In 1918, there was a shortage of postage stamps in the city of Raseiniai after the German Occupation Authority allowed the organization of the post-offices in Lithuania. In December of 1918, the Kadushin Printing Establishment was commissioned to produce some interim stamps using a very basic format – the 15k green stamp.

The first printing was 14,400 stamps printed on 300 sheets of 48 stamps. The second printing was 22,224 stamps printed on 463 sheets of 48 stamps. Stamps were printed on a white, unwatermarked paper, no gum, and perforated 11 ½.  The issue was authorized by the Postmaster in Kaunas.

The Printing Plate

The counter sheets of 48 stamps were printed using a very basic typeset design – there are six horizontal rows of eight stamps each. The printing plate consisted of 8 stamps (clichés) arranged horizontally, the design being repeated 6 times producing one sheet of 48 stamps in a 8×6 arrangement. Because of this arrangement, all 6 stamps in vertical row (column) are identical. Each individual stamp in horizontal row is different.

Printing plate of 8 clichés arranged horizontally (the second printing)

Eight different stamp types can be found in both printings.

Type Indicators (Letters)

Typical letter type indicators of both printings are summarized in the Table I and Table II.

Table I. Position type indicators (first printing)

Table II. Position type indicators (second printing)

An example of various letter types (pos. 2-4) (first printing)

An example of various letter types (pos. 6-8) (second printing)

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Type Indicators (Frame)

Two other types are recognized by the frames: Type I – open mitred corners, and Type II – closed straight overlapping corners as shown in Table III. Other five types are recognized in both printings by the frame details (weak splits or joinings). Type I stamps (frames) are found in positions 2 through 6 (on each stamp in a vertical column). Type II stamps (frames) are found in positions 1, 7 and 8.

Table III. Types (I and II) recognized by frames