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:
Coffee and more cats
But most importantly … we had Moomins! Wonderful Moomins!
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.
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January
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
offset
Welp is a prolific stamp designer with over 150 stamps to date.
Release date: January 18, 2023
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
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
5 stamps, FDC, cancel, sheet of 10
offset
Designer: Paula Salviander
Release date: May 9, 2023
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
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
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
10 stamps, FDC, cancel
ofset
Designer: Anssi Kähärä
Release date: September 6, 2023
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
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, sheets of 10
offset
Designer: Ilkka Kärkkäinen
Release date: September 6, 2023
November
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.
Designer: Minna Lehväslaiho
Release date: November 8, 2023
Christmas Wreath
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)
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
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