U.S. & Worldwide Stamps; The Kaunas Collection Lithuania
May 8-9, 2013 and May 15, 2013
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #2001 LITHUANIA First Vilnius Issue 1918 Provisional Issue inaugurating the Postal System of Independent Lithuania, type-set design by Jouzas Strazdas, text in four lines, within a vertical rectangle of 8x10 type circles, unwatermarked, buff color book paper, without gum, printed at the Martynas Kukta print shop in Vilnius. Because of the war, there was a shortage of actual type in the shop and the printer was forced to substitute some letters in the Lithuanian language. The first issue - thin figures, 10sk and 15sk sheets of 20, each stamp slightly different as they were typeset, including inverted "h" and "n" variations, missing "L" in "Lietuvos" (15sk only, position 17), unused without gum as issued, fresh, fine-v.f. A spectacular gem of Lithuanian philately. Multiples of the first issue are rare, only a few intact sheets still exist (Lithuanian Handbook 1,1a,1b,2,2a,2b,2c) (catalogue value for singles)  (*)Catalog #1,2 Catalog Value $5,000 | Price Realized $4,000.00 |
