ÅLAND POST
S TA M P S
Enjoy locally grown flowers p. 2
No. 1 · 2025
Åland through children’s eyes p.8
From past to future May and June offer many exciting events. With the stamp issues, we look both backwards and forwards – celebrating Åland archaeology with finds from bygone times and sharing the young generation of today’s image of Åland. Preparations for the PostEurop Philatelic Forum are in full swing. The Sepac group will meet for discussions and exchange of experiences afterwards. We look forward to the meetings. PS. Have you seen our updated online subscription page? With images and improved navigation, it is now even easier to subscribe to Åland stamps. We welcome feedback and suggestions for improvements.
Gunilla Häggblom COMMUNICATION & PR Åland Post Stamps 2 • ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN
Soul-warming floral joy With this year’s postal stationery cards, you can delight in the vibrant floral splendour of Älvdalens Trädgård, an Åland cut flower garden, beautifully arranged and photographed by Tiina Tahvanainen. The release date is 9 June. Visitors to Älvdalens Trädgård in Torrbolstad, Finström, are welcomed at the entrance by a pink kiosk offering fresh flower bouquets for purchase in season. The owners of the garden, Helena and Jesper, share how it all started as a wild idea around 2020–2021 when they wanted to transform an overgrown farmyard next to their home. The garden is a haven for self-picking and flourishing creativity. “We wish to offer flowers that are beautiful for the soul and kind to the environment. We grow everything on open fields, without pesticides or artificial fertilizers. It’s fantastic to now also spread sustainable floral joy in a whole new way through these cards,” says Helena.
Their focus lies on cultivating cut flowers with long vase life such as garden cosmos, dahlias, sunflowers, snapdragons, and wild carrots. “We test new varieties every year, so, the selection always changes,” Helena explains. Photographer and florist of the card series is Tiina Tahvanainen. “I wanted to create floral, organic arrangements that reflect the flower selection of the garden and appeal to a wide audience. I absolutely wanted to include the garden’s speciality, dahlias, and create arrangements that might inspire others to try their own creations. To emphasize the organic vision, I used, for the first time, instead of an oasis a flower fakir along with recycled vases as props in front of my hand-painted backdrop. The biggest challenge was waiting for the flowers to bloom and limiting myself, given the large selection. My personal favourite is the white composition where everything really harmonizes,” Tiina reveals.
Flowers, postal stationery cards Size: 105 × 148 mm Edition: 4 × 2 500 Price: €18/4 cards
Tiina Tahvanainen is a freelance photographer specializing in portraits, food, product, and interior photography. She debuted as a stamp artist in 2013 and has since created several highly regarded stamps and card series for Åland Post Stamps.
ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN • 3
This year’s Sepac stamp on an architecture theme will be released on 9 May. Åland artist Kjell Ekström has illustrated the Åland Lyceum, one of the iconic landmarks of Mariehamn and an example of early 20th century schoolhouse architecture.
Schoolhouse architecture from yesteryear As the first large stone building in Mariehamn, this monumental school building was erected in 1903. Architecturally, the Åland Lyceum represents Swedish manor house style with tall, wide windows and small panes. From the outset, the building had bright yellow plasterwork, white moldings, and red roof. The decorative main entrance at the foot of the tower is framed by a soapstone portal adorned with the town’s coat of arms and water lily motifs, a tribute to the Art Nouveau ideals of the time. The building was designed by Finnish architects Johan Jakob “Jac” Ahrenberg (1847–1914) and Sebastian Gripenberg (1850–1925), both of whom worked at the National Board of Public Building in Helsinki at the time. The two men collaborated on several projects, including the Vyborg Realläroverk and the Imperial Fishing Lodge in Langinkoski, Finland. Ahrenberg was an eclectic architect who drew inspiration from various eras and traditions, while 4 • ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN
Gripenberg preferred the simplicity of the Neo-Renaissance. On the gutter of the stamp sheet, you see excerpts from the original school drawings. The stamp was created by artist Kjell Ekström who says: “Creating a stamp motif that focuses on architecture while capturing the details on a reduced scale was challenging. In my personal artistry, I prefer to simplify and omit details. In this case, I had to work from photographs and drawings. I started by drawing the house in pencil before painting it with gouache.” Today, Åland Lyceum is a preparatory upper secondary school with around 430 students and over 100 students graduating each year. In the corners of the stamp sheet, you see student caps. Going back to the 19 th century, the cap tradition used to be associated with university students. Now, students wear the cap to celebrate the completion of upper secondary school. Sources: Boken om Mariehamn av Folke Wickström & Jerker Örjans 2011, www.blf.fi, and others.
466
Sepac – architecture, Åland Lyceum
utan flaggstång - stjäl fokus från byggnaden
Date of issue: 9 May 2025 Artist: Kjell Ekström Design: Johanna Finne & Rebecka Lundén Edition: 30 000 Denomination: €4.20 Stamp size: 40 × 30 mm Sheet size: 185 × 264 mm Stamp/sheet: 2 × 12 stamps Paper: 110 g/m² Perforation: 13 per 2 cm Process: 4-colour offset Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Kjell Ekström is an Åland artist, writer, and the driving force behind the Önningeby Art Museum. His first stamp for Åland Post was issued in 1990, and his stamp on the theme of old residential buildings was chosen as Sepac’s most beautiful stamp in 2019.
The first day cover shows the main entrance of the Åland Lyceum, a portal with oak doors. The Mariehamn coat of arms with a pearl-encrusted crown fits above it. The first day cancel shows the gilded lyre affixed to the black velvet brim of the student cap.
ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN • 5
The 2025 Europa stamp theme is national archaeological finds. On 9 May, Åland Post celebrates Åland archaeology with a stamp highlighting the Jettböle idol, one of Åland’s most fascinating archaeological finds. The stamp was created by Swedish illustrator Fredrik Tjernström.
Discovery of the Stone Age The 5000-year-old Stone Age settlement in Jettböle, Jomala, is one of the bestknown prehistoric settlements in the Nordic region. Located a few kilometres northeast of Mariehamn, it was discovered by chance in 1905. In the early 1900s, farmers had opened a sand pit on the Jomala parish cow pasture near Jettböle hill. Living nearby, crofter Karl Johan Karlsson noticed that the sand contained pieces of pottery and fragments of bone and stone. He sought out Finnish archaeologist Björn Cederhvarf, who quickly realized the significance of the find. The excavations revealed Åland’s first Stone Age settlement that could be linked to the Pitted Ware culture – which had not previously been discovered in Finland.
site. The excavations and the many finds have yielded invaluable insights into life on Åland during the Stone Age.
In 1906, Cederhvarf made another sensational discovery in Jettböle: small burnt clay figures with geometric patterns and markings on the head and body. Clay idols of human figures from the Stone Age had not previously been found in Scandinavia. Five years later, in 1911, he also found the first Stone Age skeleton in Finland at the
He also enjoyed creating the illustrations for the first day cover and sheet, showing the tools, finds and surroundings of the excavation. “Immersing myself into that world, trying to understand what it looked like back then during the excavation, was both fun and
6 • ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN
Fredrik Tjernström debuts as a stamp artist with this stamp in classic engraving style. He describes the process as both challenging and inspiring: “My style is realistic and detailed, with a handmade feel. I wanted the stamp to be simple and clear in its form. The two-part clay idol takes centre stage, and the colour scheme from orange to red gives a modern impression. My focus was on bringing out the structure of the different stones and their “owl-like” characters, so I worked a lot on refining the lines, adjusting the line thickness to make it work in print.”
educational,” Fredrik says.
Source: Gentlemannen och lergudarna by Jan Andersson, 2005.
Fredrik Tjernström is a Swedish illustrator with 20 years of experience. He works primarily with advertising and packaging illustrations. With this year’s edition, he debuts as a stamp artist.
467
Europa – archaeological discovery, Jettböle idol Date of issue: 9 May 2025 Artist: Fredrik Tjernström Design: Johanna Finne Edition: 30 000 Denomination: Europa Stamp size: 30 × 40 mm Sheet size: 264 × 185 mm Stamps/sheet: 2 × 12 stamps Paper: 110 g/m² Perforation: 13 per 2 cm Process: 4-colour offset
The gutter of the stamp sheet shows additional finds of human-like clay figures and contemporary tools such as a shovel and measuring tape. The first day cancel shows a shovel and a ladle, while an illustration of the excavation at the Jettböle hill adorns the first day cover.
Printer: Cartor Security Printers ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN • 7
ÅLAND INRIKES JOEL HÖGLUND
This year’s stamp booklet is a tribute to children’s creativity. For this issue, Åland Post cooperated with Bild & Formskolan in Mariehamn, selecting drawings by eight students as motifs for stamps, first day cover, maximum card, and cancellations. The release date is 9 June.
2025
Åland through children’s eyes During the spring of 2024, Åland Post Stamps realised an inspiring project together with the School of Art & Design. The art students were asked to create drawings with the prospect that their images might be included in a stamp issue. Johanna Finne, design manager at Åland Post Stamps, explains the project: “With the issue, we wished to highlight the culture and creative joy of children, encourage co-creation and inclusion, and, at the same time, arouse interest in stamps as miniature works of art. Inspired by the Picasso quote Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up, we celebrate children’s unique ability to create and express themselves through art.” The practical work at the art school was led by visual arts teachers Tiina Barck, Kirsi Strand, and Carolina Sundelin. Children 8 • ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN
from the school’s various art groups participated in the project – preschool children aged 5-7, school children aged 8-12 and teenagers. Carolina describes the process: “We teachers began by telling them about stamps and the Post. Many of the youngest children didn’t know what a stamp is, so we explained how they are used as payment for sending letters. We explained that their drawing or painting would be scaled down and encouraged them to avoid tiny details that might not show up well on a stamp. Most challenging for the children was probably creating three different images that could work on a stamp, first day cover and cancel. Although the children knew their entries might not be selected, they found it exciting to be involved. The result was an educational and creative journey, through which they gained an understanding of the process of creating a stamp.”
The theme was free, and the final motifs were selected by Åland Post’s Stamp Committee together with the art school teachers. “Witnessing the children’s enthusiasm and joy of creation was fantastic. Their imaginative artwork offers a colourful journey of discovery through the natural world – full of shapes, colours, materials, sounds, and scents. The images raise questions about our perception of nature, making us reflect on our own place in it. The art and the children’s creativity are both moving and inspiring,” Johanna at Åland Post says. Founded in 1985, the School of Art & Design is located in Mariehamn. It offers art and design courses for children and young people between the ages of 5 and 19 and strives to stimulate and develop students’ creativity and understanding of the various aspects of art. Director Gudrun Gudmundsen describes the pedagogical orientation of the art school:
“Our focus lies on developing the students’ visual expressiveness and technical skills through creative work in various materials and techniques. The goal is not to produce works of art, but to give students the opportunity to explore and delve into different themes, while learning to express themselves visually and use materials in a versatile way.” Receiving the invitation to participate in the stamp project, the school saw it as a unique opportunity to showcase its activities. Gudrun elaborates: “The board saw the project as a good way to profile the activities of the school and all talented students. The project gave the children a chance to understand the process of creating a stamp and see their ideas turned into stamps. Also, our participation was well-timed seeing that the school celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2025.”
Back row from left: Anna Sophia Czajkowski, Frida Carlsson, Sofia Topoeva, Mathilda Jansson & Elsa Carlström.
Front row from left: Joel Höglund, Michelle Horner & Lowa Johansson. Å L A N D P O S T F R I M Ä R K E N • 9
JOEL HÖGLUND
2025
First day cancel. Artist: Mathilda Jansson
ÅLAND INRIKES
First day cover. Artist: Frida Carlsson
JOEL HÖGLUND
2025
ÅLAND INRIKES
Maximum card. Artist: Anna Sophia Czajkowski
468
Children’s Åland JOEL HÖGLUND
2025
Date of issue: 9 June 2025 Stamp artists: Joel Höglund, Elsa Carlström, Sofia Topoeva, Lowa Johansson Design: Johanna Finne Edition: 15 000 Denomination: 8 × Inrikes Stamp size: 26.25 × 35 mm Booklet size, unfolded: 62 × 110 mm Stamps/booklet: 4 × 2 stamps Paper: 110 g/m² Perforation: 13 per 2 cm Process: 4-colour offset
Special cancel. Artist: Michelle Horner
10 • Å L A N D P O S T F R I M Ä R K E N
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
ÅLAND INRIKES
Code
Stamps
Issued
€
311-202501
Franking labels, Treasures of the sea, series of 4
3.2.2025
13.60
301-000462
Boathouse, Eckerö (Inrikes)
3.2.2025
3.10
301-000463
Boathouse, Hammarland
3.2.2025
4.90
301-000464
Magical island (Lokalpost)
19.3.2025
2.90
301-000465
Moped car
18.3.2025
6.00
301-000466
Sepac – architecture, Åland Lyceum
9.5.2025
4.20
301-000467
Europa – archaeological discovery, Jettböle idol (Europa)
9.5.2025
3.50
301-000468
Children’s Åland, booklet (8 x Inrikes)
9.6.2025
24.80
Philatelic products 416-000466
FDC Sepac – architecture
9.5.2025
5.20
416-000467
FDC Europa – archaeological discovery
9.5.2025
4.50
416-000468
FDC Children’s Åland
9.6.2025
13.40
445-202516
Maximum card no. 150, Children’s Åland
9.6.2025
4.50
315-202509
Postal stationery, Flowers, set of 4 cards
9.6.2025
18.00
850-008502
Postal Boat Race, commemorative card (last order date 6 June)
14.6.2025
5.00
Finnish stamps 610-115165
More fun together, 5 motifs
15.1.2025
12.50
610-115166
Meadow flowers, 5 motifs
15.1.2025
12.50
610-115167
Finlandia Hall, 5 motifs
15.1.2025
12.50
627-115088
Year set, Finland
2024
106.27
We reserve the right for price and postage changes as well as information errors. All prices listed exclusive of VAT. See delivery conditions & fees at alandstamps.com/en/policies/terms-of-service.
No.
Amount
No.
Amount
No.
Amount
TOTAL
SYMBOLS USED
Stamp
Mint
Cancelled
Gutter pair
Customer no.__________________________________________________________________________ Name ________________________________________________________________________________ Full address ___________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________ Country ________________________________
Calendar
Next subscription delivery (Note! Preliminary times of delivery)
Delivery
Deadline subc.change
Contents
June
19 May
Sepac – architecture (1), Europa – archaeological discovery (1), Children’s Åland (booklet), 4 postal stationery cards, 1 maximum card
Find all delivery times at alandstamps.com/en/pages/stopptider-och-leveranstider.
Exhibitions 2025 In the spring, Åland Post Stamps participates in the following exhibition (subject to change): TamCollect 2025, 11-13.4, Lempäälä, Finland At the exhibition, we offer an exclusive exhibition card, stamp and cancel in addition to the latest Åland stamps and collectibles. As official retailer of the stamps issued by Posti Finland, we also sell Finnish stamps and year sets at the fair.
Special cancellations 2025 Current information can be found at alandstamps.com/en/pages/vara-stamplar, where updated images of the cancels will be posted. To obtain a special cancel on your own pre-franked and selfaddressed covers, please send them to us well in advance of the relevant date. Changes are possible. 3. 2
Treasures of the sea
20.9
Åland Stamp Collectors’ Society 80 years
9.6
Children’s Åland
9.10
Stamp Day
14.6
Postal Boat Race
23.10
Horse
25.8
Gustaf Erikson Shipping Company archives
Order the commemorative Postal Boat Race card with this year’s special and “over-the-sea” cancellations using the order coupon on p.11. Last day to order and submit your pre-franked and self-addressed letters is 6 June. More information can be found at alandstamps.com closer to the competition date. Find the current postal tariffs at alandstamps.com/en/pages/portotabell.
Åland Post Ltd Stamps PO box 1100 AX-22111 Mariehamn ÅLAND, Finland
Telephone
Editors
+358 18 636 639
Gunilla Häggblom, Johanna Finne, Rebecka Lundén Text: Gunilla Häggblom Translation: Kristine Lybeck Sund Layout: Rebecka Lundén Production: Grano
E-mail stamps@alandpost.com
Prices and information in this publication are subject to change.
alandstamps.com Åland Post Stamps aland_stamps