10 kopecks

  
registered international letter

20 kopecks

  
international postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

14 kopecks

  
particulars 1) > 4 lots (51.176 grammes)
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
3) > 1 lot (12.794 grammes)
► inland = Russia
 
019 09-10-1913 – 21-09-1914
local letter

3 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

4 kopecks

  
registered local letter

10 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

10 kopecks

  
local printed matter 2)

1 kopeck

  
inland letter

7 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 3)

14 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

14 kopecks

  
inland postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

10 kopecks

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 kopecks

  
international letter

10 kopecks

  
registered international letter

20 kopecks

  
international postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

14 kopecks

  
particulars 1) > 60 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
3) > 15 grammes
► introduction of the metric system
► on 1 August 1914 Russia gets involved in the First World War
► inland = Russia
 
020 21-09-1914 – 18-08-1915
local letter

5 kopecks

  
heavier local letter 1)

8 kopecks

  
registered local letter

15 kopecks

  
local postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered local postcard

13 kopecks

  
local printed matter 2)

1 kopeck

  
inland letter

10 kopecks

  
heavier inland letter 3)

20 kopecks

  
registered inland letter

20 kopecks

  
inland postcard

3 kopecks

  
registered inland postcard

13 kopecks

  
inland printed matter 2)

2 kopecks

  
international letter

10 kopecks

  
registered international letter

20 kopecks

  
international postcard

4 kopecks

  
registered international postcard

14 kopecks

  
particulars 1) > 60 grammes
2) also valid for (picture) postcards with less than six words written upon them
3) > 15 grammes
► inland = Russia
► in July 1915 a German offensive starts that delivers Lithuania and parts of Latvia and White Russia into the hands of the Germans
 
021 18-08-1915 – 15-01-1916
particulars ► only the mail service of the German army is allowed; this service is free
 
022 15-01-1916 – 01-08-1916
local letter

5 Pfennig

  
heavier local letter 1)

5 Pfennig

  
registered local letter

25 Pfennig

  
local postcard

5 Pfennig

  
registered local postcard

25 Pfennig

  
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
inland letter

10 Pfennig

  
heavier inland letter 2)

20 Pfennig

  
registered inland letter

30 Pfennig

  
inland postcard

5 Pfennig

  
registered inland postcard

25 Pfennig

  
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
international letter
not allowed
  
registered international letter
not allowed
  
international postcard
not allowed
  
registered international postcard
not allowed
  
particulars 1) uniform rate for local letters
2) > 20 grammes
► inland rate applies to the entire territory occupied by the Germans, including Germany itself
► Lithuania is a part of the Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost and uses German stamps overprinted with ‘Postgebiet Ob. Ost’
► 1 rouble is equal to 2 Marks. In April 1916 the Germans start issuing roubles of their own: the ‘Ostrubel’. In 1918 the Germans issue ‘Ostmarks’ for the occupied Russian territory. 1 Mark = 1 Ostmark = 0,50 Ostrubels
► letters must be collected at the post office instead of being delivered. However, in bigger towns in the Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost there is a delivery service that delivers letters to houses on payment of a delivery fee. The fee is settled at delivery. The delivery service of Wilna (Vilnius) charges 10 Pfennig per letter or postcard. It is not surprising that local letters are extremely rare
 
023 01-08-1916 – 01-10-1918
local letter

7½ Pfennig

  
heavier local letter 1)

7½ Pfennig

  
registered local letter

27½ Pfennig

  
local postcard

7½ Pfennig

  
registered local postcard

27½ Pfennig

  
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
inland letter

15 Pfennig

  
heavier inland letter 2)

25 Pfennig

  
registered inland letter

35 Pfennig

  
inland postcard

7½ Pfennig

  
registered inland postcard

27½ Pfennig

  
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

  
international letter 3)

15 Pfennig

Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina (from 01-02-1917)
registered international letter 3)

35 Pfennig

Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina (from 01-02-1917)
international postcard 3)

7½ Pfennig
10 Pfennig
10 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary (from 01-02-1917)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (from 01-02-1917)
Russia (from 17-12-1917)
registered international postcard 3)

27½ Pfennig
30 Pfennig

 Austria-Hungary (from 01-02-1917)
Bosnia-Herzegovina (from 01-02-1917)
particulars 1) uniform rate for local letters
2) > 20 grammes
3) some letters to neutral countries, franked according to the German foreign rate (20 Pfennig for a letter up to 20 grammes), are known. Mail to Russia (officially only postcards are allowed) is often accepted when franked according to inland rate
► inland rate applies to the entire territory occupied by the Germans, including Germany itself
► 1 rouble is equal to 2 Marks
► the increase of the postal rates is a war tax, called the Reichsabgabe. The revenues go into the state treasury instead of the Deutsche Reichspost’s purse
► on 16 February 1918 Lithuania proclaims its independence. However, for the time being Lithuania remains occupied by Germany
Sources:

Czarist Period
  • A.V. Kiryushkin and P.E. Robinson, Russian Postmarks: An Introduction and Guide, J. Barefoot Ltd., 1989
  • N. Jakimovs and V. Marcilger, Postal History of Imperial Russia in Pre-independent Latvia, Framic, 1995
  • V. Hurt and E. Ojaste, Eesti – Estonia – Estland – Philately & Postal History Handbook Catalogue – Philatelie & Postgeschichte Handbuch Katalog, EFÜR/NY-EFS, 1986

Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost
  • Harry von Hofmann (ed.), Das Postgebiet Ob. Ost auf dem Territorium der späteren Republik Lettland 1915-1920, Harry von Hofmann Verlag, 2006
  • Vytautas Fugalevičius, Pašto antspaudai Lietuvoj/Poststempel in Litauen/P.O. Cancels in Lithuania, own book, 1990, 2nd edition.
  • Stefan Petriuk, ‘Stadtpost Wilna’, Philatelia Baltica, June 1985
  • Jeroen van de Weide and Ton Welvaart, ‘Eerste inflatieperiode in het Generaalgouvernement Warschau en bezet Rusland; enkele woorden over de Duitse inflatie voor Polenfilatelisten’, in: Inflatieperioden en geldhervormingen in Oost Europa, Filatelistische Contactgroep Oost Europa, 2007
  • Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog 1988

Independence
  • Jonas Grigaliunas, Steve Ivanauskas, Charles Matuzas and Joseph Mulevich, Postage Stamps of Lithuania, Lithuanian Philatelic Societies of New York and Toronto/The Collectors Club, Inc., 1978
  • Vytautas Fugalevičius, Pašto antspaudai Lietuvoj/Poststempel in Litauen/P.O. Cancels in Lithuania, own book, 1990, 2nd edition
  • André de Bruin, ‘De posttarieven van Litouwen’, Het Baltische Gebied, December 1992
  • Vytautas Doniela, ‘Postal Rates of Lithuania: The Auksinai Period, Part I’, Lithuania Journal 1998-1
  • Vytautas Doniela, ‘Postal Rates of Lithuania: The Auksinai Period, Part II’, Lithuania Journal 1998-2
  • Vytautas Doniela, ‘Postal Rates of Lithuania: The Litas Period’, Lithuania Journal 1999-1
  • Ričardas Vainora, ‘Papildant žinias apie tarifus 1918-1940 m.’, Lithuania Journal 1999-2
  • Vytautas Doniela, ‘De Litouwse luchtposttarieven’, Het Baltische Gebied, June 1997

Soviet occupation I
  • V. Hurt and E. Ojaste, Eesti – Estonia – Estland – Philately & Postal History Handbook Catalogue – Philatelie & Postgeschichte Handbuch Katalog, EFÜR/NY-EFS, 1986

German occupation
  • Harry von Hofmann (ed.), Lettland vor dem und als Teil vom Generalpostkommissariat Ostland, Harry von Hofmann Verlag, 2001

Soviet occupation II
  • Michel Ganzsachen-Katalog Europa Ost 2004/05
  • Survey provided by Anton Welvaart, 1986
  • Vladlen Aronovich Karlinskii, ‘Soviet Postal Rates’, Rossica 75 (1968)

Independence restored
  • Antanas Jankauskas, Specializuotas Lietuvos Pašto Ženklų Katalogas/Special Lithuanian Postage Stamp Catalogue 1990-2005, Kaunas, 2005
  • Pranas Kazlauskas, ‘Postzegels en posttarieven van Litouwen 1990-1993’, Het Baltische Gebied 23 (1993)
  • The most recent rates: http://www.post.lt/en/

If two sources are contradictory, firstly the items known to me are decisive, secondly the most recent source.

Did you notice a mistake? Do you know more than I do? Send me an e-mail!


My Dutch

Page