2 Kapiku Appraisal

Latvian 2 Kapiku Provisional Postal Stamp

This item is a provisional postal stamp from Latvia, specifically featuring the national coat of arms. The stamp is predominantly dark blue with lighter blue or grayish-blue details, printed on white paper. It is rectangular in shape with perforated edges, indicating it was designed to be separated from a sheet of similar stamps. The central design is an ornate shield displaying the Latvian coat of arms, which includes a rising sun at the top, a lion rampant on the left, and a griffon on the right, all within an intricate ornamental frame. Below the central emblem, the denomination '2' is visible in both bottom corners, with what appears to be the word "KAP." (likely for "Kapiku") between them. The overall aesthetic suggests an early 20th-century design, consistent with the period of Latvia's independence after World War I. The stamp exhibits signs of post-use, most notably a circular black ink cancellation mark overlapping the central design, indicating it has been used for postage. There are also some fainter, purplish smudges, particularly near the bottom edge. The perforations appear largely intact, though there might be some minor creasing or wear along the bottom edge, where the paper surface seems slightly disturbed. The print quality is fine, with clear lines and good detail despite the age and cancellation mark. The stamp is affixed to what appears to be part of a stamp album page, suggested by the slight visible border and the numbering '15' written in pencil or ink at the top right corner of the page fragment. The condition is consistent with a circulated stamp, showing typical wear but no severe damage that would obscure its primary features.