At the beginning of the 20th century Latvian intellectuals often met in the apartment of Brigaders family in Riga. There met the best Latvian writers, artists, actors and musicians, and the main discussed matters were related to the literature, theatre and art.

Student of business sciences and a close relative of the Brigaders family – Mr. Janis Rapa lived with them and took part in these meetings at that time. He helped Mr. Janis Brigaders in his bookshop and book publishing house at the same time when he was studying. After finishing of the Riga Polytechnic Institute Janis Rapa entered upon J. Brigader’s duties in the shop. Mr. J. Rapa together with the bibliophile Mr. Arturs Valters found a limited partnership
"A. Valters, J. Rapa and company" in the year 1912. Later, in the jubilee edition Mr. J. Rapa wrote “There were no bigger Latvian bookshop at the beginning of the century where would be concentrated the literature necessary for the Latvian intellectuals. Such a condition was in an obvious conflict with tendency of Latvian mental and economical independence and our fiercest desire to develop our literature”.

Mr. A. Valters had worked in the book company of
Mr. K. Zihmanis, improved his knowledge abroad and gained a great experience in this field. Initially the company worked in the premises of the previous bookshop of Mr. K. Zihmanis on 9 Teatra Str. During the Great War Mr. J. Rapa was in charge of the company’s department in Moscow but Mr. A. Valters worked in Riga.

In the year 1920 limited partnership was changed to Joint Stock Company and went to new premises in
11 Teatra Str. Mr. A. Valters died in the year 1924 and in the year 1925 Mr. J. Grins came to assistance of Mr. J. Rapa. And from the year 1928 he took control over the company’s magazine “Daugava” and developed it as the major office of prepublications of works of the Latvian writers. The magazine “Daugava” was the only publication that broadly and particularly informed Latvian audience on foreign literature on the thirties.

Mr. Peteris Ermanis cooperated with the company most frequently by publishing his works, organizing collected works of Latvian writers, writing introductions and reviews for books. Painter Mr. Niklavs Strunke has the best possibilities to show his abilities by illustration of editions. Majority of book covers and illustrated books are his works. Illustrations of Mr. N.Strunke for the books “Coat of the hedgehog” by Mr. V.Pludonis and “Son of power” by Mrs. A. Brigadere to be noted especially. Mr. Sigismunds Vidbergs has a significant importance in the artistic get-up.

Joint Stock Company Valters un Rapa was publishing house of a universal type by its matter, its primary importance was versatility. There were also fictions and books of various spheres, published by other publishing houses and magazines in German, English, Russian and other languages in this shop. During its operation from the year 1912 up to the year 1940 the company grew up till the extent of a European company by issuing about 3500 books in eleven million copies.

Publishing house Valters un Rapa mostly issued works of Mrs. A. Brigadere. The most important publications of the company was: 2nd edition of “Latvian folksongs” by Mr. Kr. Barons, selected works of “Latvian folksongs” by Mr. L. Berzins, “Latvian fairytales and legends” by Mr. P. Shmits, issue of publications “Latvians” in two volumes, “History of the Latvian Art” by Mr. J. Dombrovskis, “Writings” by Mr. J. Madernieks, collected works of Mrs. A. Brigadere and Mr. R. Blaumanis, “Fausts” by V. Goete, “Divine comedy” by Dante, “Earth and Love” by Mrs. A. Tamsare, series of books “Latvian Art”, “Calendar of Daugava” (1917.-1921.), “Daugava yearbook” (1922.-1940.), series of books “The New Scientist” (65 editions), “Latvian classics for school” (39 editions), “Source of works” (83 editions).

After occupation of Latvia in 1940 the property owned by the Joint Stock Company was nationalized and operation of the company was stopped. There was established Publishing House of the State Printing and Publishing Department and its Central bookshop on the ground of the company. At first, Publishing House of the State Printing and Publishing Department published manuscripts from the morgue with the finished illustrations that were already ready for publishing; they just changed titles of the cover or the title sheet.

Thanks to Mrs. Skaidrite Ermansone – J.Rapa jun. and manager of the bookshop and thanks to support of all the team, on December 27, 1997 at party there was a notice that publishing house “Valters un Rapa” had regained its previous name. It was admitted that Joint Stock Company Valters un Rapa also to be re-established.

The joint efforts resulted in success and on May 10, 1996 there was registered the Joint Stock Company Valters un Rapa. On October 28 of the same year there was published the first book of the re-established joint Stock Company – 2nd volume of collected works of
Mrs. A.Brigadere.

Today bookshop of the JSC Valters un Rapa offers a wide choice of Latvian and foreign literature, printing and publishing group has become one of the biggest manufacturer of notebooks and calendars in Latvia, besides a high-quality translated literature publishing house offers also Latvian classical literature and today’s fiction literature, books of travels and guidebooks, publications of the cultural history and art as well as practical guides and branch literature.

Year 2000 is significant – there was started a reconstruction of the building by fully changing the interior layout. The new reformed and up-to-date arranged bookshop opened its door on May 17, 2001.

The main aim of the JSC Valters un Rapa and its subsidiary companies – bookshop, publishing house, printing and publishing group, printing-house – still is to continue development started by founders of the company, develop the company as a cultural institution with its special aura.