Quote:
The original envelope is a Soviet era 5kap one. Interestingly without an overprint like the stamps used during the same period. It has been uprated by the addition of 45kap which I assume is the European rate. And then an additional 450kap because it was being sent to the USA. How would you describe this?
For the 5 kopeck Soviet stationery with the 45 kopeck Latvian rubber stamp added the terminology would be "provisional Latvian stationery". Adding the 450 kopeck stamp the terminology would be "uprated provisional Latvian stationery", since the 450 kopeck stamp was added to the stationery at a later point in time (perhaps?).
The 45+5 kopecks were intended for the domestic 1st weight class rate (<=20g).
The 450+45+5 kopecks were intended for the international airmail letter 1st weight class rate (<=20g).
It's really cool with the marks of handling on the backside of the cover you've shown. What remains to be seen is whether any other covers exist of this 450+45+5 kopecks uprated provisional stationery - that has not been sent by Janis Cigelskis.
