Latvian Red Cross stamps

In November 1918 an independent Latvia was trying to establish itself after the First World War. Though not part of the UPU until 1921 it was issuing its own stamps, still valued in roubles and kopeks. Meanwhile an army, reputedly 50,000 strong,  led by the Russian White Army commander Bermondt-Avalov, who was supposedly trying to resist the Bolsheviks, and comprising mainly Baltic Germans advanced on Latvia and the other Baltic states. They were defeated but this left Latvia short of supplies such as paper. They compromised by printing stamps on the reverse of German maps and half finished Bermondt bank notes.
This Red Cross set from 1920 are printed on such note paper. It is quite thick for stamp use and has gum on the bank note side. The printing is very crisp reflecting the quality of the paper used.




These stamps were reissued in 1921 overprinted and revalued to 2 roubles each. Neither set is rare or valuable, but items with a bit of history behind them are often interesting.

I liked these stamps so much I bought a set!

Yes the second picture is the gummed side. Perhaps if I bought enough I could piece together one of those bank notes.