Martin Mörck’s 20th
Åland stamp celebrates photo museum p. 4
No. 1 · 2026
Discover Tove Jansson’s Åland art classic p. 8
On 8 May, Åland Post issues two stamps marking the 70th anniversary of Europa stamps: one with the common design shared by all participants. The other stamp showcases our own competition entry, illustrated by Tzenko Stoyanov.
The Europa stamp series was launched in 1956 to strengthen cooperation between European countries and promote peace and unity.
Ahead of the anniversary, PostEurop invited its members to take part in a design competition on the theme “70th Anniversary of the EUROPA Stamp: United in …”. Fifteen postal operators participated, and the winning entry was submitted by Posti Finland.
Finnish artist Klaus Welp, who has illustrated and designed more than 120 Finnish stamps, created the motif. He explains the design: “The stamp combines abstract and symbolic elements. The diagonal line represents a stamp’s perforation and the shared work of Europe’s postal services over seven decades. The colour composition reflects the flags of the European countries and symbolises the sense of unity among the member states.”
The second stamp is illustrated by Tzenko Stoyanov, who describes his concept as follows: “The starting point was to portray diversity as a unifying force. I chose to
illustrate different shapes and colours coming together to form a harmonious unit, much like the way life on Earth emerged through the fusion of different elements, creating the miracle of life.”
Key moments in the series’ history
Only members of PostEurop may issue Europa stamps. Around 50 postal administrations participate every year.
1956: The founding members of the European Coal and Steel Community (Belgium, France, West Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands) issue the first Europa stamps. All share the same design, but in different colours.
1974: For the first time, each postal administration is free to interpret the annual theme in its own way.
1993: PostEurop assumes responsibility for the series and decides on future themes.
A new logo is introduced and later updated in 2011.
2000: The turn of the millennium is marked with a joint theme, New Millennium. Shared designs are also issued in 2016 (Think Green) and 2023 (Peace).
2007: The first public online vote for the most beautiful Europa stamp is held.
Source: europastamps.eu
Date of issue: 8 May 2026
Artists: Klaus Welp & Tzenko Stoyanov
Design: Johanna Finne
Editions: 2 × 30 000
Denominations: Europa
Stamp size: 35 × 35 mm
Sheet size: 199 × 296 mm
Tzenko Stoyanov is a SwedishBulgarian illustrator. His first stamp design for Åland Post was the 2024 miniature sheet Åland stamps 40 years
Stamps/sheet : 2 × 15 stamps
Paper: 110 g/m²
Perforation: 14 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Royal Joh. Enschedé
The bright yellow colour and Tzenko’s retro-inspired interpretation of postal symbols and colours enliven the first day cover The first day cancel illustrates the diversity and complexity of postal flows.
Olle Strömberg’s passion for photography laid the foundations of one of Europe’s largest collections of photographic technology. When the Åland Photography Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary on 9 June, Åland Post marks the occasion with a miniature sheet illustrated by Martin Mörck.
In 1957, ten-year-old Olle Strömberg received a camera, sparking an interest that has stayed with him throughout his life. His collection of cameras and photographic equipment grew rapidly, until his wife Benita gave him an ultimatum: make the collection public or stop collecting. The Åland Photography Museum was inaugurated on 9 June 2001. Today, the museum is housed in a former school building in Pålsböle and holds more than 16,000 objects, making it one of Europe’s largest collections of photographic technology. Visitors can explore the history of photography from the pioneers of the 1830s to today’s digital techniques, ranging from cameras, darkroom equipment and film projectors to an old photo shop, a setting that also appears on the miniature sheet.
Illustrator Martin Mörck visited the museum while working on the anniversary issue. “It was a great help to see the collections in person. The first thing that struck me was the sheer scale – thousands of cameras and objects. I soon realised that the focus had to be Olle ‘in action’, at the camera. I also knew that I wanted to incorporate the 35 mm format as a frame for the sheet,” Martin explains.
The miniature sheet highlights selected objects from the museum’s extensive collection. In the upper left corner is a Hasselblad Supreme Wide Angle from 1954, one of only 500 produced. Below it, a Photosphère, a rare French glass-plate camera from 1889. Between these objects is the museum’s oldest photo, from the 1840s, featuring Benita – a subtle nod to the museum’s co-founder.
At the centre of the sheet, Olle himself stands beside a Tailboard travel camera from the early 1900s. To his left is a Kalart Busch Pressman from 1948, and to his right a Szabad camera, a Swedish large-format camera.
The journey through time continues on the right side of the sheet with a Graflex Speed Graphic, the preferred camera of press photographers from the 1930s to the 1950s. This particular camera was donated in 2019 by the Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter as part of the museum’s largest single donation. The composition is completed by a Contaflex, a single-lens reflex camera by Zeiss Ikon, familiar to many everyday photographers.
Date of issue: 9 June 2026
Artist: Martin Mörck
Design: Johanna Finne
Edition: 20 000
Denomination: €3.70
Stamp size: 60 × 40 mm
Miniature sheet size: 120 × 80 mm
Paper: 110 g/m²
Perforation: 12 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Gutenberg AG
On the first day cover, a strip of 135 film winds its way across the design – the format that became the standard for compact cameras. The maximum card is inspired by a Hasselblad advertisement, in which an orange transparent film partially covers a camera. The card also features a Rondine box camera from 1948, found in the museum’s collection. The first day cancel depicts a roll of film by SF, while the special postmark shows a camera shutter seen from the front.
Martin Mörck played a central role in the creation of Åland Post’s zodiac series from 2014 to 2025, illustrating ten of the twelve issues. This year’s miniature sheet marks his twentieth stamp issue for Åland Post.
Life on an island means living close to the shifting moods and forces of the weather. For this year’s stamp booklet, Finnish visual artist Aino-Maija Metsola has illustrated four weather motifs that capture life by the sea. The release date is 8 May.
“What’s the weather going to be like today?” The question is as familiar as the morning coffee. Weather often takes centre stage in everyday life and conversation, and its changes are a constant presence.
The assignment to illustrate the theme Island Weather went to Finnish artist and designer Aino-Maija Metsola.
“I was delighted to receive the commission, as the theme is close to my heart and everyday life. I live on an island in the Helsinki archipelago, which differs from Åland, but where the weather, nature and the changing seasons are just as present. For many years I also spent my summers sailing in the archipelago. The stamp designs are therefore largely based on personal experiences and memories. I wanted to show the contrasts, from calm, beautiful sunsets and misty mornings to wind and thunder,” says Metsola.
The four motifs, depicting thick mist, pouring rain, a sunset at sea, and meadow
plants swaying in the wind, are painted in watercolour and gouache. In her artistic work, she usually lets intuition lead the way and trusts the process. “I try to let the painting flow and leave room for surprises and mistakes. I collect impressions, colours and thoughts everywhere, and they come together in the creative process. Most important is to stay open and curious,” she explains.
Island weather reflects life on Åland with its long, light summer days and short winter daylight. In June, daylight lasts almost 19 hours, while December offers barely six. Temperatures range from around –6 °C to +20 °C, with occasional extremes of –20 °C and +27 °C. Summers are short but pleasant and are among the sunniest in the Nordic region between May and August. Precipitation is moderate and evenly distributed throughout the year – less than on many other Nordic islands – and the south-westerly winds are a constant companion.
Sources: asub.ax, weatherspark.com
Date of issue: 8 May 2026
Artist: Aino-Maija Metsola
Design: Aino-Maija Metsola & Johanna Finne
Edition: 12 000
Denomination: 8 × Europa
Stamp sizes: 30 × 48 mm, 60 × 24 mm, 60 × 48 mm
Booklet size (unfolded): 80 × 270 mm
Stamps/booklet: 4 × 2 stamps
Paper: 102 g/m²
Perforation: 14 per 2 cm
Process: 6-colour offset
Printer: Royal Joh. Enschedé
Aino-Maija Metsola is a Finnish visual artist and designer, who lives on an island outside Helsinki. She has created more than 100 patterns for Marimekko and has also illustrated stamps for Posti Finland.
The 2026 stamp booklet is her first commission for Åland Post.
ainomaijametsola.com
Postal stationery, Art classics
Size: 105 × 148 mm
Edition: 4 × 2 000
Pris: €22/4 cards
From left, horizontal: Östra hamnen (eastern harbour), Skördetid (harvest time); vertical: Midsommarstång (midsummer pole), Backsluttning (hillside)
Experience Åland through four classic works of art. This year’s postal stationery cards are out on 9 June, with motifs selected in collaboration with the Åland Art Museum.
Four female artists, all represented in the museum’s collections, have portrayed Åland with sensitivity and care. Backsluttning from 1889 by Hanna Rönnberg (1860–1946) conveys a sense of calm and harmony. Rönnberg and Elin Danielson (1861–1919) were both active members of the Önningeby artists’ colony. Danielson’s Skördetid is painted with a strong focus on nature and light.
Åland Post Ltd
Stamps PO Box 1100 AX-22111 Mariehamn ÅLAND, Finland
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Ellen Favorin (1853–1919) visited the artists’ colony in 1889, and her painting Östra hamnen may well date from that period, although no exact year is known. The fourth card features Midsommarstång from 1945 by Tove Jansson (1914–2001), depicting the midsummer pole in Önningeby.
As always, worldwide postage from Åland is included in the price of the cards. The postage-paid symbols feature details from the artworks.
Editors
Gunilla Häggblom, Johanna
Finne, Fredrika Sarling
Text: Gunilla Häggblom
Translation: Gunilla Häggblom
Layout: Fredrika Sarling
Printer: Grano
Cover: Tove Jansson, Midsommarstång (Önningeby), 1945
Copyright: Ålands konstmuseum/ Stiftelsen Ålands Vänners sr. konstsamling, Tove Jansson Estate
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