Lithuania
Postal Rates 1918-1944

024 01-10-1918 – 27-12-1918
local letter

10 Pfennig

 
heavier local letter 1)

15 Pfennig

 
registered local letter

30 Pfennig

 
local postcard

7½ Pfennig

 
registered local postcard

27½ Pfennig

 
local printed matter

5 Pfennig

 
inland letter

15 Pfennig

 
heavier inland letter 1)

25 Pfennig

 
registered inland letter

35 Pfennig

 
inland postcard

10 Pfennig

 
registered inland postcard

30 Pfennig

 
inland printed matter

5 Pfennig

 
international letter 2)

15 Pfennig
20 Pfennig

Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
registered international letter 2)

35 Pfennig
40 Pfennig

Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
international postcard 2)

10 Pfennig
10 Pfennig

Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
registered international postcard 2)

30 Pfennig
30 Pfennig

Austria-Hungary, Bosnia-Herzegovina
Russia (possible until 12-11-1918)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) 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 is often accepted when franked according to inland rate
the increase of the postal rates is entirely due to an increase of the Reichsabgabe
inland rate applies to the entire territory occupied by the Germans, including Germany itself
1 rouble = 2 Marks
   
025 27-12-1918 – 10-03-1919
local letter

15 skatikų

 
heavier local letter 1)

30 skatikų

 
registered local letter

45 skatikai

 
local postcard

10 skatikų

 
registered local postcard

40 skatikų

 
local printed matter

10 skatikų

 
inland letter

30 skatikų

 
heavier inland letter 1)

60 skatikų

 
registered inland letter

60 skatikų

 
inland postcard

20 skatikų

 
registered inland postcard

50 skatikų

 
inland printed matter

10 skatikų

 
international letter

50 skatikų

 
registered international letter

1 auksinas

 
international postcard

30 skatikų

 
registered international postcard

80 skatikų

 
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
the final date of this period is uncertain. In the next period the international letter rate has been raised to 60 skatikų and the international postcard rate to 40 skatikų. In Kaunas these rate increases seem to take effect in the beginning of March, outside Kaunas they are carried through later. The reason is probably the imperfect communication thanks to the battles with the Red Army, General Bermondt-Avaloff’s army and the Polish army. The rate increases are unknown outside Kaunas. By the way, there are also indications that the rate increase for international postcards takes effect before the increase for international letters
the auksinas is the Ostmark, which the Germans have issued within the Postgebiet des Oberbefehlshabers Ost. The Lithuanians keep using the German coins and banknotes. Also ‘Ostrubel’ (roubles for the Postgebiet, produced by the Germans) are still in circulation. 2 auksinai = 1 Ostrubel. The auksinas is pegged to the German Reichsmark, up to the beginning of the inflation period. Lithuania issues its own currency in 1922: the litas
army mail at half rate
 
026 10-03-1919 – 01-03-1920
local letter

15 skatikų

 
heavier local letter 1)

30 skatikų

 
registered local letter

45 skatikai

 
local postcard

10 skatikų

 
registered local postcard

40 skatikų

 
local printed matter

10 skatikų

 
inland letter

30 skatikų

 
heavier inland letter 1)

60 skatikų

 
registered inland letter

60 skatikų

 
inland postcard

20 skatikų

 
registered inland postcard

50 skatikų

 
inland printed matter

10 skatikų

 
international letter

60 skatikų

 
registered international letter

1 auksinas 20 skatikų

 
international postcard

40 skatikų

 
registered international postcard

1 auksinas

 
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
the starting date of this period is uncertain. The international letter rate has now been raised to 60 skatikų and the international postcard rate to 40 skatikų. In Kaunas these rate increases seem to take effect in the beginning of March, outside Kaunas they are carried through later. The reason is probably the imperfect communication thanks to the battles with the Red Army, General Bermondt-Avaloff’s army and the Polish army. The rate increases are not immediately known outside Kaunas. Only from the middle of 1919 the increased rates are applied in all post offices. By the way, there are also indications that the rate increase for international postcards takes effect before the increase for international letters
army mail at half rate
 
027 01-03-1920 – 01-07-1921
local letter

20 skatikų

 
heavier local letter 1)

40 skatikų

 
registered local letter

70 skatikų

 
local postcard

10 skatikų

 
registered local postcard

60 skatikų

 
local printed matter

10 skatikų

 
inland letter

50 skatikų

 
heavier inland letter 1)

1 auksinas

 
registered inland letter

1 auksinas

 
inland postcard

20 skatikų

 
registered inland postcard

70 skatikų

 
inland printed matter

20 skatikų

 
international letter

80 skatikų

 
registered international letter

1 auksinas 60 skatikų

 
international postcard

40 skatikų

 
registered international postcard

1 auksinas 20 skatikų

 
particulars 1) > 15 grammes
field post free of charge
 
028 01-07-1921 – 01-03-1922
local letter

50 skatikų

 
heavier local letter 1)

1 auksinas

 
registered local letter

1 auksinas 50 skatikų

 
local postcard

40 skatikų

 
registered local postcard

1 auksinas 40 skatikų

 
local printed matter

20 skatikų

 
inland letter

1 auksinas

 
heavier inland letter 1)

2 auksinai

 
registered inland letter

2 auksinai

 
inland postcard

50 skatikų

 
registered inland postcard

1 auksinas 50 skatikų

 
inland printed matter

30 skatikų

 
international letter

2 auksinai

 
registered international letter

4 auksinai

 
international postcard

1 auksinas

 
registered international postcard

3 auksinai

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
 
029 01-03-1922 – 15-07-1922
local letter

1 auksinas

 
heavier local letter 1)

2 auksinai

 
registered local letter

3 auksinai

 
local postcard

80 skatikų

 
registered local postcard

2 auksinai 80 skatikų

 
local printed matter

40 skatikų

 
inland letter

2 auksinai

 
heavier inland letter 1)

4 auksinai

 
registered inland letter

4 auksinai

 
inland postcard

1 auksinas

 
registered inland postcard

3 auksinai

 
inland printed matter

60 skatikų

 
international letter

4 auksinai

 
registered international letter

8 auksinai

 
international postcard

2 auksinai 40 skatikų

 
registered international postcard

6 auksinai 40 skatikų

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
 
030 15-07-1922 – 10-09-1922
local letter

2 auksinai

 
heavier local letter 1)

4 auksinai

 
registered local letter

6 auksinai

 
local postcard

1 auksinas

 
registered local postcard

5 auksinai

 
local printed matter

40 skatikų

 
inland letter

4 auksinai

 
heavier inland letter 1)

8 auksinai

 
registered inland letter

8 auksinai

 
inland postcard

2 auksinai

 
registered inland postcard

6 auksinai

 
inland printed matter

60 skatikų

 
international letter

8 auksinai

 
registered international letter

14 auksinų

 
international postcard

5 auksinai

 
registered international postcard

11 auksinų

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
 
031 10-09-1922 – 01-10-1922
local letter

4 auksinai

 
heavier local letter 1)

8 auksinai

 
registered local letter

12 auksinų

 
local postcard

2 auksinai

 
registered local postcard

10 auksinų

 
local printed matter

80 skatikų

 
inland letter

8 auksinai

 
heavier inland letter 1)

16 auksinų

 
registered inland letter

16 auksinų

 
inland postcard

4 auksinai

 
registered inland postcard

12 auksinų

 
inland printed matter

1 auksinas 20 skatikų

 
international letter

16 auksinų

 
registered international letter

28 auksinai

 
international postcard

10 auksinų

 
registered international postcard

22 auksinai

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
 
032 01-10-1922 – 01-01-1923
local letter

10 centų

 
heavier local letter 1)

20 centų

 
registered local letter

25 centai

 
local postcard

5 centai

 
registered local postcard

20 centų

 
local printed matter

2 centai

 
inland letter

15 centų

 
heavier inland letter 1)

30 centų

 
registered inland letter

30 centų

 
inland postcard

10 centų

 
registered inland postcard

25 centai

 
inland printed matter

3 centai

 
international letter

30 centų

 
registered international letter

60 centų

 
international postcard

18 centų

 
registered international postcard

48 centai

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
new currency: 1 litas = 100 centų. The litas is pegged to the American dollar (1 dollar = 10 litų). At the introduction of the litas, on 2 October 1922, 175 auksinai can be changed to 1 litas. At the moment the auksinas is withdrawn from circulation, in December 1922, the exchange rate is 850 auksinai to 1 litas
inland rate for mail to Estonia and Latvia
 
033 01-01-1923 – 15-07-1928
local letter

15 centų

 
heavier local letter 1)

30 centų

 
registered local letter

40 centų

 
local postcard

10 centų

 
registered local postcard

35 centai

 
local printed matter

2 centai

 
inland letter

25 centai

 
heavier inland letter 1)

50 centų

 
registered inland letter

50 centų

 
inland postcard

15 centų

 
registered inland postcard

40 centų

 
inland printed matter

5 centai

 
international letter

60 centų

 
registered international letter

1 litas 20 centų

 
international postcard

36 centai

 
registered international postcard

96 centai

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
inland rate for mail to Estonia and Latvia
from 01-11-1923 inland rate for mail to Germany
on 09-01-1923 Lithuanians from the Memel territory stage a coup with the underhand support of Lithuania. On 15-01-1923 the territory is in Lithuanian hands. From 16-04-1923 mail to the Memel territory can be sent at inland rate
 
034 15-07-1928 – 01-07-1934
local letter

15 centų

 
heavier local letter 1)

30 centų

 
registered local letter

45 centai

 
local postcard

10 centų

 
registered local postcard

40 centų

 
local printed matter

2 centai

 
inland letter

30 centų

 
heavier inland letter 1)

60 centų

 
registered inland letter

60 centų

 
inland postcard

15 centų

 
registered inland postcard

45 centai

 
inland printed matter

5 centai

 
international letter

60 centų

 
registered international letter

1 litas 20 centų

 
international airmail letter

1 litas

(Europe) 2)
registered international airmail letter

1 litas 60 centų

(Europe) 2)
international postcard

36 centai

 
registered international postcard

96 centai

 
international airmail postcard

76 centai

(Europe) 2)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) these rates are valid from (probably) 10 May 1930. Before that date the rates are 1 litas, 2 litai and 60 centų respectively
inland rate for mail to Estonia, Germany and Latvia. For airmail to these countries the airmail surcharge of 40 centų must be added to the inland rate
 
035 01-07-1934 – 08-12-1940
local letter

15 centų

 
heavier local letter 1)

30 centų

 
registered local letter

45 centai

 
local postcard

10 centų

 
registered local postcard

40 centų

 
local printed matter

2 centai

 
inland letter

30 centų

 
heavier inland letter 1)

60 centų

 
registered inland letter

60 centų

 
inland postcard

15 centų

 
registered inland postcard

45 centai

 
inland printed matter

5 centai

 
international letter

60 centų

 
registered international letter

1 litas 20 centų

 
international airmail letter

90 centų

(Europe) 2)
registered international airmail letter

1 litas 50 centų

(Europe) 2)
international postcard

35 centai

 
registered international postcard

95 centai

 
international airmail postcard

65 centai

(Europe) 2)
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) these rates are valid from the beginning of 1936 (exact date unknown). Before 1936 the rates are 1 litas, 1 litas 60 centų and 75 centai respectively
mail to Estonia and Latvia at inland rate. Inland rate applies for mail to Germany until 01-02-1936. Mail to Sweden may be sent at inland rate from 01‑06‑1938 until 08‑12‑1940. For airmail to these countries the airmail surcharge of 30 centų must be added to the inland rate
under heavy German pressure, Lithuania agrees to return the Memel territory to Germany on 22 March 1939. From 23 March 1939 mail to the Memel territory has to be sent at international rate
on 28 October 1939 the Lithuanian capital of Vilnius, Polish between 9 October 1920 and 19 September 1939, is given over to Lithuania by the Soviet Union
on 15 June 1940 Lithuania is occupied by the Soviet Union. On 14 and 15 July 1940 bogus elections are being held. On 21 July 1940 the newly elected parliament applies for membership of the Soviet Union. On 3 August 1940 the Lithuanian Socialist Soviet Republic is admitted to the Union
 
036 08-12-1940 – 15-02-1941
local letter

15 centų or 13 kopecks

 
heavier local letter 1)

30 centų or 26 kopecks

 
registered local letter

45 centai or 40 kopecks

 
local postcard

10 centų or 9 kopecks

 
registered local postcard

40 centų or 36 kopecks

 
local printed matter

2 centai or 2 kopecks

 
inland letter

30 centų or 27 kopecks

 
heavier inland letter 1)

60 centų or 54 kopecks

 
registered inland letter

60 centų or 54 kopecks

 
inland postcard

15 centų or 13 kopecks

 
registered inland postcard

45 centai or 40 kopecks

 
inland printed matter

5 centai or 5 kopecks

 
international letter

55 centų or 50 kopecks

 
registered international letter

1 litas 44 centai or 1 rouble 30 kopecks

 
international airmail letter

1 litas 67 centai or 1 rouble 50 kopecks

 
registered international airmail letter

2 litai 55 centai or 2 roubles 30 kopecks

 
international postcard

33 centai or 30 kopecks

 
registered international postcard

1 litas 22 centai or 1 rouble 10 kopecks

 
international airmail postcard

1 litas 44 centai or 1 rouble 30 kopecks

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
1 litas is equal to 90 kopecks
inland = Soviet Union
 
037 15-02-1941 – 01-10-1941
local letter

15 kopecks

 
heavier local letter 1)

20 kopecks

 
registered local letter

45 kopecks

 
local postcard 2)

10 kopecks

 
registered local postcard

40 kopecks

 
local printed matter

20 kopecks

 
inland letter

30 kopecks

 
heavier inland letter 1)

45 kopecks

 
registered inland letter

60 kopecks

 
inland postcard 2)

20 kopecks

 
registered inland postcard

50 kopecks

 
inland printed matter

20 kopecks

 
international letter

50 kopecks

 
registered international letter

1 rouble 30 kopecks

 
international airmail letter

1 rouble 50 kopecks

 
registered international airmail letter

2 roubles 30 kopecks

 
international postcard

30 kopecks

 
registered international postcard

1 rouble 10 kopecks

 
international airmail postcard

1 rouble 30 kopecks

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
2) There are separate rates for a local/inland postcard and a local/inland picture postcard in the Soviet Union. The latter has to be franked as a letter. In the Baltics this rule is not observed
inland = Soviet Union
on 22 June 1941 the Germans invade the Soviet Union. After a few days the whole of Lithuania is in German hands
 
038 01-10-1941 – 01-07-1943
local letter

12 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)
heavier local letter 1)

24 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)
registered local letter

42 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)
local postcard

6 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)
registered local postcard

36 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

(local = inland rate)
inland letter

12 Pfennig

 
heavier inland letter 1)

24 Pfennig

 
registered inland letter

42 Pfennig

 
inland airmail letter

17 Pfennig

 
registered inland airmail letter

47 Pfennig

 
inland postcard

6 Pfennig

 
registered inland postcard

36 Pfennig

 
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

 
international letter

25 Pfennig

 
registered international letter

55 Pfennig

 
international postcard

15 Pfennig

 
registered international postcard

45 Pfennig

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
one rate for Germany and the entire territory occupied by Germany. Only Germans are allowed to write to friendly countries like Italy and neutral countries like Switzerland
1 rouble is equal to 10 Pfennig
 
039 01-07-1943 – 13-07-1944
local letter

8 Pfennig

 
heavier local letter 1)

16 Pfennig

 
registered local letter

38 Pfennig

 
local postcard

5 Pfennig

 
registered local postcard

35 Pfennig

 
local printed matter

3 Pfennig

 
inland letter

12 Pfennig

 
heavier inland letter 1)

24 Pfennig

 
registered inland letter

42 Pfennig

 
inland airmail letter

17 Pfennig

 
registered inland airmail letter

47 Pfennig

 
inland postcard

6 Pfennig

 
registered inland postcard

36 Pfennig

 
inland printed matter

3 Pfennig

 
international letter

25 Pfennig

 
registered international letter

55 Pfennig

 
international postcard

15 Pfennig

 
registered international postcard

45 Pfennig

 
particulars 1) > 20 grammes
one rate for Germany and the entire territory occupied by Germany. Only Germans are allowed to write to friendly countries like Italy and neutral countries like Switzerland
1 rouble is equal to 10 Pfennig
on 13 July 1944 Vilnius falls into Soviet hands again
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)

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


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