Åland Post Stamps 2-2024

ÅLAND POST STAMPS

Discover the pictorial cancel of the summer

At the Åland Cultural History Museum in Mariehamn, outside the exhibition Portrait of Åland –a fantasy tour through stamps, you will find a mailbox. All letters and cards posted in this box before 15 September will be stamped with the pictorial motif cancel below. Read more about this year’s cancellations: https://alandstamps.com/en/pages/ vara-stamplar

Greetings!

This year’s series of exhibition cards with associated stamp and cancel features nature experiences in Joensuu, Langesund and Copenhagen. You are advised to subscribe if you wish to secure this year’s collection of exhibition products. Contact customer service to start a subscription.

As Åland Post’s newly appointed CEO, I enjoyed meeting many of you collectors at the stamp party on 1 March. It was inspiring to experience your common commitment and passion for stamp collecting. Åland Post has a proud tradition of conveying unique narratives and producing stamps of the highest quality, and we will continue to manage this legacy.

I look forward to learning more about the world of stamps and, together with our talented stamp team, offer you memorable stamps from Åland.

See you at the Tall Ships Races this summer!

The countdown has started: don’t miss this year’s book release

This year’s edition of “A story through Åland stamps” will be released on 23 October. Not only does it contain unique Åland narratives and genuine stamps, but two bonus products will also make this edition extra memorable.

Issued in a limited edition, the hardcover stamp book this year highlights our rich stamp history with a commemorative cavalcade and includes two bonus products: an exclusive card with the illustration for the Sepac issue Archipelago, signed by the artist Anette Gustafsson, and a unique postcard in a larger format showing Tzenko Stoyanov’s anniversary edition.

Artist Anette Gustafsson graces the book cover, and you can come along to Rödhamn, her archipelago paradise outside Mariehamn. Other treats include encoun-

ters with jewellery artisans Maria Karlström and Annika Åkerfelt as well as a picture sweep of Åland’s picturesque coastal landscape with its unique boathouses.

As usual, this year’s stamp issues including miniature sheet, booklet, and franking labels are included, mounted in plastic pockets inserted by hand into the book. If you do not already subscribe, you should reserve your copy today on page 11. Delivery takes place in November.

Stamp book 2024

Price: €110.00 Code: 908-202428

The Tall Ships Races, the world’s largest regatta for sailing ships, returns to Mariehamn this summer. As proud sponsor, Åland Post celebrates the event with a salty stamp, created by Åland stamp veteran and sailing ship master Allan Palmer. The stamp will be released on 24 July.

Sailing adventure in sight!

The 2021 sailing event was cancelled because of the pandemic, so, Åland and host port Mariehamn are more determined than ever to offer a grand maritime festival this summer. The organizers are preparing to welcome close to a hundred sailing vessels with crews and thousands of visitors from all corners of the world. For 4 days, from 24 to 27 July, Mariehamn’s Western Harbour is transformed into a stage for festivities, where you can experience the wonderful atmosphere and great beauty of the historic and stately sailing vessels and participate in the extensive program arranged by the town.

Choosing Allan Palmer as illustrator of this year’s stamp edition was a given. His stamp series illustrating Åland sailing ships issued between 2015 and 2020 is a favourite of many collectors of Åland. Allan, who will be taking part in the sailing event himself and is likely to skipper the sailing leg from Tallinn to Turku, chose to depict young people learning to sail on a traditional sailing vessel – an image that

reflects the races’ spirit of teamwork, seamanship, and international exchange.

Since the Tall Ships Races were established in 1956, the mission of the races has been to promote sailing, maritime education, and international cultural exchange. The regatta this summer runs between the port cities of Klaipėda, Tallinn, Helsinki, Turku, Mariehamn, and Szczecin, bringing together sailing vessels of diverse types and sizes. On the stamp sheet, Allan has illustrated sailing vessels of the various classes, from class A which are large square-rigged sailing vessels, to class B with traditionally rigged ships, and the smaller “ordinary” sailing boats in classes C and D. The first day cancel shows class A and B sailing vessels as well as a class D sailboat, which you who are observant can see on its spinnaker.

For more information and to follow the Tall Ships Races in Mariehamn, please visit www.tallshipsmariehamn.ax

Maximum card no. 147, The Tall Ships Races

Price: €4.50 Code: 445-202432

The Tall Ships Races

Date of issue: 24 July 2024

Artist: Allan Palmer

Design: Johanna Finne

Edition: 40 000

Denomination: Världen

Stamp size: 40 × 30 mm

Sheet size: 2 × 12 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

Perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

On the first day cover, young people haul the sheet and stand at the helm of a sailing vessel. Three Åland ships grace the maximum card: the Pommern, the galeas Albanus with 2 masts, and the sloop Alanta. The postage-paid symbol on the address side of the card is an interpretation of the pennant to be raised by all participating ships during their visit to Åland.

Allan Palmer is an Åland mariner and illustrator. Since 1988, he has illustrated more than 30 Åland stamps, from sailing ships to lighthouses.

When the Olympic Games get underway in Paris this summer, Åland Post commemorates the Olympics in the same city 100 years ago when one of Åland’s greatest athletic sports stars, runner Frej Liewendahl, made his Olympic debut. Stamp debutante Ezgi Johansson’s work of art captures his winning style. To be released on 24 July.

Olympic debut of an Ålander

Frej Liewendahl (1902–1966) is often considered Åland’s first great sports star. His running career began in 1922 with victories in 400, 1 500, and 5 000 meter-runs at the very first Åland athletics championships. However, his real breakthrough came in Helsinki at the selection races for the 1924 Paris Olympics when he qualified second in the 1 500 meters behind Finland’s great track and field star Paavo Nurmi, thus obtaining a ticket for the Finnish Olympic team. Despite problems with diseases such as bilateral catarrh of the lungs during the Olympics, he finished eighth in the 1 500-meter final and qualified for the 3 000-meter final, from which he had to abstain due to illness. The Finnish team subsequently won the final. No other Ålander has since performed as well at an Olympics as Frej.

After the Olympics, he moved to the USA where he continued to train and compete. In 1926, he even managed to defeat Paavo Nurmi. Together with two other Finns, the two also set a world record in the 4 x 1 500 meters. Despite his rising form, he did not qualify for the 1928

Olympics. Shortly afterwards, he chose to end his elite sports career. He returned to Åland in 1930 and opened a bookshop in Mariehamn.

Stamp artist Ezgi Johansson has a formal arts background but today mainly works as a tattoo artist. She tells us that it has led her artistic expression from the more traditional techniques to exploring abstract styles. She was enthusiastic about the stamp assignment:

“I was thrilled as I’d never dreamed of creating a stamp. I intuitively knew that I wanted the stamp to exude a sense of traditional painting. It gives the stamp a unique and organic character.

My biggest challenge was visualizing the theme as I had few photos of Frej. I really had to use my imagination to create an image of him for the stamp. To enhance the Olympic connection, I came up with the idea of integrating the colours of the Olympic rings into the background.”

Source: Ålands idrott, Jörgen Pettersson, 2012

FDC Olympian Frej Liewendahl Price: €3.90 Code: 416-000457

Olympian Frej Liewendahl

Date of issue: 24 July 2024

Artist: Ezgi Johansson

Design: Johanna Finne

Edition: 40 000

Denomination: Inrikes

Stamp size: 35 × 35 mm

Sheet size: 2 × 15 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

Perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

Ezgi Johansson is an artist, illustrator and tattooist from Istanbul, Turkey. Illustrating album covers is currently her favourite assignments. This year’s stamp issue is her first for Åland Post. @ezgijohansson

The fire torch and colour scheme on the stamp sheet are reminiscent of the Olympics. On the first day cover, you see Frej “in action,” and you find his running shoes on the back of the cover and on the first day cancel. The first track spikes appeared in the 1920s.

Terms and conditions

Payment

Orders placed by coupon, letter and phone are delivered against invoice. Orders placed via e-mail or in the webshop are delivered against pre-payment. You can receive ordered products, even if your account shows a debit balance; however, we reserve the right to demand pre-payment. You can make payments to your account any time, keeping a balance to cover future deliveries. State your Åland account no. and direct your payment to the bank account mentioned. Note that recent payments may not be reflected on your latest invoice.

All prices listed are exclusive of VAT. Reminders are posted regularly. A €5.00 delay charge is imposed on reminders.

Bank account

Finland IBAN: FI08 5578 0420 0572 27

BIC/SWIFT: OKOYFIHH

Please use our international account in Finland for direct transfers in euro from any country. From most European accounts you can make a SEPA transfer. Please ask your bank.

The name and address of our Finnish bank is OP Corporate Bank PLC

P. O. Box 308

00101 HELSINKI, FINLAND

Credit/debit cards

We accept VISA, MasterCard and VISA Electron. Perform payment online at www.alandstamps.com or authorize the Post to charge your card. State card type, number, date of expiry and 3-digit Card Verification Code. We do not file your card details.

Note: Cash payments must be made in euro. Not accepted: Cheques and foreign currencies.

Deliveries to EU countries

Since 1 July 2021, shipments from Åland must be cleared by customs because Åland is not a member of the EU

taxation and customs union. For more information, contact your local customs authorities.

Exchange and return

You have the right to cancel your order within 14 days. The withdrawal period expires 14 days from the day you have received the products, which must be returned within 14 days after you have made your notice of withdrawal.

Complaints: contact customer service immediately if you discover that an item was incorrect or defective.

Become a gold customer

When you have made purchases for €170* in one year, you become a gold customer and obtain more benefits and advantages with Åland Post Stamps. The gold status is updated in January each year.

*Excl. of shipping fees

Processing of personal data

All personal data stated by you when placing an order for products or services is registered and saved electronically. More informtion on Åland Post’s processing and use of personal data and how you exercise your rights is included in Åland Post Privacy Policy alandstamps.com/en/policies/ privacy-policy.

Your customer account is online! Go to subscriber-login.alandstamps. com/en to log into your customer account. Here, you can check your account details such as current balance, deliveries and standing order as well as update your address. For changes to your standing order, please contact customer service.

Åland Post Stamps reserves the right to change the terms mentioned above.

Price list for delivery & fulfilment services as of 1 November 2022:

Order information

Fill in the order coupon. Fold it once and tape. Post to Åland Post. Postage is paid. For Åland Post’s privacy policy, terms, and conditions we refer you to page 8.

Alternatively, place your order by: phone + 358-18-636 639 e-mail stamps@alandpost.com www.alandstamps.com/en

Please visit the web shop to find still more products available, including older stamps.

Choose delivery method:

❏ Economy shipping + €4

❏ Priority shipping + €7

❏ Registered shipping + €15

If you do not tick a box for delivery method, your order will be sent automatically as Economy post to European countries and as Priority post to non-European countries.

All prices listed exclusive of VAT. Prices and availability subject to change.

Order coupon

445-202432 Maximum card no. 147, The Tall Ships Races

445-202433 Maximum card no. 148, Snake 23.10. 2024 4.50

375-202419 Christmas seals 2024 23.10. 2024 5.00

905-202428 Stamp book, A story through Åland stamps 2024 23.10. 2024 110.00

Finnish stamps

610-114747 Finnair 100 years

610-114748 Finnish Museums Association 100 years, 10 motifs

610-114749 Posti’s Art Award 2023, Christoffer Relander, 2 motifs

25.00

610-114864 Martti Ahtisaari In Memoriam

610-114874 Blossoming Friendship, 5 motifs

610-114875 Spring Dreams, 5 motifs

610-114912 Europa - underwater flora and fauna

610-114913 The Royal Finnhorse Races 100th anniversary

610-114935 Sweden’s NATO membership

2.75

On 9 September, Åland Post once again issues a stamp with an Åland motif, freely created by an artist. Visual artist Carolina Sundelin’s stamp art sprouts from the wild greenery of the Åland archipelago, inviting you to experience the fragrant colour splendour of summer.

Archipelago in full bloom

Carolina Sundelin is an established visual artist, who grew up in France and trained in art in the Netherlands. Since 2002, she lives near Mariehamn, attracted by the nature, light, and colours of the Åland Islands. Her artistic work is characterized by her love of the Nordic nature. Plants and flowers, from colourful plant compositions to austere and stylized nature images, are recurring motifs in her works.

When invited to design her own stamp, her choice of motif came naturally. The issue On the islet is her tribute to the Åland archipelago and nature. She explains her thinking:

“I found it relatively easy to find a theme for the stamp because I got to paint what I usually do – the Åland nature in its diversity. For this edition, I was inspired by summer and my experiences of visiting an islet, wandering around, looking at flowers and plants. I chose chives as my starting point, which I think of as the lavender of the Nordics. Here, chives grow wild everywhere and are beautiful in their various forms, from bud to flower, even when wilted in late summer. My biggest

challenge was obtaining enough contrast in the motif, so that the flowers stand out even in postage stamp size, especially since I chose to have a lighter background than I normally have when painting flowers. I wished to create a harmonious composition with colours and shapes that reflect the beautiful Åland nature.”

The stamp features several of the flowers that grow abundantly in the Åland archipelago, including chives, tansy, goldmoss stonecrop, sea campion, sea aster, and purple loosestrife that you find in rock crevices, on beach meadows and rocky beaches. The archipelago vegetation often explodes in June, but most of it has blossomed already in August.

Åland Post’s “Open Edition” series was launched in 2023 and began with an issue by Finnish art photographer Christoffer Relander. His stamp Bark boat in a jar was an artistic tribute to a childhood memory from Åland.

FDC On the islet

Price: €9.00 Code: 416-000458

458

On the islet

Date of issue: 9 September 2024

Artist: Carolina Sundelin

Design: Johanna FInne

Edition: 40 000

Denomination: €8

Stamp size: 35 × 35 mm

Sheet size: 2 × 15 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

Perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

Carolina Sundelin works as a visual artist and visual arts teacher on Åland. This is her fourth illustration assignment for Åland Post since 2019.

@sundelincarolina

The first day cancel shows a chive flower. Budding chives can be seen at the centre of the stamp sheet, while the first day cover entices with a bouquet of beautiful archipelago summer flowers.

ORM SNAKE

Scouting in the snake’s water realm

On Åland, you find three species of snakes: viper, grass snake and smooth snake. The latter was featured on a stamp in 2002.

The grass snake (Natrix natrix) is the largest Åland snake and can grow up to 120 cm in length. It is grey or black and can usually be recognized by its yellow or white neck patches. Unlike the viper, it has round pupils, and it reproduces by laying eggs. It is non-venomous and will play dead rather than attack if startled. The grass snake is a skilled swimmer and lives near streams and lakes where it hunts frogs, fish, and toads.

The zodiac series is a joyous project for Martin and, having now created his ninth miniature sheet, a certain routine emerges.

“The cornerstones of the project are always the Åland nature, culture, and the animal of the year. At the start of the design process, I walk up and down, trying to visualize a landscape. When I had found the perspective I wanted for the grass snake, I built for it a room in Åland red granite with

On 23 October, the Year of the Snake will be next in the series featuring the Chinese horoscope animals’ travels through the Åland landscape. In this penultimate part of the series, artist Martin Mörck invites you to explore the Åland water world of a grass snake.

sparse vegetation.

I start by drawing on a large sheet of paper with soft pens and music in hand. The wrist must be relaxed to capture the motion onto the paper. With the snake in mind and through the movement, I chose to place it at the edge of the water. The snake’s slender body is visible in the transparent water as it exchanges thoughts with a smaller snake resting on a rock in the water. They may be commenting on the crowned frog sitting on another rock; it’s the Frog Prince from the Brothers Grimm’s fairy tale. Finally, I add colour to accentuate weather, temperature and feeling.

I enjoy creating these zodiac editions. It may be challenging at the beginning, but I know that through dialogue and cooperation with the Post, the result will always be better. I’ve learned this over the years and through the more than a thousand stamps I’ve made so far,” laughs Martin.

Source: Wikipedia

FDC Snake

Price: €5.50 Code: 416-000459

459 Snake

Date of issue: 23 October 2024

Artist: Martin Mörck

Design: Johanna Finne

Edition: 25 000

Denomination: €4.50

Stamp size: 50 × 60 mm

Sheet size: 170 × 95 mm

Paper: 110 g/m²

Perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

Martin Mörck is one of the world’s most prolific illustrators and engravers of stamps, and he has created stamps for 28 different countries. His first stamp for Åland Post was issued in 1987, and this year’s issue is his eighteenth for Åland in total. @morckmartin

Photographer: Truls Mörck

The snake’s long body winds over the first day cover and maximum card, as well as the first day and special cancels. Like last year, the Chinese calligraphic characters for the Year of the Snake issue were made by Shen JiaHong, stamp designer at the Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post Group in Beijing, China.

Cozy Christmas feel with knitwear

Knitting is a textile craft tradition dating back to the 14th century. From being a necessity in peasant society, knitting is now a popular hobby, and Christmas is the peak season for hand-knit sweaters, hats, mittens, and socks.

In the past, knitting was learned at home. On Åland, the handicraft section of the Åland Martha district works to preserve the traditional skills by collecting pattern samples and swatches from the past. Åland craftsmen of today also offer a wide range of knitted products, often in their own designs. In connection with the centennial of Åland autonomy in 2022, a competition to design an “Åland sweater” was also arranged. All of the above has served as inspiration for illustrator Anna Pers Bräcke, who is debuting as a stamp artist with this year’s Christmas stamps and seals. She describes the assignment:

“I was incredibly happy when I was asked to illustrate the 2024 Christmas issue. For a long time, I’ve wanted to

This year, you can send warming greetings to your loved ones with Swedish illustrator Anna Pers Bräcke’s Christmas stamps full of soft, cozy and home-knitted Christmas presents.

Release date is 23 October.

illustrate stamps and, when the chance presented itself, it felt fantastic. The “knitted” theme and the small format were fun challenges! The theme conjured up images of knitted socks, mittens, and sweaters, and during the sketching process I thought about how I could implement these in the tiny worlds I like to create. I enjoy playing with compositions and proportions, and my illustrations are often playful and colourful. I wanted to include that feeling into both stamps and Christmas seals. To create a connection to Åland, I’ve included typical colours, patterns, and symbols such as boats.”

Christmas holds a special place in Anna’s heart, and her description of the holiday envelops us all in a warm, cozy feeling.

“I’ve always loved Christmas, and to me it is a time of warmth, togetherness, and anticipation. It’s as if all of December is wrapped in a warm scarf that smells of toffee and saffron,” Anna tells us.

Christmas 2024

Date of isue: 23 October 2024

Artist: Anna Pers Bräcke

Design: Johanna Finne

Edition: 100 000 & 40 000

Denominations: Julpost & Världen

Stamp sizes: 35 × 25.5 mm

Sheet sizes: 2 × 20 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

Perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Cartor Security Printers

The first day cancel shows the text “Merry Christmas” in knitted form, while the first day cover wishes you a colourful Christmas season with snug, knitted Christmas socks and Åland presents.

Christmas seals 2024

Date of issue: 23 October 2024

Artist: Anna Pers Bräcke

Design: Johanna Finne

Edition: 2500 sheets of 20 self-adhesive seals

Seal size: 30.6 × 25.8 mm

Sheet size: 210 × 145 mm

Paper: coated 196 g/m²

Process: 4-colour offset

Printer: Joh. Enschedé

Christmas seals support green 4-H projects

Funds from the sale of the 2024 Christmas seals will be awarded 4-H Åland district.

The club has a fishing school for children aged 9 and older and has recently included magnet fishing. With the purchase of additional pieces of gear, 4-H wants to give more children the chance to try out fishing metal scrap out of the water. In addition, the grant will be used for building materials for nest boxes to be hung up along a

FDC Christmas 2024

Price: €6.00 Code: 416-000460

nature trail in Jomala, giving those who walk in the forest a greater chance of seeing different bird species.

4-H Åland currently has around 400 members. The club focuses on offering children and young people meaningful leisure activities, creating fellowship and arousing interest in the local community and the countryside.

Anna Pers Bräcke lives in Borlänge, Sweden, working as a freelance illustrator. She has made illustrations for The Washington Post, the Swedish Cancer Foundation, and Snapchat, among others. With Åland Post’s 2024 Christmas issue, she makes her debut as a stamp artist. @annapersbracke

Christmas seals 2024

Price: €5.00 Code: 375-202419

Jubilee release party 1 March in pictures

Roger Nordlund, Chair of the board of Åland Post, opened the program of the day with a celebratory speech, welcoming everyone.

The exhibition of images of all Åland stamps issued since 1984 until today caught the interest of many visitors.

Guests of honour Torsten Wikstrand and Anita Häggblom, CEO of the Åland Post and head of philately in 1984, explained how it all began.

Illustrator Tzenko Stoyanov was on hand to sign his anniversary edition and was delighted to meet the collectors.

The Åland Cultural History Museum in Mariehamn was filled with many happy collectors and stamp lovers who wanted to buy the new stamps of the day and send mail.

Next subscription delivery

(Note! Preliminary times of delivery)

October 23 September The Tall Ships Races (1), Olympian Frej Liewendahl (1), On the islet (1), Snake (miniature sheet), Christmas 2024 (2), Christmas seals, 1 maximum card, Sepac folder no. 15

October 14 October Stamp book “A story through Åland stamps 2024”

November 28 October Year sets, year pages, annual packs: FDCs, special cancellations, exhibition cards and exhibition stamps

Find all delivery times at alandstamps.com/en/pages/stopptider-och-leveranstider.

Discontinued products: as of 2024, signed FDCs and the pack of Red Cross cards have been removed from our range of subscription products. As a subscriber, you do not need to take action. For more information about our subscription products, please contact customer service.

Special cancellations 2024

Current information can be found at www.alandstamps.com/en, where updated images of the cancels will be posted. If you wish to have a special cancel on your own pre-franked and self-addressed covers, please send them to us well in advance of the relevant date. Changes are possible.

Exhibitions in autumn 2024

In the autumn, Åland Post participates in the following exhibition (subject to change):

Hafnia24 17–20.10 Copenhagen, Denmark

At the exhibition, we offer an exhibition cancel and sell an exclusive exhibition card and stamp featuring kayaking in Copenhagen. At the fair, Åland Post also represents Post Finland and Norway.

Telephone +358 18 636 639

Phone hours (GMT +2 h): Mon–Fri 9 am–3 pm

Åland Post Ltd

Stamps PO Box 1100

AX-22111 Mariehamn

ÅLAND, Finland

E-mail stamps@alandpost.com

facebook.com/ AlandPostStamps

instagram.com/ aland_stamps

youtube.com

Åland Post Stamps

Visiting address Flygfältsvägen 10, Sviby, Jomala

Editors Gunilla Häggblom

Johanna Finne Outi Bergman

Rebecka Lundén

Text

Gunilla Häggblom

Translation

Kristine Lybeck Sund

Layout

Outi Bergman

Production April Kommunikation Grano

Find currently available Åland stamps and collectibles at www.alandstamps. com/en