On October 18, a PDF from Commissioner-General Bruno Crevato-Selvaggi, containing the list of winners from the FEPA World Literature Exhibition "Italia 2026" in Rome, arrived by email "hot off the press".

In the "Digital Media 1" class = "Investigative Research in the Field of Philately", our website arge-baltikum.de not only scored 93 points and was awarded a gold prize, but was also recognised as Best in Class. A huge thank you goes to everyone who contributed to the content!

It may well be that the assessment is partly due to the fact that all (!) the jurors spent several weeks examining all the literary exhibits, which meant they were able to assess the quality of the exhibits far more effectively than is usually the case given the time typically available to jurors at exhibitions.

Unfortunately, despite being sent three times over a period of several weeks, our second exhibit – our magazine BALTIKUM – did not reach the judges; the last registered post item also failed to arrive on time. We find this a great pity and will have to give careful thought next time to how we can ensure that exhibits arrive on time.

During the monthly video chat, an item relating to the Latvian-language magazine KOLLEKCIONĀRS ("The Collector", Latvian Collectors' Magazine), published in the USA after the Second World War, was shown for the first time in the history of ArGe Baltikum – not an issue of the magazine itself, but a letter in a decorative envelope bearing the magazine's postmark and a Latvian commemorative vignette. Olaf Hoffmann was recently able to acquire it.

Jaan Roots showcased a selection of extremely rare items from Estonia, collected over several decades, which had found their way to distant lands across several continents – with a focus on Africa at this meeting.

The item from this collection shown here is an airmail letter sent from Tallinn-Sadam (=Port) on October 29, 1937, via Berlin Central Airport on October 31, 1937, to Johannesburg in South Africa. The postage (during the period May 1, 1937 – March 31, 1939) was 25–senti plus an airmail surcharge of 60–senti per 5–g; in this case, 240–senti, making a total of 2–krooni 65–senti.

Our monthly video chat, where anyone with an interest in Baltic philately is welcome, takes place on every first Saturday of the month at 17 h CET (more technical information on this here).

Next date: November 7, 2026

Special theme: none so far

Join the Zoom meeting with:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85338222428?pwd=WGpZRXJTZVpnSnB6eHg4Ukx2aFVHdz09

At the start of this video discussion, the focus was on the fact that the Michel Postage Rates Handbook for Germany, in its 3rd edition (2015) – which is still currently in use – apparently does not always give the correct rates for the post–war period 1945–1949. In cases of doubt, the information should be checked against other literature or sources.

Following a few holiday stories, some new acquisitions were presented. Among other things, Olaf Hoffmann showed the two documents pictured here:

A pre-philatelic letter from Rīga (now in Latvia) to Fellin (now Viljandi in Estonia) dated 1813 – both places being part of the Russian Empire at the time – bears not only a line postmark indicating the postage but, on the reverse, also a very fine seal featuring intertwined letters, presumably the sender's initials.

The payment receipt shown below is a fine example of an Ostland overprinted stamp being used as postage stamp on September 30, 1942, in Cēsis / Wenden (the letter was folded so that the address and the stamp formed the front).

Shown here is an income tax prepayment notice, No. 38549, issued by the relevant tax inspector on a form printed by the State Printing Office in accordance with the regulations of the General Commissariat (of the German Reich) in Rīga dated August 5, 1942. The amount due for 1942 is 90,– Reichsmark (RM); 45,– RM is to be paid by October 10 and a further 45,– RM by December 10 (such deadlines still apply in Germany today).

The penalty for late payment is clearly stated in the second column: 10,– RM.

The amount was evidently not paid on time. The right-hand column confirms receipt of 90,– RM in tax plus a 10,– RM late payment surcharge, making a total of 100,– RM.

Our monthly video chat, where anyone with an interest in Baltic philately is welcome, takes place on every first Saturday of the month at 17 h CET (more technical information on this here).

Next date: October 3, 2026

Special theme: none so far

Join the Zoom meeting with:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85338222428?pwd=WGpZRXJTZVpnSnB6eHg4Ukx2aFVHdz09