2008Joint Issue - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania - Miniature Sheet

The souvenir sheet consists of three stamps featuring the highest state awards of the Republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The first stamp represents the Gold Breast Star of the Order of the National Coat of Arms. The order was instituted in 1936 in commemoration of the proclamation Estonian independence, 24 February 1918. The Order of the National Coat of Arms is awarded only to citizens of Estonia as the highest award for services to the country. The second stamp features the Breast Star of the Order of Three Stars. It was instituted on 25 March 1924 in commemoration of the establishment of the Republic of Latvia on 18 November 1918 . The order is awarded for services to the Republic of Latvia in public, cultural, economic and local government spheres. The third stamp pictures the Collar of the Order of Vytautas the Great. The order was instituted in 1930 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of the Lithuanian Grand Prince Vytautas and it is awarded to leaders of the Republic of Lithuania and other countries, as well as their citizens, for services to Lithuania. This stamp issue is the fifth joint issue of the three Baltic countries. The previous such issues were Via Baltica (1995), Historical Ships (1997), 10th Anniversary of the Baltic Chain (1999) and Baltic Coastal Landscapes (2001); in 1992 there was a joint issue of the three Baltic countries and Sweden, Mare Balticum, featuring seabirds.