Number 1-2008 - Posten à land

NO. 1 2008 ENGLISH26 • A bookletof four differentlighthouses, twoof which areengraved, isissued in June.14 • The ÅlandPost commemoratesthis year’sOlympics inBeijing with atriangular stamp.RALLY DRIVERreveals his view of Åland7 • MarcusGrönholm revealshis view of Ålandin July.www.posten.ax

Launch of a New Magazine!Our customer magazine has been renewed this year and it hasgotten a new, fresh look and format. You, our loyal customer,will have the chance to enjoy interesting interviews of people inconnection with Åland Stamps and read reports about historicaland current events in Åland. The magazine is going to have morepages than before and it will be published two times a year infour different languages. In this issue you will, for instance, getacquainted with the Ålandic designer Lotta Jansdotter and heradven tures in the world. In addition, you will see how stamp motifsare being finished off into this year’s booklet of four stamps.Enjoy your magazine!Anita HäggblomDIRECTORÅLAND POST STAMPSCO-WORKERSYou can often meet me atexhibitions in Finland.VIRPI ISAKSSONCustomer service, Finnish“I work with customer serviceand correspondence in Finnishat Åland Post Stamps. You canalso often meet me at differentexhibitions which we attend inmainland Finland. The best thingabout my job is that I can havecontact with customers both overthe phone and by mail. I haveworked here for 13 years and Ihave very much enjoyed it.”KRISTINE SUNDCustomer service, English“I work with customer serviceand correspondence mainly inEnglish, but also in German,French and Danish. Furthermore,I answer for the translations ofthe magazine, folders and brochuresto English. The best thingabout my job is that I get to usemy language skills in differentways and provide service. Thebest service you can offer is thatlittle extra that the customer doesnot expect.”The best service you canoffer is that little extra thatthe customer does not expect!

ÅLAND POSTSTAMPSP.O. Box 100AX-22101 MARIEHAMNÅLAND, FinlandPHONE+358 18 636 641Telephone Hours:Mon–Fri 9 am – 4 pmOrders from Finland:0203-40020FAX+358 18 636 608INTERNETwww.posten.axNordic stamps:www.topoftheworld.nuE-MAILfrimarken@posten.axVISITING ADDRESSMariehamn’s Post office,Nygatan 6, MariehamnEDITORSAnita HäggblomKatja RikbergHeidemarie ErikssonBjörn WennströmCecilia MattssonTEXTKatja RikbergTRANSLATIONKäännöspolkuLAYOUTCecilia MattssonPRODUCTIONÅland PostÅlandstryckerietCOVER PHOTOKjell SöderlundThe publishers are not responsiblefor changes in the information.1•2008ContentsEditorial 2Co-workers 2New Model Van with a Fish Theme 4Christmas Seals Winners 4Most Beautiful Stamp 2007 5Chronicle: Sanna Tahvanainen 5News 2008:Exhibition Stamps 6This Is My Åland 7Letter from a Sailor’s Wife 12Triangular Stamp forthe Olympics in Beijing 14Mythical Peasant Bride 16Designer Star from Ålandin Japan 18My Stamps Have a ChristmasTheme 22This Year’s Angelic Christmas 24Popular Lighthouse MotifReturns 26Rowing-race Across the Sea of Åland 31Contest 33Postal Rates 34Calendar 3526 • A bookletof four differentlighthouses, twoof which areengraved, isissued in June.14 • The ÅlandPost commemoratesthis year’sOlympics inBeijing with atriangular stamp.7 • MarcusGrönholm revealshis view of Ålandin July.

4 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENNEWSNew Green Model Vanwith a Fish ThemeModel van no. 18 is out at the end of March.This time it is a green 30cwt Delivery Van.The lorry is made after a model from the 1950s;and a stamp with a perch, issued on 1st of February,can be found on its side. Also the elegant, decorativepattern which appears on the stamp sheet for Perchand Zander is present in the lorry’s background.Even the registration plate behind the lorry hasgotten its inspiration from fishes. It says ”Gonefishin’”.EDITION IS 6500The 30cwt Delivery Van is in scale 1:50 and, thistime, the edition consists of 6 500 samples. Theprice for the model van no. 18 is €14.40 and themodel will be sent in April to those who have astanding order. If you do not yet subscribe to modelvans from the Åland Post, feel free to open a standingsubscription at any time by contacting ÅlandPost Stamps.TRAVEL GIFT VOUCHER,VALUE 1000 €2322HOME CINEMAEQUIPMENT32503505309714956766DIGITAL CAMERA80943042841156123868OTHER PRICES56490383078408284415556056189428248153Winners of the ChristmasSeal Lottery 2007Now you can check whether you are one of thewinners of the Post’s Christmas seal lottery 2007.Your lottery number can be found on the back of yoursheet of Christmas seals. If you have a sheet with oneof the winning numbers, you can send your sheet ofseals to: Åland Post Stamps, P.O. Box 100, AX-22101MARIEHAMN, ÅLAND, Finland. Include yourname and address and mark your envelope “Christmasseal lottery 2007”. A new sheet of Christmas seals willbe sent to you together with your prize. The ÅlandPost covers all expenses that derive from sending theprize. The winning sheets should arrive to the ÅlandPost on 14th July 2008 at the latest. After that, theprizes will go to the organizers of the lottery. Altogether14 000 Christmas seals have been printed.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 5CHRONICLEMagnificientpastimeSANNA TAHVANAINENAuthor and member of the Post’s Stamp Advisory Board.Åland Sceneries MostBeautiful in 2007In the vote, stamps with Åland sceneries fromKumlinge and Hammarland turned out to bethe most beautiful Åland stamps in 2007.The stamps with Åland sceneries got 640 votes fromthe altogether 1612 votes. The stamp series with‘Maritime plants’ (225 votes) came in second placeand the series with ‘Contemporary crafts’ came inthird with 218 votes.WINNERSThese five winners were lucky in the draw and theirprizes have already been sent to their homes bymail:W. H. ´t Hooft, Oosterhout, the NetherlandsJanne Nurminen, Helsinki, FinlandRita Laaksonen, Kastelholm, ÅlandJean-Guy Roy, Québec, CanadaOlavi Mäkelä, Nokia, FinlandSTAMPS SHOULD PREFERABLY BE oblong.Like small cigarettes. Lighthouses are most suitedon oblong stamps, but so are tattoos. Stampsshould absolutely not be self-adhesive, butpreferably surprising. Once, I licked the backof a hairy stamp. What an amazing sensation.Because it felt as if though there was hair also onthe back. One time I omitted to send a letter becauseI only had stamps with smooth snakes onthem. Stamps can gladly be horrendous but notdisgusting. As people will lick the back of them.I LOVE STAMPS. But I’m not a collector. I am,however, a passionate letter writer. I must beone of the last to still write letters by using apen and paper. It feels like being a dinosaur.When I begin to write letters I take out mycollection of cards and notepapers, sit downfor a long time and choose one. I weigh thetwo-sided cards against the handmade notepaperfrom Amalfi. I recall the moment whenI bought the white, nondecorative paper fromTrastevere. I smell the lined envelope. Rustles. Ichoose one or two sheets, sit down and start towrite. Words start to come out, they practicallyflow. The more expensive paper, the faster I fillit. My handwriting is not pretty. The imprint leftbehind by the pen looks more like hieroglyphicsin gigantic scale to me.IT IS A MAGICAL MOMENT when I go to thedrawer where the stamps are kept. If there isnone left, I turn to my husband. He must be thesmallest post office in the world. If his storages areempty as well, then I go to the post office. I alwayschoose the most beautiful stamp. That is becausea stamp is like a piece of jewellery to a letter.I FIRST STARTED USING JEWELLERY whenI turned thirty. You shouldn’t wait that long.What a waste. Nowadays I never leave thehouse without it.

6 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENNEWSNews 2008: Exhibition StampsA new, special exhibition stamp will be on sale in connection withmost of the exhibitions the Åland Post attends during 2008.During 2008, the Åland Post will attend approximately16 exhibitions in Finland, Sweden, Norway,Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany and Austria.At 12 of these exhibitions, the Post issues a specialexhibition card. This year’s theme is postal uniformsworn throughout the countries where the exhibitionstake place.EXCLUSIVE PRODUCTS FOR VISITORS AT EXHIBITIONSThis is something the Post has done for many years,but this year we present a novelty. At all the exhibitionswhere an exhibition card is available, a specialexhibition stamp will also be issued. By means of‘My Stamps’ we are able to offer the visitors anexclusive product, a speciality only for those attendingthe exhibitions!SELF-ADHESIVE STAMPS IN A BOOKLETThe stamps are, like ‘My Stamps’, self-adhesiveand they are sold in a booklet of eight stamps. Allexhibition stamps in 2008 have the same frame as‘My Stamps’ from 2006. The motifs on the stampshave the same theme as the exhibition cards. Thestamps are affixed on the face of the card and cancelledwith an exhibition cancellation. An exhibitioncard costs €1.85.SOLD ONLY AT EXHIBITIONSAt the end of the year, all of our customers who didnot have the possibility to visit exhibitions are offeredexhibition cards in a pack, just like before. The bookletswith exhibition stamps will be on sale exclusivelyat the exhibition and they cannot be purchased fromÅland Post Stamps before or after the exhibitions.DESIGNED BY A FASHION DESIGNERMinna Palmqvist is the fashion designer who hascreated this year’s exhibition cards and stamps.Minna originally comes from Åland but has nowsettled herself in Stockholm.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 7KJELL SÖDERLUNDTHIS IS MYÅLAND

8 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENRALLY DRIVER’S FONDNESS FOR ÅLAND GRANITEMarcus Grönholm is a Swedish-speaking Finn, a rallydriver, who after a long career and after two world championshipsdecided to end his career. He has designed this year’s‘My Åland’ stamp for the Åland Post.Marcus ”Bosse” Grönholm started his career in rally driving in1987. The fact that he decided to devote his time to motor sportswas no surprise. His father Ulf was one of the leading rally driversin Finland in the 1970s. Marcus started to compete in motocrossalready as a 13-year-old. An injured knee ended this career. But asearly as in 1987, only a year after he got his driving licence, Marcusfollowed his father’s footsteps and made his rally debut with a FordEscort.BREAKTHROUGH AS A 31-YEAR-OLDIn 1988 Marcus became the Finnish Junior Champion and afterwardshe dominated the Finnish Rally Championships for manyMarcus Grönholm associates Åland with the red granite roads. In the picture he isrelaxing on Badhusberget in Mariehamn during one of his recent visits to Åland.KJELL SÖDERLUND

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 9years. In 1989 it was time for a debut in the World Rally Championshipson home ground. But at that point, the chances for winningwere small and he participated only in 25 starts during the 10following seasons. In the Neste Oil Rally Finland 1998 Marcus’performance was unbelievable; he got his big breakthrough at theage of 31, which consequently led also to a contract with Peugeot.TWO WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSTwo years earlier Marcus was finished with farming and was nowable to fully concentrate on rallying. As his co-driver Marcus hadTimo Rautiainen who stayed by his side throughout the rest ofhis career. In 2000 Marcus won his first world championshipand renewed the feat again in 2002. At the end the co-operationbetween Marcus and Timo led to 30 leg wins altogether, which is arecord for a Finnish driver.WON SILVER IN 2007Before the season 2004 Peugeot changed their race car from a 206to a 307, which brought Marcus less wins, until he moved over toFord in 2006. With Ford he won several legs but was never ableto beat Sebastian Loeb. It was mostly Loeb against whom Marcuscompeted for the title of Word Champion in 2007. Even thoughMarcus was leading for the most part of the season, he was finallyforced to see himself defeated and he honourably received a silvermedal at the end of his last season in the World Rally Championships.He has never frankly admitted that he will never again sitbehind the wheel of a rally car. It is clear though that nowadays hehas more time for his wife Teresa and their three kids; it was mainlybecause of his family that he decided to end his rallying career.PHYSICAL TRAINER IN ÅLANDMarcus has visited Åland several times, mostly with his familyduring the summer time. He has many memories of Åland but, asa rally driver, he gladly likes to highlight the red asphalt and thered gravel roads.– The roads are indeed the first thing I became fond of here inÅland. They really made a special impression on me and they arealso very fun to drive on, Marcus says.Another clear connection to Åland is Marcus’ mental and physicaltrainer Christoph Treier. Christoph, originally from Switzerland,used to live in Åland and Marcus liked to pay him a visit.KJELL SÖDERLUNDMARCUS GRÖNHOLMBORN on 5th February 1968LIVES in Inkoo in southern FinlandFAMILY Wife Teresa and three kidsCURRENTDesigner for ‘My Åland’ stamp 2008.INTRESTSMarcus is interested in anything thathas to do with sports, both as a spectatorand as a participant.WORLD CHAMPIONIn rallying in 2000 and 2002.AMOUNT OF STARTS INWORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS150FIRST RALLY WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPSIn Finland in 1989.HIGH POINT IN CAREERWhen Marcus won his first world championshipin 2000.THIS YOU DIDN’T KNOWABOUT MARCUSHe is also called ‘Bosse’ because hissisters didn’t know how to say ‘bror’(brother) when they were little andcalled him ‘Bosse’ instead.Marcus was a farmer for a ten-yearperiod after he turned 19.MARCUS’ THOUGHTSON CO-OPERATION WITHCHRISTOPH TREIERChristoph has been Marcus’ trainersince 2000. First he concentrated on themental aspect of training but then moreand more on the physical side. Since2001 Christoph has participated in allthe competitions with Marcus.

10 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENThe first day cancellation showsMarcus’ autograph, his and ChristophTreier’s profiles.245 • MY ÅLAND,MARCUS GRÖNHOLMDATE OF ISSUE26 July 2008DESIGNMarcus Grönholm/Cecilia MattssonPHOTOGRAPHERKjell SöderlundEDITION200 000DENOMINATIONVärlden (€0.90 *)PRICE FDC€1.40SIZE OF STAMP31,01 x 31,13 mmSIZE OF SHEET2 x 15 stampsPERFORATION14 per 2 cmPAPER102 g/m²PRINTING METHOD4-colour offset + red granitePRINTING HOUSEÖsterreichische StaatsdruckereiWhat better to symbolize rally driver Marcus Grönholm than a tyre? A tyredecorates the First Day Cover together with the two profiles and Marcus’autograph.* According to the valid postage2008On the stamp sheet we can see both Marcus’ and Christoph’s profiles togetherwith four tyres. Of course, also Marcus’ autograph can be found in themiddle of the sheet.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 11Åland is so peaceful, and I always enjoy coming here.When you are on an island you are able to escape the haste.HAPPY AND FLATTERED– Christoph has been by my side since 2000 and has since 2001been present at all my races. He has naturally helped me to form apositive image of Åland, Marcus says.When Marcus was asked to design a celebrity stamp for ‘MyÅland’, he was surprised.– My first thought was: “Why me?”, but then, of course, I washappy and flattered.LIKES PEACE AND QUIETWhen Marcus, who visited Åland for the first time 6 or 7 yearsago, is asked to pinpoint the one thing he likes best about Åland,he chooses the tranquility.– Åland is so peaceful, and I always enjoy coming here. Whenyou are on an island you are able to escape the daily haste and thestress and feel the peace and quiet.Both Marcus’ and his trainer ChristophTreier’s profiles are being portrayed on the‘My Åland’ stamp.KJELL SÖDERLUNDNOT A COLLECTORMarcus doesn’t collect stamps. Even though he has now designedan Åland stamp on his own, he doesn’t think that he will becomean active collector of stamps even in the future.– No, unfortunately, I don’t think so. I’m a bad collector in general.REAL GRANITE ON STAMPThe stamp illustrates sinuous gravel roads with the red granite, acommon sight for those who drive on the small roads in Åland.This picture is taken by Kjell Söderlund on the island Föglöin the archipelago. The right side of the stamp depicts MarcusGrönholm’s and Christoph Treier’s profiles in green and light blue.With this stamp the Post can bring about a big piece of news: thered granite found in Åland has been burnt right onto the stamp!The gravel surfacing can be felt onthe stamp, which makes it unique. Itis the printing house ÖsterreichischeStaatsdruckerei which has made itpossible to put the red granite ontothe stamp. But the granite was sent toAustria from Åland to guarantee itsauthenticity!Sources: www.mgr.fi and Hufvudstadsbladet3 December 2007.

12 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENLetter From a Sailor’s WifeThis year’s theme for the Europa stamps is letter writing. The connection to the sea,and more specifically to a sailor’s wife, was evident for the Åland Post. The sailor’swife has a strong role in Åland and is something of a national character.Letter writing used to be the only means for the Ålandsailors to communicate with their relatives back homein Åland when they were on their long stays at sea.But even today letter writing is frequently used eventhough one could also use the phone or send e-mail.home with the family. The life of a sailor’s wife variedtremendously whether the husband was home or not.Sailors’ wives in Åland were forced to be independentand strong in order to cope with all the choresaround the house while the husband was out at sea.LETTERS ARE SENT TO HARBOURSPreviously, the women wrote about practical thingsin their letters to their sailors. The letters could beabout the wellbeing of their children or about thecows and the possible calves they had had. It tooknormally a long time for the letters from Åland toreach the sailors. The letters were first handed to theshipping companies which gave them to an agentwho made sure that the sailors got them. It was alsopossible to send the letters to different harbours thatsailing ships called at.ISOLATED SAILORSIt was usually the wives who wrote the letters. Themen, on their part, more often sent picture postcardsfrom the countries they had visited. At sea the menwere isolated and often it could be painful to sitdown to write and think about how things were atA LETTER FROM 1896The stamp depicts a woman standing on shore lookingat an Ålandic ship. In addition, a part of a letterfrom the year 1896 can be seen, written by a sailor’swife in Åland, Ida, to her husband Albin. The letteris included in the collections found in the ÅlandMaritime Museum and it says, among other things:“Dear Albin! Kindly accept this greeting, which carrieswith warmth right from my heart to you! Heartfeltthanks for your two letters which I now have receivedand to which I will, with the greatest delight, answer. Ihad your letter all written and ready and then the otherone came. It is nice to know that you think of me.” Adried spray came with this over a 100-year-old letter,and it is now depicted on the stamp.Source: Hanna Hagmark-Cooper from the Åland MaritimeMuseum.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 13242 • EUROPA,LETTER WRITINGDATE OF ISSUE9 May 2008DESIGNCecilia MattssonEDITION200 000DENOMINATION€1.00PRICE FDC€1.50SIZE OF STAMP38 x 35,19 mmThe stamp sheet reveals more about the letter which Ida Eriksson, the sailor’swife, sent to her husband Albin from Åland. In addition, many photos ofÅlandic sailing ships, for instance the Pommern, are being illustrated on it.The First Day Cancellation of ‘Letter writing’ portraysan old pen.SIZE OF SHEET2 x 15 stampsPERFORATION13 per 2 cmPAPER110 g/m²PRINTING METHOD4-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSECartor Security PrintingROBERT JANSSONCECILIA MATTSSONThe First Day Cover features two old photographs illustrating partly the sailingship Pommern and partly a woman onboard the ship Passat. Several photosand extracts from the letter by Ida Eriksson can be found on the back.Cecilia Mattson (born in 1970)works as a graphic designer in themarketing department of the ÅlandPost; she is, among other things,in charge of the stamp production.Cecilia has always been interestedin texts and forms and she hasreceived her education in graphicdesign and advertising at BerghsSchool of Communication and theCommercial School in Tammisaari.She has also completed her studiesat the Commercial Collegein Vaasa. In addition, she hasattended art courses in the FolkHigh School in Karjaa. Cecilia haspreviously worked at an advertisingagency, a printing house andin a photo shop.

14 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN243 • OLYMPIC GAMES,BEIJING 2008DATE OF ISSUE9 May 2008A runner in full speed is depicted on the FirstDay Cancellation.DESIGNJuha PykäläinenEDITION250 000DENOMINATIONVärlden (€0.90*)PRICE FDC (NOT SIGNED)€1.40SIZE OF STAMP42 x 42 x 42 mm (triangular)SIZE OF SHEET2 x 18 stampsPERFORATION14 per 2 cmPAPER110 g/m²PRINTING METHOD4-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSEÖsterreichische StaatsdruckereiThis is the Åland Post’s first triangular stamp. Juha Pykäläinen’s elegantpictures of a hurdler and a javelin thrower are featured on the sheet, inspiredby the Chinese symbols.* According to the valid postage2008JUHA PYKÄLÄINENThe artist Juha Pykäläinen wasborn in 1953 in Tampere, Finlandbut now he lives in Sund, Åland.He is a multifaceted artist whouses many different techniquesin his work, like watercolour,gouache and oil. He has evenmade sculptures, etchings andgraphic art. For the Åland Posthe has so far designed 10stamps and many other philatelicproducts.Juha Pykäläinen has made the classic Olympic flame to appear on theFirst Day Cover. This FDC is also available signed.

For the second time in a row Janne Holmén, the marathonrunner from Åland, participates in the Olympics. This is also thesecond time for the Åland Post to issue a stamp in a relation to theOlympic Games, which are this time arranged in Beijing, China.ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 15Triangular Stamp for the Olympics in BeijingJanne Holmén is the third person from Åland everto participate in the Olympics. His debut in theOlympics took place in Athens in 2004, where heran the marathon in 2.17,50 and came in 22nd.Janne’s biggest breakthrough happened in München2002 when he won the European championshipsin marathon. In connection with that, the ÅlandPost made a stamp with Janne Holmén on it. It wasissued on 1st November 2002.THE THIRD ÅLANDER IN THE OLYMPICSIn addition to Janne Holmén, Frej Liewendahl andKarl-Johan Hellström from Åland have participatedin the Olympic Games. Frej, who was a runner,came in sixth in the 1500 metres’ run in the Gamesin Paris in 1924, whereas the boxer Karl-Johan(with the stage name Johnny) participated in theOlympics in Amsterdam in 1928. He won his firstmatch but was then eliminated in the second.EVEN OTHERS HAVE CHANCESBesides Janne Holmén, also many other Ålandershave the chance to participate in the Olympicsin Beijing in August 2008. There are still manytrial competitions left before it is certain whetherÅlanders can cheer also for other athletes than justHolmén. You can visit our web site (www.posten.ax.)to find out how this turns out.FELLOWSHIP IN THE OLYMPICSThe stamp for the Olympics brings about a big pieceof news: it is namely the first triangular stamp issuedby the Åland Post! The stamp is designed by JuhaPykäläinen who is a famous artist among all Ålandcollectors. With this stamp, Juha has taken the fellowshipof the Olympics into account and the stampportrays many happy faces from all around the world.OTHER FORMS FOR BLOCKS OF FOUR AND SIXBecause of the shape of the stamps the sheet consistsof 2 x 18 stamps. The unusual shape also means thatstamps in blocks of four and six have different formsthan before. In addition, the gutter pair strip and thegutter pairs in blocks of four consist of more stampsthan they would otherwise. The strip has 18 stampsand the gutter pairs in blocks of four have 6 stamps.

16 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENThe MythicalPeasant BrideAlmost everyone in Åland is familiar with the Ålandic artist Karl Emanuel Jansson’spainting of the peasant bride. The painting is hanging on the wall of the Åland ArtMuseum and inAugust the distinguishable painting will be available as a stamp.In the 19th century weddings with big feasts weresomething that only the affluent could afford inÅland. Festivities varied from place to place andchanged over the years. The wedding often beganby picking up the bride from her home. The bridalcortège with a bridal chest (which served as the bride’sdowry) was followed by folk musicians and bridalflags. Often the festivities lasted for four whole days.The first day cancellation shows the hand of thepeasant bride holding a bouquet of flowers.KARL EMANUEL JANSSONPainter Karl Emanuel Jansson(1846–1874) was born inPålsböle in Åland. With the helpof art scholarships he was able toeducate himself into a painter inTurku, Stockholm and Düsseldorf.The first painting he sent homefrom Düsseldorf was the “ÅlandPeasant Bride”, which wasimmediately purchased by theFinnish Art Society. Karl Emanueldied of tuberculosis, only at theage of 28.Karl Emanuel Jansson’s painting “Åländsk bröllopfest” (Åland wedding feast) isplaced onto the sheet. Parts of the stamp as well as the whole sheet are imprintedwith additional colour of gold.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 17FOOD AND DRINKS WERE IMPORTANTFood was naturally a significant part of the festivities.Upon arrival the quests were offered Ålandic pancakeor sweet cheese which was put on firewater bread.The men were offered a drink. Afterwards all kinds ofdishes were available: broth with pasties, liver casserolemade of semolina and rice grits, homemade sausages,meatballs, brawn, rolled brawn, cooked tongue, friedcheese with raspberry jam, roast veal with cooked carrots,fish and, finally, plum fool for dessert. Milk andhome-brew were served with the meal.BRIDE WITH SAD EYESK.E. Jansson sketched his bride in the painting aftera living model, Ida, a crofter’s girl from Karrböle inJomala. Karl Emanuel had met Ida in a weddingfeast and become fond of her looks. She was nobride but she was dressed in a bridal gown in orderto be painted into a portray. Afterwards many havegotten fascinated by the sad eyes of the bride. Themunicipality of Jomala has, since the 1960s, organizedfestivities that show us how the old-fashionedpeasant weddings were celebrated. In the summer aspecial cancellation in connection with the PeasantWedding Market is issued on 6th of July. Nowadays,the brides in Åland get married most often dressed inwhite or some other light-coloured clothing. But nowand then a bride and a groom choose to get marriedaccording to the old traditions and are dressed in darkclothing, just like in the peasant weddings.PURCHASED BY THE FINNISH ART SOCIETYThe painting “Åland Peasant Bride” was finishedin 1869, five years before the not more than 28-year-old Karl Emanuel died of tuberculosis. Thespectacular painting was purchased by the FinnishArt Society and it is now hanging on the wall of theÅland Art Museum.Sources: Mariehamn City Library; www.mhbibl.ax, Nya Åland2 Oct 2000 and www.ls.aland.fi /museum/246 • ÅLAND PEASANT BRIDEA sketch by K.E. Jansson, “Kyrkointerior” (the interior of a church),appears on the front of the FDC; the sketch was later turned into hisfamous painting, “En slant i håven” (a coin in the collection bag). “Ålandwedding feast” recurs on the back. Even the envelope has extra colourof gold on the left side.DATE OF ISSUE15 August 2008ARTISTKarl Emanuel JanssonDESIGNCecilia MattssonEDITION200 000DENOMINATION€1.50PRICE FDC€2.00SIZE OF STAMP29,07 x 38 mmSIZE OF SHEET2 x 15 stampsPERFORATION13 per 2 cmPAPER110 g/m²PRINTING METHOD4+1-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSECartor Security Printing

18 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENLotta Jansdotter is inspired by all kinds of different situations and people she meets daily, including street signs, shopwindows,parks, boat rides and walks to the work place. She sees designs and motifs everywhere.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 19LottaDESIGNER STAR FROM ÅLAND IN JAPANJansdotter is a textile designerwho was born in Åland 37years ago and lives currently inthe USA. She is something ofa designer star in Japan. Thisyear she has designed three postalstationeries for the Åland Post.But how did all of it begin? Lotta was born in Mariehamn in 1971and moved to Stockholm when she was 6. During every schoolholiday and summer holiday she returned to Åland, which still playsan important role in her life. After her aesthetically oriented studiesin the upper secondary school she left Scandinavia at the age of 20to try her luck on the other side of the Atlantic, in California. Thereshe took several different courses in arts in different folk high schoolsto find the right expression for her art. When she tried screen printing,everything fell into place and Lotta had found her calling.ATTRACTED ATTENTION IN JAPANIn 1996 Lotta started her own business and at the beginningworked from her little apartment in San Francisco. Her designssoon attracted attention in Japan andafter a year she launched her own collectionprecisely in Japan.– Many Japanese have told me thatmy designs and motifs feel familiarto them. Nature and contact to it arevery important to the Japanese, eventhough they don’t live among treesand have green around them all thetime. Organic designs and naturemotifs are unbelievably popular. TheJapanese say that they can identifycertain motifs but, at the same time,

20 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN Lotta’s products areextremely popular onthe Japanese market.She believes that thereason for it is that theJapanese value natureand any contact to it.In addition, Lotta getsa lot of her inspirationfrom nature and faintcolours.Designs and motifs can be foundanywhere. You just have to beable to see them.they can recognize that it is not aJapanese who has created them. Theylike the combination.In 2002 Lotta’s store and studioopened in San Francisco. She also sellsmany of her products online, throughher web site www.jansdotter.com. In2006 Lotta moved herself, as well asher business, to Brooklyn, New York,to be closer to Åland and Scandinavia.NOTEPAPER, PURSES, CERAMICSLotta designs all kinds of productsvarying from notepaper, aprons andrunners to purses, ceramics, clothesand books. Despite the variation ofthe products nature is always presentin everything Lotta creates.– I get inspired by people, food,street signs, shopwindows, parks, boatrides, walks to the work place; yes, actuallyby everything. Designs and motifscan be found anywhere, you just haveto be able to see them and then designthem according to your own style.The fact that Lotta comes originallyfrom Åland can be clearly seenin her products.– It is most noticeable in the faint,natural-looking colours.BOOKS ABOUT ÅLANDLotta has also published several books, both in English andJapanese. One of the books includes photographs and texts fromÅland, Finland and Sweden. In the book Lotta talks about herfavourite restaurants and shops as well as guides the Japanese readersto her favourite places in Scandinavia. An inspirational trip wasorganised a couple of years ago, which meant that Japanese interestedin design followed Lotta’s footsteps and visited e.g. the ÅlandPost and other locations in Åland that have a connection to Lotta.ORGANIC MOTIFSLotta was surprised when she was asked to make a postal stationeryfor the Åland Post.– I became extremely happy. I have wanted to work for the Postfor a while now and it is special for me to get to work with anÅlandic company and create a bond with my home island.Lotta chose to make organic motifs, which do not illustrateanything as such.– They are my strokes and sweeps of the pencil which are”scribbled” down onto a sketchbook. Afterwards I continue workingwith them until it feels like they are ready.WANTS TO CREATE A STAMP SERIESContinuing co-operation with the Åland Post in the future doesn’tfeel strange to Lotta.– I would be happy to create a stamp series. One theme that Ihave pondered for a long time consists of motifs inspired by theÅlandic items and things.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 21This year the Åland Post issues three postal stationeries,all of which are designed by Lotta Jansdotter. Theseries is called Flor and the different cards have thenames Pom, Tycke and Koka.POSTAL STATIONERY, FLORThe cancellation illustratestwo chicks andcomes from Lotta’spattern called ‘Chick’.DATE OF ISSUE9 May 2008DESIGNLotta JansdotterEDITION3 x 13 000PRICE€1.85/postal stationery€5.55 for three postal stationeriesSIZE105 x 148 mmPAPER300 g/m²PRINTING METHOD4-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSEKeab PaperLOTTA ANDERSONLotta Anderson (born Jansson,calls herself even Jansdotter) wasborn in 1971 in Åland and grewup in Stockholm. At the age of20 she moved to California, USA,and took different courses infolk high schools. After becomingattached to the technique ofscreen printing she started herown business ‘Lotta Jansdotter’and has had big success in theUSA, Japan and Europe eversince. This is Lotta Andersson’sfirst assignment for the Åland Post.The symbol for ‘Postage paid’ is different in all the three cards and is connected withthe motif on front. All the three postal stationeries are included in the subscription.

22 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENMy Stamps Have a Christmas ThemeThe third frame for My Stamps is out in October. Now you who want to make yourown stamps can choose a Christmas-themed frame. The motif features again a sportfor children, this time namely horse riding.247 • MY STAMPS,RIDINGDATE OF ISSUE9 October 2008ARTISTMari StefansdotterDENOMINATIONEuropa (€0.75 *)PRICE FDC (NOT SIGNED)€1.25SIZE OF STAMP45,99 x 30,30 mmSIZE OF BOOKLET286 x 66 mm, 8 x 1 stampPERFORATIONSecurity perforationPRINTING METHOD4-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSECartor Security Printing* According to the valid postage2008On the First Day Cover Mari has portrayed a steeple course which extendsover both the front and back of the envelope. Imprints of hooves show whichway the horse has gone. This FDC is also available signed.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 23In Åland, like in many other locations, horse racingis popular among young people. There are a numberof stables all around Åland where you can take ridinglessons, participate in horse camps and competewith horses. Many people also have their ownhorses; there are altogether 1 000 horses in Åland.INTERNATIONAL RACESA trotting-track is located only three kilometresoutside of Mariehamn. In the modern settings of theÅland trotting-track many international horse racesare organized every year. There you can find e.g. acourse for show jumping made of grass and gravel,courses for dressage, warm-up tracks and an oval trackfor Icelandic horses. Every year many exciting anddynamic horse races are organized on the Åland trotting-track.At the Åland agricultural school youngsterswith great interests in horses can attend shorttermor long-term education programs in riding.A SUPPLEMENTARY CHRISTMAS STAMPThe new frame for My Stamps is available as of 9thof October and is designed by Cecilia Mattsson.The Christmas-themed frame suits the self-designedChristmas stamps. The self-adhesive stamp ‘Riding’with its denomination ‘Europa’ is a good choicefor the Christmas cards which are sent to Europe.The self-adhesive stamp ’Riding’ acts as the Post’ssupplementary Christmas motif in 2008. The Post’sChristmas stamp with the denomination ‘Julpost08’ can be used to send Christmas greetings toÅland, Finland and Sweden for a reduced price duringa limited time period. More information aboutthe Post’s Christmas Stamp 2008 can be found onthe following pages.Sources: www.skargardsleden.com and http://home.aland.net/sakrum/pages/mari_cv.html.Even the First Day Cancellationfor ’Riding’ has a horse theme.It illustrates a stirrup.MARI STEFANSDOTTERThe cover of the booklet depicts youngsters who ride in a row. The cover is thesame for all of those who choose a Christmas-themed frame for their self-designedstamps.The graphic art designer MariStefansdotter (born in 1972) livesin Sund, Åland. She works as agraphic designer and a freelancewriter and photographer. Marihad her first one-man exhibitionin 1992 when she displayedwatercolour paintings in theSund Library. After that she hasparticipated in several exhibitions,both one-man and group.This is Mari’s first stamp for theÅland Post.

24 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENThis Year’s Angelic ChristmasThis year’s Christmas stamp illustrates something that is part of Christmas for many, namely anangel. The artist Eva-Jo Hancock has used a special technique for this Christmas stamp.The word ’angel’ comes from the Greek ’angelos’,which means a messenger or a harbinger. The wordis being used both for a human messenger and fordivine harbingers. Angels are often described as spiritualpresences who are God’s servants and messengersto people. A strong hierarchy exists amongst theangels, which divides the angels into different groups.THREE GREAT ANGELSIt is mentioned in the Bible that angels were placedto guard the Garden of Eden so that people couldnot return there after they had been driven away.Angels also appeared to Abraham and Sara todeliver them the message that they could finallyhave children. The three great angels in the Bible areGabriel, Michael and Lucifer. Nowadays the beliefin angels is more spread than it has been for manyyears. People share their experiences about meetingangles and many books dealing with encounterswith angels have been published. Angels are alsocommonly featured on films these days.HOLOGRAMS ON THE EARTHAngels are popular even in Åland, both duringChristmas time and the whole year around. Theartist Eva-Jo Hancock has first made an angel oftextile, paper and other materials; she has thenphotographed the happy angel that now appears onthe Christmas stamp. She holds a heart in her hand;the snowflakes and the Earth underneath her appearas glittering holograms.CAN BE USED EVEN THE FOLLOWING YEARThe denomination ‘Julpost 08’ means that the stampcan be used for sending greetings to Åland, Finlandand Sweden for a reduced price during a limitedperiod of time in November and December*. If thepostage for Christmas cards increases in the future,so does also the value of the stamp ‘Julpost 08’.This year the Post issues a supplementary Christmasstamp, namely the self-adhesive ‘Riding’; more informationabout it can be found on the previous pages.Sources: http://web.telia.com and www.bibelsajten.nu.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 25248 • CHRISTMAS 2008The heart held by the angel on thestamp also appears on the first daycancellation.DATE OF ISSUE9 October 2008ARTISTEva-Jo HancockEDITION430 000DENOMINATIONJulpost 08 (€0.55)*PRICE FDC (NOT SIGNED)€1.05 *SIZE OF STAMP33,35 x 33 mmSIZE OF SHEET2 x 15 stampsPERFORATION13 per 2 cmPAPER102 g/m²PRINTING METHOD4-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSEJoh. Enschedé Stamps* €0.55 is a preliminary pricefor ‘Julpost 08’. The price will beconfirmed later this year and itwill be announced in the autumnissue of Ålandsposten as well asat www.posten.ax.This FDC is also available signed.EVA-JO HANCOCKThe heart and snowflakes found on the stamp reappear on the stamp sheet.Snowflakes appear as holograms even on the sheet!Eva-Jo Hancock is a graphicdesigner and an interior decorator.She was born in 1966 and hasa history as an illustrator, anawarded magazine designer anda calligraphic artist. Her employersare situated in Europe, USAand Japan. Most of all she likesto be in Eckerö, Åland. This isEva-Jo’s first stamp for the ÅlandPost. Previously she has designedthe Christmas decorations from2005 and the Year Book “Ålandsfrimärken berättar 2006–2007”.

26 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENIt takes about a month to finish a new gravure for stamps. Butbefore the work can get started many things have to be prepared.LIGHT-HOUSESTHE POPULAR MOTIF RETURNS, BOTH AS A GRAVURE AND AS A PHOTO

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 27The motif is engraved in reverse in scale 1:1. When the engraver is finished with the gravure the die (the steel plate) is hardened.Afterwards, the picture is moved onto a mollette (a transfer roll) and then it is time to carry the picture over to the printing presscylinder. There is room for a several hundred reversed pictures in each press cylinder.The last time the Åland Post issued an engraved stamp was in1995. In addition, the last booklet of Åland lighthouses was issuedin 1992. But now it is time for a renewal. In July a booklet witheight stamps featuring four different lighthouses will be issued,with two of them engraved.MARHÄLLANLighthouse of Marhällan was built in 1938 and stands in theshipping channel leading to Mariehamn, precisely by the side ofKobbaklintar. Its rocky part has for long been known to be narrowand difficult to navigate. A tragicaccident faced the area when theÅlandic barque Plus was shipwreckedin a snowstorm north of the shippingchannel in 1933. In order to improvesea safety a lighthouse was built to theshallow and dangerous Marhällan.The lighthouse was equipped with anautomatic fog signal clock. In 1971Marhällan got electricity and the fog

28 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENWhen the photographer Kjell Söderlundvisited the Lighthouse of Gustaf Dalénin Skiftet, the Post’s Stamp groupjoined him. From the left: Henrik Lundberg,Katja Rikberg, Cecilia Mattssonand Anita Häggblom.KJELL SÖDERLUNDclock was changed into an electric nautofon. It was put out of usein 1985, which made it the last nautofon in Finland. The distinguishedlighthouse, which was originally painted black, has nowbeen painted red and white and is a well-known symbol of Åland.GUSTAF DALÉNThe Lighthouse of Gustaf Dalén is located right outside of Skiftet,north of Kumlinge and on the way to the mainland’s archipelago.The lighting apparatus for the lighthouse was originally a gift to theFinland’s pilotage service’s 250-year celebrations from the Swedishaggregate manufacturer for lighthouses (AGA) in 1946. It was thendecided that the device should be used in Skiftet, in its new lighthouseof concrete caisson foundation. The lighthouse was built in 1947 andit was the first of its kind in Finland, manufactured of reinforced concrete.It looks different than the other Finnish lighthouses because it isbased on Swedish blueprints. To honour the memory of the founderof AGA the lighthouse was named Gustaf Dalén. The lighthouse isstill red in colour and has its name in huge white letters on its side.BOGSKÄRBogskär was built in 1882 to the southernmost rocky islet of Finland.The request for building a lighthouse to that exact spot came originallyfrom Sweden; many ships were grounded near the Swedishcoast because they were afraid of the dangerous rocks of Bogskär.The six-storeyed lighthouse was inaugurated with festivities in 1882and its personnel at that time consisted of nine people. Already at thebeginning there was debate about whether the lighthouse was strongenough and in 1889 it was severely damaged in a storm. Wall panelscame down and all doors and windows broke. In addition, even thelifeboat loosened during the storm and the people in the lighthousewere forced to wait a whole month before they finally got help. Thelighthouse was restored and the transmitter antennas, peculiar to theLars Sjööblom has engravedstamps for almost 25 years. Thegravure is made in reverse inscale 1:1 under a microscope.With the help of different gravingtools small lines and dots areengraved onto the little steelplate, which is called die. Itrequires unbelievable accuracyto engrave stamps. It takes from120 to 130 hours of work tomake a gravure.LARS SJÖÖBLOMEngraver Lars Sjööblom (bornin 1956) is employed at theSwedish Postal Services where hehas worked since 1983. Beforethat, he went to Berghs Schoolof Communication and took aspecial course in engraving at theCollege of Fine Arts. Animals areLars’ speciality and somethingthat he has worked with a lot.This is Lars Sjööblom’s first stampfor the Åland Post.JAN-ERIK ANDERSSON

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 29244 • LIGHTHOUSESA plan of the Lighthouse of Bogskär, seen from above,was used as a model for the first day cancel.The Lighthouse of Marhällan reappears on the cover of thebooklet. There is information of all the four lighthouses inside thebooklet.This year’s maximum card is going to be issued on 6th of July.This year there are altogether four of them and they illustrate thesame lighthouses that can be found in the booklet of stamps. Themaximum card cancellation shows the Lighthouse of Bogskär.DATE OF ISSUE6 June 2008PHOTOGRAPHERKjell SöderlundDESIGNCecilia MattssonENGRAVERSMartin Mörck (Bogskär)Lars Sjööblom (Kökarsören)EDITION120 000 bookletsDENOMINATION8 x Europa (8 x €0.75)*PRICE FDC (NOT SIGNED)€3.50PRICE FOR MAXIMUM CARDS€7.40 for 4 cardsSIZE OF STAMP26,78 x 39 mmSIZE OF BOOKLET2 x 4 stampsPERFORATION13 per 2 cmPAPER98 g/m²PRINTING METHODCombination printing4-colour offsetPRINTING HOUSEPosten Sverige* According to the valid postage2008JAN-ERIK ANDERSSONMARTIN MÖRCKAn old sketch of the Lighthouse of Bogskär is depicted onthe First Day Cover. There is a chart of the four lighthouseswith their respective locations on the back of the cover.This FDC is also available signed.Martin Mörck (born in 1955) hasworked as a freelance engraversince 1978. He has studied atthe School of Goldsmiths and atthe University of Industrial Artsin Göteborg and trained underthe tuition of the stamp engraverArne Wallhorn. Martin has doneengravings for many postalservices, e.g. Sweden, Denmark,France and USA. This is Martin’sseventh stamp for the Åland Post.

30 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENIt requires unbelievable accuracy to engrave stamps. Ittakes from 120 to 130 hours of work to make a gravure.first, a lighthouse fuelled by paraffin. The sides of the lighthouse towerwhich face the south were covered with boards and the whole buildingwas painted red. In 1983 the lighthouse tower was so ruined that it wasforced to be torn down and replaced with a more modern lighthouse.BOTH PHOTOS AND GRAVURESThe stamps with the Lighthouses of Marhällan and of GustafDalén are photographed by Kjell Söderlund. The other twolighthouses are combination prints, based on old sketches of theLighthouses of Bogskär and Kökarsören. The Swedish engraversLars Sjööblom and Martin Mörck have, with these designs asbasis, created the gravure which was finally turned into detailedstamps in the booklet, to be issued on 6th of July.When the original sketch for a stamp iscompleted the head of the printing house ispresent during the whole process. It is, forexample, important that the motif does notinclude too many or too small lines.The work of the photographer and theengraver is finished off in the printing house.This is a task that requires both carefulnessand patience.lighthouse, have been there since1907. In 1915 the lighthouse wasbombarded by a German war vesseland was so badly damaged that it hadto be rebuilt. Nowadays the lighthouseis blue and white.KÖKARSÖRENKökarsören is a triangular lighthouse,built in 1906, and is situated in thesouthern part of the Archipelago Sea.The lighthouse has, right from thebeginning, been unmanned and was, atPRINTED BY USING COMBINATION PRINTINGThe locations of the lighthouses can be seen on the map in thebackground of the stamps with combination printing; and all fourstamps illustrating lighthouses have their exact positions writtendown. Engraved stamps can be printed by using two differenttechniques: steel-plate printing or combination printing. Theengraved stamps of the Åland Post are made by using the combinationprinting. It means that only certain parts of the stamp arebeing engraved. The engraved parts are printed by using the steelplateprinting while the rest of the motif is printed in offset.A LONG PROCESSTo finish off a gravure for a stamp takes about a month. But beforethe work can get started many things have to be prepared. Thephoto for the stamp’s original sketch is chosen with great care. Theengraver works closely with the designer and the printing house.Sometimes the engraver must complete the original sketches indifferent ways. If a photograph is used as the original sketch, theengraver might need to fill in details that are missing. The gravureis made in reverse in scale 1:1 under a microscope. With the helpof different graving tools small lines and dots are engraved onto thelittle steel-plate, called die. The engraver performs experimentalprintings by hand throughout the whole process in order to see howthe gravure turns out. When it is time for printing the picture ismoved to a transfer roll, which is in its turn carried over to the actualpress cylinder in order to be printed onto stamp paper.Sources: Swedish Postal Services, ”Lustfyllda linjer” (pleasurable lines) publishedby Post Stamps, Jouni Lahdenperä and ”Finnish lighthouses” by Seppo Laurell.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 31EVENTROBERT JANSSONIf you wish to win the Postal Boat Race it is not enough to be the fastest one to row and sail across the Sea of Åland. You also haveto have a boat which is true to the period and be clothed according to the old traditions.Rowing-race Across the Sea of ÅlandIn the summer it is once again time for the Postal Boat Race over theSea of Åland. This is the 35 th time for the rowing-race to be organized.The race is organized in remembrance of theexhausting mail conveyances over the Sea of Ålandin the 17th century. The crossing between the parishof Väddö in the Swedish archipelago and Eckeröin Åland was considered one of the most dangerousin the world and is believed to have claimed thelives of 200 postal rowers.THIS TIME STARTS FROM ECKERÖAround 60 rustic boats attend the race every year.The race starts this time from Eckerö, early in themorning on Saturday, 14th of June. The race’s pointsystem acknowledges both the speed with which thesea is crossed and the appearance of the boat andits crew. The idea of the race is also to preserve theculture of rustic boats and to enhance the spirit offair play and intelligence at sea. Every participatingboat will receive a mailbag which they have todeliver and hand over as fast as possible.NOT OF PLASTICThe race is open to any boats, old or newlyconstructed,which are true to the period, andwhich can be imagined to have been used in mailconveyances between Väddö and Eckerö. The boatsshould be build of wood. Wooden boats treatedwith plastic are not allowed to participate. The boatcan only be moved by using oars and/or sails. Boatsthat have rigs can be rigged only in the way that wasused during the time of mail conveyances.

32 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENEVENTSPECIAL CANCELLATIONS AND COMMEMORATIVE CARDSNaturally even this year a special cancellation isissued in connection with the race. In addition,a fine commemorative card is for sale, decoratedwith the special cancellation and the special commemorativecancellation, which acts as a sign ofauthenticity ensuring that the mail has actually beentransported on a postal boat.USE THE COUPONTo make the handling easier we advise you to use thefollowing coupon when you place your order. In caseyou want to receive the special and/or commemorativecancellation onto your own item of mail,please still fill in the coupon and enclose the item inquestion. To assure that you will receive your specialcancellations and/or commemorative cards placeyour order on Friday the 6th of June at the latest.No boats made of plastic are allowed to participate in the raceand the boats should be moved merely by oars and/or sails.ROBERT JANSSONOrder form❐ Yes, please, I wish to have the special cancellation onto the item(s) of mail enclosed. The specialcancellation is free of charge.❐ Yes, please, I order __ pcs of commemorative cards with the special cancellation and commemorativecancellation, price €2.00/card.❐ Yes, please, I wish to have the commemorative cancellation and special cancellation onto my item(s) ofmail enclosed, which is addressed and franked, price € 1.70/item.NAME ...............................................................................................................POSTAL ADDRESS .................................................................................................................................................................. COUNTRY ......................................CUSTOMER NUMBER .............................................................. ❐ MALE ❐ FEMALETELEPHONE NUMBER ............................................................................................E-MAIL ADDRESS .................................................................................................Send the coupon to Åland Post Stamps, PB 100, AX-22101 MARIEHAMN, ÅLAND, Finland. The coupon together with your ownitems of mail must be at the Post on 6th of July at the latest. Feel free to copy the coupon if need be.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 33CONTESTContestNow it is your turn to try your luck and participate in anexciting contest by the Post. The correct answers for thequestions below can be found in old issues of ÅlandspostenFrimärken. Good luck!1. Which artist designed the stamp ‘Folk music’in 2003?2. What was the theme for the maximum cards 2005?3. Which artist designed the Christmas seals in 1998?4. Which was the date for the special cancellationin connection with the European championshipsin karate 2001?5. Which year’s model is the model van no. 11?Contest coupon1. ............................................................................................................................2. ............................................................................................................................3. ............................................................................................................................4. ............................................................................................................................5. ............................................................................................................................NAME ......................................................................................................................POSTAL ADDRESS .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................COUNTRY ................................................................................................................Send the coupon to Åland Post Stamps, PB 100, AX-22101 MARIEHAMN, ÅLAND, Finland before the 30th of June 2008. Feel freeto copy the coupon if need be.

34 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENPOSTAL RATESLetter Postage as of 1 February 2008LETTERSWEIGHT UP TOÅLAND(VAT 22%)FINLANDNORDIC COUNTRIES,EUROPEPRIORITY ECONOMY PRIORITY ECONOMY PRIORITY ECONOMY PRIORITYREST OF THE WORLDECONOMY– 20 g Letters to Åland and Finland: lowest weight class 50 g 0.75 0.60 0.90 0.80– 50 g 0.70 0.60 0.70 0.60 1.50 1.30 1.60 1.40– 100 g 0.95 0.75 1.00 0.75 1.70 1.50 3.00 1.60– 250 g 1.50 1.25 1.60 1.40 2.60 2.30 4.70 2.60– 500 g 2.50 2.10 2.70 2.20 4.10 3.60 7.90 4.20– 1000 g 4.00 3.15 4.30 3.40 6.20 5.10 14.20 6.30– 2000 g 6.30 5.30 6.70 5.70 10.20 7.80 25.70 12.60Postcard 20 g Postcard 0.70 Postcard 0.70 Postcard 0.75 Postcard 0.90The value of ‘priority’ non-fixed value stamps coincides with the following: INRIKES= 50 g priority ”Åland and Finland” • EUROPA =20 g priority ”Nordic Countries and Europe” • VÄRLDEN = 20 g priority ”Rest of the world”. Registered letters: 3,80 € + postage.Express Letter Postage as of 1 February 2008EXPRESS LETTERSWEIGHT UP TOÅLANDWithin MariehamnFINLANDNORDIC COUNTRIES,EUROPEREST OF THE WORLD– 250 g – 5.60 7.00 10.40– 1000 g – 8.30 10.90 20.30– 2000 g 6.40 10.40 17.60 30.60NEW DENOMINATIONS FOR ÅLAND STAMPSSince 2008 the terms ‘1st class’ and ‘2nd class’ of the Åland stamps have been replaced with thenew denominations ‘Inrikes’ (domestic), ‘Europa’ (Europe) and ‘Världen’ (the world). It means that astamp with ‘Inrikes’ can be used on letters and cards sent from Åland to the mainland with weight upto 50 grams. A stamp with ‘Europe’ is meant for letters and cards going to Europe with weight up to20 grams and a stamp designated ‘Världen’ is used on letters and cards to the rest of the world withweight up to 20 grams.The change also includes that the value of these non-fixed value stamps increases at each increase inthe postal rates (exactly like the stamps called ‘1st class’ and ‘2nd class’ did previously).

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 35Issuing Programme 2008CALENDAR1 February Fish, Perch and Zander 2 stamps27 March Burnet Rose Postal labels, FRAMA27 March Nordic – Queen’s Gorge Miniature sheet15 April Åland Scenery,Lumparland and Mariehamn2 stamps9 May Europe – Letter writing 1 stamp9 May Flor Postal stationery, 3 postcards9 May Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 1 stamp6 June Lighthouses Booklet of 8 stamps, 4 different motifs6 June Lighthouses 4 maximum cards26 July My Åland – M Grönholm 1 stamp15 August Åland Peasant Bride 1 stamp9 October My Stamps, Riding Self-adhesive booklet of 8 stamps, one motif9 October Christmas 2008 1 stamp9 October Christmas sealsDeliveries and DeadlinesDELIVERYNUMBERDEADLINE FORSUBSC. CHANGES DELIVERY CONTENTS1-2008 3 March April Fishes, Postal label, Nordic – Queen’s Gorge,Scenery – Lumparland and Mariehamn2-2008 5 May June Europe, postal stationery, Olympic Games,lighthouses (booklet), maximum cards3-2008 8 September October My Åland, Peasant bride, My Stamps (selfadhesivebooklet), Christmas4-2008 27 October November Year Set, Christmas seals, packs,Christmas decorations, year pages etc.Other Standing Order Deliveries (NOTE! PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE)PRODUCT DELIVERY PRODUCT DELIVERY2008 coin set March Art plate no. 9 JuneNordic Set April Art plate no. 10 NovemberModel van no. 18 April Model van no. 19 NovemberStamp watch no. 6June

36 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKENCALENDARExhibitions 2008The Åland Post attends the following exhibitions during the year:STAMP PASSION 2008 SVEDALA BERLIN FRIMÆRKEFORUMHertogenbosch, Svedala, Sweden, Berlin, Germany, Fredericia, Denmark,Holland, 11–13 April 13–14 September 3–5 October7–9 NovemberFRIMYNT HAMBURG NORDIAHelsingborg, Sweden, Hamburg, Germany, Stavanger, Norway,12 April5–7 September 23–26 OctoberINT.BRIEFMARKENMESSE WIPA 08Essen, Germany,8–10 MayWien, Austria,18–21 SeptemberINT.BRIEFMARKENBÖRSESindelfingen, Germany,24–26 OctoberRIIHIMÄKI FRIMÄRKETS DAG HELSINGFORSRiihimäki, Finland Stockholm, Sweden, Helsinki, Finland,6–7 September 27 September1–2 NovemberWe offer an exhibition card, exhibition stamp and cancellation at all of these exhibitions, exceptthe ones in Riihimäki, Svedala and Hamburg. This year’s theme is postal uniforms and the artist isMinna Palmqvist.Special Cancellations 2008A special cancellation has so far been granted for the following events during 2008:3 MAY MARTHA DISTRICT OF ÅLAND 9 AUG BOMARSUND DAYS6 JUN LIGHTHOUSES (ISSUE OF MAXIMUM CARDS) 10 AUG FOLK MUSICIANS’ RALLY IN KÖKAR14 JUN POSTAL BOAT RACE 27 SEP GETADRAGET (FISHING CONTEST)6 JULY PEASANT WEDDING MARKET 9 OCT STAMP DAYAdditions may occur during the year. These will be announced in the forthcoming issues of ÅlandpostenFrimärken as well as on our web site at www.posten.ax. Pictures of the special cancellationsare available online.Holiday ClosingsÅland Post Stamps is closed on the following holidays:FIRST OF MAY ÅLAND’S AUTONOMY DAY MIDSOMMER EVE1 May 9 June 20 June