The soon-to-be-expired litas denomination postage stamps that have been taken out of circulation have become an original work of art. The artist Jolita Vaitkutė surprises with her unique drawings, created from non-traditional materials, from more than 10 thousand. stamps were glued by the patriarch of the nation - dr. A portrait of Jonas Basanavičius. The painting is exhibited at the Vilnius Central Post Office.
"This is an unconventional farewell to the litas denomination stamps that have been affixed to letters and postal items for more than two decades. This year marks the end of a two-year transitional period during which mail items could still be paid for with the old - lithium stamps. December 31st will be the last day when we will be able to pay for postal services with stamps of the former national currency - litas - denomination," noted Rasa Kruopaitė-Lalienė, Head of the Corporate Affairs Department of the Lithuanian Post.
A very original melting ceremony was held today for the litas denomination postage stamps, which will cease to be valid from 2017 and will become only a historical value. At the event, the work of the young artist J. Vaitkutė was presented out of more than 10. postage stamps were created in the brightest XNUMXth century. the founder of the late Lithuanian national revival and the creator of modern Lithuania, the nation's patriarch dr. Portrait of J. Basanavičius. J. Vaitkutė surprises the whole world with her unique drawings of food products and other unexpected things, and this time the artist used postage stamps for her creations.
The philatelic exhibition "Farewell to lithic stamps" was also presented at the Vilnius Central Post Office. Lithuanian stamps were issued in it from the 1990s, i.e. the first issue of the "Angelas" stamp series, until 2014, when the publication of litas denomination stamps ended. Litas became the official currency of Lithuania in 1993. on June 25, since then, stamps with the litas denomination have also been issued. In the first years of independence, the value of stamps issued was still indicated in rubles, later - in temporary currency - coupons, which are often colloquially called "beasts" or "wagons". At the exhibition stands, there are more than 600 pieces of postage stamps of litas denomination.
"Postage stamps are a mirror of the state's history, reflecting the country's most important and significant events, scientific, cultural and artistic achievements. It captured the pulse of society at that time. This philatelic exhibition marks an important political, cultural and economic period of the country.
Lithic stamps are a glimpse into more than two decades of still alive Lithuanian history. We hope that representatives of the generation born in independent Lithuania will be interested in taking a look at the exhibits of the exhibition and finding the postage stamp that was first pasted on a letter," said R. Kruopaitė-Lalienė.
How to use litas denomination stamps?
Lithuanian Post reminds that from 2017 only euro-denominated postage stamps will remain valid. Residents who have overdue postage stamps whose nominal value is indicated in litas should hurry up and use them to pay for sent postal items before the end of the year, ie December 31.
The euro equivalent of postage stamps with litas denominations is indicated on the Lithuanian Post website www.lietuvospaštas.lt. The value of litas-denominated stamps has been recalculated using the official litas-euro exchange rate (1 Eur = 3,45280 Lt). Rounding to the nearest euro cent according to the mathematical rules for rounding numbers is provided for in the Law on the introduction of the Euro in the Republic of Lithuania.
Postage stamps whose nominal value is indicated in litas and euros can be used indefinitely.
