Sorry for the pun about the 2025 Åland stamps. Okay, no, I’m not really sorry. I’m weak and admit it. You’ll understand in a few minutes. I was just observing in another post recently (Algeria 2025) that I was now in the fifth year of this stamp project. It started as a little something to while away the Covid lockdown and has bloomed into an exiting exploration of countries and cultures around the world. I’ve talked with post offices, artists and engravers, historians, designers, and so many more which has allowed my decades long love affair with stamps and story telling to evolve into a full time project. You have no idea how happy it makes me to know readers come from around the world to read these pages. 

Åland was among the earliest countries I chose to showcase. Mostly because I knew so little about this country. The first article went up on January 2, 2021 and it’s been an epic ride since then. Looking back on the article, it was painfully obvious I was in the baby step stage of understanding their rich history and art. It’s a pretty barebones page. Since then, the amount of information has improved. I’m hoping this year will be even better. 

A number of favourites make an appearance in 2025, and a special stamp will outshine them on. The fun Boathouses series enters it’s 3rd year with 2 more stamps, and Martin Mörck is back for another Lunar New Year release. 2026 will be the Year of the Horse. His artwork features the Stall Joy riding school in Hammarland. As the press release says, Mörck gives the Chinese New Year a distinct Åland twist. 

A new International Peace Project stamp will go out in September. Liechtenstein post and Austrian embroidery specialists Hämmerle & Vogel, worked jointly to bring, The Dove of Peace project to life. Austrian collectors will be familiar with H&V as they have helped Austria pioneer some unique embroidered, cloth stamps. A common design will be used by 10 other European post offices.

This year, I’m starting with the bones of the program and will pop back in to fill in details as the year passes. In previous years, I’ve added most of the details at the beginning, but 2025 will be the year of postal cliff hangers.

Enjoy
Catpaw 

With thanks to Åland Islands post office for their top notch scans of all their stamps and covers. 

January

More Fun Together – Valentine’s Day

5 stamps
offset

“Since Valentine’s Day is the day of friendship in Finland, the stamps depict friendship, not romantic love. It’s much more fun to do things with your friends than on your own. For example, cooking together can be quality time with friends or family,” 
Minna Lehväslaiho

Artist: Minna Lehväslaiho
Minna’s artwork was also featured on the 2022 and Christmas 2023

Release date: January 15, 2025

February 

Treasures of the Sea
franking labels

4 stamps, FDC, cancel, pre-paid maxi card, cancel
offset

Exploring sealife around Åland’s waters.

• bladderwrack (Fucus versiculosus) – largest algae found in the Baltic sea. Provides shelter for small species of sealife.
• three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) – a small,  4–10 cm, fish.
• blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) – are crucial in montoring the health of the sea. 
• jellyfish (Aurelia aurita) – a native species in the Baltic.

The illustration on the FDC is a stickleback swimming among the bladderwrack. The maxi card has a different cancel than the FDC. 

Artist: Bo Lundwall
Swedish artist Lundwall specialises in highly detailed wildlife and nature art. His works have appeared on over a dozen stamps from Sweden and Åland..
Designer: Johanna Finne

Release date: February 3 2024 

Boathouses
3rd in series

2 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

This series will wrap up in 2026.

• Classic boathouses found at Käringsund in Eckerö one of Åland’s oldest preserved fishing villages.
• New style from Bovik, Hammarland 
  ” Inspired by the technique of “timber framing”, this new boathouse combines the joy of carpentry with traditional craftsmanship. Built of Åland pine, the boathouse measures 10 x 6 meters and has room for two boats.” Boathouse, Hammarland – mint – Åland Stamps

Previous stamps in this series: 

Photographer: Kjell Söderlund
Söderlund started his exploration of photography in 1983, with film cameras. He has made a career out of his passion since 1995. His first stamp was the 2002 Norden- Art stamp for Åland. My favourite Söderlund stamps were his 2011 pair Potato Chips and The Champagne Find.

Designer: Johanna Finne

Release date: February 3 2024

March

Open Edition – Magical Island

1 stamp, FDC, cancel
offset

This is a delightful series that gives artists free reign over the entire design of a stamp. This year features Amanda Chanfreau’s  Magical Island, a whimsical look at the both life above and below the waters around Åland. A nice companion to Lundwall’s Treasures of the Sea.

Artist: Amanda Chanfreau
Chanfreau works as both an traditional artist and tattooist. 
Designer: Johanna Finne

Release date: March 19, 2025 

Moped Car – Symbol of Youth on the Island

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 24
offset

This stamp introduces new artist Ksenija Chezhegova to the stamp design world. 

The moped car, which is classified as a moped despite its car-like design, has become a popular means of transport among young people. With two seats and a top speed of 45 km/h, it may be driven from 15 years of age.

Young artist Ksenija Chezheghova’s interpretation of the moped car captures the sense of freedom and fellowship that this symbol of youth evokes.
Moped car –mint – Åland Stamps

Artist: Ksenija Chezhegova
Chezhegova recently graduated from the Åland Lyceum. 

 “I was really happy and felt both proud and responsible when I was entrusted with this task. I haven’t drawn so many vehicles before, so I was excited to take on this challenge. My first thought was freedom and relationships. A quadricycle is more than its physical components. An important part of owning a quadricycle car is being able to go for a ride with friends. The moped car is a symbol of freedom and represents the social network between young people that is created when they spend time together. This is exactly the feeling of freedom I wanted to try to capture”
Stamp Owner Blog: Moped car – part of youth culture in Åland

Designers: Rebecka Lundén & Johanna Finne

Release date: March 19, 2025

May

SEPAC – Architecture

1 stamp, sheetlet of 8 + 8 labels, FDC, cancel, sheets of 24 + 8 labels
offset

The second stamps give you a clearer view of the two labels that accompany the sheets. 

SEPAC’s theme this year is an exploration of outstanding architectural gems.  Åland chose to showcase early 20th century schoolhouses.  The Åland Lyceum, in Mariehamn, built in 1903 was the work of Finnish architects Johan Jacob “Jac” Ahrenberg (1847–1914) and Sebastian Gripenberg (1850–1925).

Erected in 1903, the schoolhouse was the first large stone building in Mariehamn. Architecturally, the Åland Lyceum represents Swedish manor house style with tall, wide windows and small panes. From the outset, the building had bright yellow plasterwork, white mouldings, and a red roof. The decorative main entrance at the foot of the tower is framed by a soapstone portal adorned with the town’s coat of arms and water lily motifs, a tribute to the Art Nouveau ideals of the time.
Sepac 2025, architecture -mint – Åland Stamps

Designer: Kjell Ekström

Release date: May 9, 2025 

EUROPA 2025: National Archaeological Discoveries

1 stamp, FDC, sheetlet of 8 + 4  labels, sheets of 24 + 4 labels
offset

Jettböle clay idol – from a stone age settlement in Jettböle, Åland. The idol was discovered in 1906 while archeologists were excavating a 5000-year-old Stone Age settlement in Jomala. Head over to Jan Fast Archaeology : Newly found stone-age clay figurines from the Åland Islands for an brief look at both the excavation and the idol. Then treat yourself to the Åland Museum for a deeper dive into the details on the Jettböle idol Jettböle settlement area | Ålands Museum. It has some fine closeups of the idol.

Illustrator: Fredrik Tjernström
Designer: Johanna Finne

Release date: May 9, 2025

June

Children’s Åland

4 stamps, booklets of 8, FDC, cancel, maxi card
offset

This is a collaboration between Åland Post and the Åland School of Art and Design, and students aged 6 to 16. The four stamps were illustrated by Sofia Topoeva, Joel Höglund, Lowa Johansson and Elsa Carlström. The FDC and cancel by Frida Carlsson and Mathilda Jansson and the maxi card and its special cancel were designed by Anna Sophie Czajkowski and Michelle Horner

Designer:  Johanna Finne
Artists: Sofia Topoeva, Joel Höglund, Lowa Johansson and Elsa Carlström
FDC art and cancel: Frida Carlsson

Release date: June 9, 2025 

Postal Stationary – Flowers

4 pre-paid postal stationary cards, cancel
offset 

Freelance photographer Tiina Tahvanainen returns with what may be her best stamp to-date. This set features flowers found around Älvdalens Trädgård on Åland.

On a former grass meadow, we are building a lush garden with a small-scale cut flower cultivation. It all started as a wild idea that during 2020-2021 was allowed to mature and slowly begin to take shape. Jeppe in particular has always been interested in cultivation and we have grown vegetables for our own use for many years. Helena loves to create and be creative, and growing cut flowers suddenly felt just right. Here we can combine our interests and create something together that can also be a joy for others! Wonderfully!
About – Älvdalens Trädgård

Photographer: Tiina Tahvanainen

Release date: June 9, 2025 

Postal Boat Race 
postcard

1 postcard, cancel

This postcard wasn’t available until the June 14 race concluded. 

Since 1974, the Postal Boat Race has been an annual summer event arranged to commemorate the obligation of the farmers in Swedish Väddö and Åland Eckerö to carry mail and passengers across the Sea of Åland in all weathers for almost 400 years.

Approximately 30 boats take part every year, and the crews of four are required to wear contemporary clothing and the boat must also be true to the period. The goal is to cross the Sea of Åland, a distance of 44 km, as quickly as possible. The boat and team acquiring the highest total score for clothing, boat, and speed wins. Every participating mail boat carries a mail bag.

The Postal Boat Race is organized by Roslagen Marine History Society and Eckerö Local History Society in cooperation with Swedish PostNord and Åland Post.|
Postal boat race, commemorative card – Åland Stamps

No photographer was listed. 

Release date: June 14, 2025

August

The Gustaf Erikson Shipping Company Archives

This is a special stamp. It features Åland’s first UNESCO World Heritage entry. The archives were entered into UNESCO’s International Memory of the World Register on 24 May 2023. 

Designer: Juta Policja
Policja is a Latvian artist currently living on Åland. 

Release date: August 25, 2025

34th Baltic Sea Parliamentary Conference (BSPC)

This year the conference is being chaired by Åland and held in Mariehamn.

Designer: Bo Söderlund

Release date: August 25, 2025

September

The Dove of Peace
Joint Issue

This will be Åland’s first embroidered stamp. They join countries like Austria in using Hämmerle & Vogel embroidery manufacturers to create this unique stamp. 

Release date: September 19, 2025

October

Lunar New Year – Year of the Horse

“… Stall Joy riding school in Hammarland on Åland, which has specialized in equestrian therapy for children and adults with various disabilities.”

Designer: Martin Mörck

Release date: October 25, 2025 

Christmas – Togetherness

Designer: Jonas Wilén

Release date: October 25, 2025