Postal rates of Lithuania 1918-1944

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
registered international letter ²)	35 Pfennig
international postcard ²)	10 Pfennig
registered international postcard ²)	30 Pfennig
particulars	¹) > 20 grammes ²) only mail to Austria-Hungary and Bosnia-Herzegovina is allowed. Some letters to neutral countries, franked according to the German foreign rate, are known ► 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) 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!

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