Bitter Grounds Header

Bitter Grounds is now ad free

Consider a donation to help cover the costs of research and writing.

Buy me a coffee offers single donations + modest subscriptions.
You can also choose to pay using Stripe for a secure donation.

Finland’s fantastic 2023 stamps

by | May 29, 2023

Oh, how could I forget to post Finland’s fantastic 2023 stamps? How do I say sorry in Finnish? Not sure what I was thinking. It’s been prepped and ready to post since February.  I even forgot to post their EUROPA stamps on the 2023 EUROPA roundup page. 

Finland’s stamp always bring a smile to my day.  Finnish artists create such clean and vibrant designs, coupled with an occasional cheeky sense of humour. Plus, they have Moomins. That’s all you need to know to appreciate Suomi stamps. Last year was fun from start to finish.  We had cats & chocolate:

Have a Nice Spring Fazer Blue 

Coffee and more cats

Well Wishes Finland 2022 Well Wishes Finland 2022   

But most importantly … we had Moomins! Wonderful Moomins! 

           Moomin ABC Finland 2022 Moomin ABC Finland 2022 Moomin ABC Finland 2022  

There was a lot more to 2022 than cats, coffee and Moomins, but once you get to these three, everything else is just window dressing. I promise to stay up to-date with Finland in the future and won’t take so long next time. Enjoy the year. 

Would you like to stay up to date with Bitter Grounds?   

Sign up for our weekly NEWSLETTER!

It’s free & includes all updated countries & links to new articles.

* Pop in your


January

An Important Friend – Valentine’s Day

An Important Friend - Valentine's Day An Important Friend - Valentine's Day An Important Friend - Valentine's Day An Important Friend - Valentine's Day An Important Friend - Valentine's Day 

An Important Friend - Valentine's Day An Important Friend - Valentine's Day 

5 stamps, strips of 10, FDC
offset

This Valentine’s Day campaign was designed for school aged children. Posti, along with HelsinkiMissio arranged a card campaign with participating schools to encourage them to exchange greetings. According to Posti, Valentine’s Day is the second most popular card giving day in Finland.

The original artwork for this series was done on canvas with acrylic paints.

Artist: Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus
“Painting, drawing, designing, everything I get to use my creativity for is my passion and inner need. That feeling when you manage to convey something through a picture that is difficult to tell with words and it is also conveyed to others.”  Mainelakeus – Art online store
Designer: Paula Salviander

Release date: January 18, 2023


Golden Gift
 
Golden Gift Golden Gift
 
1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC
offset
 
Designer: Klaus Welp Home (welp.fi)
Welp is a prolific stamp designer with over 150 stamps to date. 

Release date: January 18, 2023


The Language of Flowers

The Language of Flowers The Language of Flowers The Language of Flowers The Language of Flowers 

2 stamps, FDC, strips of 10
offset

Artist: Kreetta Järvenpää
Järvenpää is a floral art specialist who takes her inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age. 
Designer: Ilkka Kärkkäinen

Release date: January 18, 2023


Arabia 150 years

Arabia 150 years Arabia 150 years Arabia 150 years Arabia 150 years  

2 stamps, FDC, strips of 10
offset

Arabia tableware celebrates it’s 150th year. Officially commissioned in  November 1873, the first factory was built in 1874, with official production beginning in Sept, of that year.  

Designer: Ilkka Kärkkäinen

Release date: January 18, 2023


May

Spring in the Air

Spring in the Air Spring in the Air Spring in the Air Spring in the Air Spring in the Air 

Spring in the Air Spring in the Air 

5 stamps, FDC, cancel, sheet of 10
offset

Designer: Paula Salviander

Release date: May 9, 2023


EUROPA 2023 – Peace – the highest value of humanity

EUROPA 2023 - Peace – the highest value of humanity

EUROPA 2023 - Peace – the highest value of humanity EUROPA 2023 - Peace – the highest value of humanity

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset

Designers: Susanna Rumpu and Ari Lakaniemi
Designers of the Peace Knot: Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir

Release date: May 9, 2023


National Landscapes

National Landscapes National Landscapes National Landscapes National Landscapes National Landscapes National Landscapes National Landscapes

National Landscapes

5 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset

  • Koli (photo: Jani Riekkinen)
  • Kyrönjokivarsi (Aarno Isomäki)
  • Tammerkoski rapids (Juhana Konttinen)
  • Snappertuna-Fagervik (Antero Aaltonen)
  • Archipelago Sea (Anne Saarinen)
  • Pallastunturit (Heikki Ketola)
  • Tapiola (Timo Viitanen).

“Countless pairs of eyes have watched these scenes from generation to generation. Viewers have experienced the same delight, peace of mind and maybe even sublimeness around them. Dangers, ridges and fells, as well as the open expanse, the power of the sea – all make people feel small, but at the same time part of something bigger,” Stiina Hovi Kansallismaisemia (posti.fi)

Designer: Stiina Hovi 

Release date: May 9, 2023


September

Posti Art Award 2023

Posti Art Award 2023 Posti Art Award 2023 Posti Art Award 2023 

Posti Art Award 2023

2  stamps, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset

This is the first time, in the Award’s 7 year history that a photographer has won.

  • Butterfly Mind II  – 2023
  • Perfume  – 2013

Photographer: Christoffer Relander
Relander describes himself as a “double exposure” photographer. “I became fascinated with multiple exposure when I realized that I could use the technique to make photos, and not just take them. Creating a multiple exposure photo is similar to painting and visual design. Training in graphic design provides a good foundation for mastering dynamic shapes and silhouettes.”

Release date: September 6, 2023


Finnish Museums Association 100 years

Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years Finnish Museums Association 100 years  FDC

10 stamps, FDC, cancel
ofset

Designer: Anssi Kähärä

Release date: September 6, 2023


Finnair 100 years

Finnair 100 years Finnair 100 years Finnair 100 years 

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset

The 100th anniversary stamp designed by Ilkka Kärkkäinen has a nostalgic twist. “Finnair is one of the icons of Finnishness, and designing the commemorative stamp is a great honour for the graphic designer. I have always admired Finnair’s graphic style. Erik Bruun’s posters in particular have made a big impression. The Finnair logo designed by Kyösti Varis is also etched in the minds of every Finn.” Finnair 100 vuotta (posti.fi)

Designer: Ilkka Kärkkäinen

Release date: September 6, 2023


Finland in NATO

Ilkka Kärkkäinen Finland in NATO Finland in NATO Finland in NATO 

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Ilkka Kärkkäinen

Release date: September 6, 2023


November

Winter Joy

Winter Joy  

Winter Joy 

Winter Joy

1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC, cancel
offset

Since childhood, Minna has been interested in animals, especially owls.

“My grandmother had a stuffed owl, and I drew friends for it as a child. I still draw owls, and they have already made it to quite a few places. I’m happy that they can also show themselves on winter stamps.”

There is also a story behind the apple tree on the Christmas stamp.

“In front of our cottage’s porch, we have a winter apple tree with apples that are firmly attached to the branches. I look forward to the first snowfall in the fall and the beautiful accumulation of snow on the apples. Red apples are also associated with Christmas, so I decided to include winter apples on the stamp,” Minna says.

Posti blog – Private – Posti

Designer: Minna Lehväslaiho

Release date: November 8, 2023


Christmas Wreath

Christmas Wreath 

Christmas Wreath sheet FDC 

Christmas Wreath sheet

1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC, cancel
 

“We have six cats at home and I sketched them for the stamps as well, but in the end we ended up choosing squirrels and a Christmas wreath for the Finnish Christmas stamps.” Minna Lehväslaiho writing about 2023’s animal theme.

Designer: Minna Lehväslaiho
Postcards by Minna Lehväslaiho

Release date: November 8, 2023


December

Martti Ahtisaari In Memoriam (1937-2023)

Martti Ahtisaari In Memoriam (1937-2023) 

Martti Ahtisaari In Memoriam (1937-2023) FDC 

Martti Ahtisaari In Memoriam (1937-2023) sheet of stamps 

1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10

Peace is a question of will

President Martti Ahtisaari died at the age of 86 in Helsinki on October 16. He was born in Vyborg on June 23, 1937. He was the President of the Republic of Finland from 1994 until 2000. Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008. Posti blog – Private – Posti

Designer: Timo Berry using photograph by Tuukka Koski

Release date: December 15, 2023

Support = more content & frequent updates

There are two ways you can support Bitter Grounds

a donation via Buy me a Coffee

or

You can also buy some fun t-shirts, stickers, magnets and totes at my Merchandise Emporium
Among the philately related images you can buy are unique Cinderella airmails I’ve been creating.

 

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Copyright
© 2025
Bitter Grounds Magazine
All Right Reserved

You can usually find me lurking on Bluesky along with a large number of great stamp lovers. 

Just look for Catpaw!

‪@bittergrounds.bsky.social‬ 

Diversity is a strength.

For everyone hanging in there with me.

I want to thank everyone who has dropped me a note and still visited the site, despite the lack of fun content. It's been a bit of a hard slog on this end and the double vision really makes things a bit rough. However, it looks like a diagnosis is on the horizon which means treatment. 

In the meantime, I'm going to try and write. If I get things a little wonky, just sigh with me. Its hard to take life seriously when everything is blurry and doubled. 

Thank you. Thank you so much. 
Catpaw

This will close in 30 seconds