When I sat down to catch up with Sweden’s 2022 stamp releases, I was surprised by the details I managed to squeeze into 2021’s article. I often look at previous years while constructing a country page, but I didn’t have that luxury for 2021. It was my first serious dive into Swedish stamps. I had quite a bit of fun looking for artists and designers who previously created stamps for Sweden, as well as common themes that from past years.
PostNord has an incredible depth of talent to choose from, which means it can be difficult narrowing down a specific release as the year’s best. 2021 had a number of outstanding issues. I fully expected the Czesław Słania set to be tops, but, as much as I loved the tribute to this giant in the stamp design world, I surprised myself by preferring a set that celebrates …. winter.
Get outdoors and enjoy!
Friluftslivets år 2021 – the Year of Outdoor Recreation 2021
Photographer: Pierina Wester
Designer: Henrik Karlsson
November 11, 2021
Anyone who knows me, will be chuckling over this. I’m a bit of a grump when it comes to slogging through snow and cold. But, that doesn’t stop me from having a appreciation of the sheer beauty of a perfect winter day. Like most northern countries, Sweden shares a love of winter so, this set really resonated with me. I may not enjoy slogging around in the cold, but I understand the desire to be outside, enjoying the strange quiet that settles over the landscape after a snow.
By the way, if you love cancels, then Sweden should be on your collector’s list.
Interesting and beautifully designed, Sweden treats their cancels like miniature works of art.
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January
Povel Ramel (1922-2007) Centenary
Topics: artists
5 stamps, booklets of 10, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
Swedish entertainer with a wide swath of interests, which included, music, comedy, art (drawing, painting), writing, film & radio, cooking and more. He was a man of wide interests and talents loved for his gentle, infectious humour.
Designer: Carina Länk
Carina and Torbjörn Länk formed Länk Graphic Design & Illustration HB more than 20 years ago. Carina is a multiple award winning artist/designer, winning 2010 Stamp of the Year, Graphis Poster Gold 2013, 2012, 2010 & 2007 (NY), to name a few.
Previous stamps include 2021’s Porcelain
Illustrations: Povel Ramel and Carina Länk
Release date: January 12, 2022
SIS 100 years – The Swedish Institute for Standards
1 stamp, 5 priority post on strip. FDC, cancel, souvenir sheet
offset
Swedish Institute for Standards, SIS – Swedish Institute for Standards, SIS
Designer/illustrator: Gustaf Öhrnell Hjalmars
Gustaf Öhrnell Hjalmars (goh.nu)
Release date: January 12, 2022
Queen Silvia 2022
Topics: Royal Family
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
This issue uses the same cancel style and photograph found in the 2021 release and was used in the 2023 stamp. The colour overlay changes year to year.
Photographer: Anna-Lena Ahlström
+ (annalenaahlstrom.se)
Designer: Daniel Bjugård
Daniel Bjugård Design (bjugard.se)
Release date: January 12, 2022
April
EUROPA 2022 – Stories and Myths
Topics: Europa | Myths | Flowers
1 stamp, FDC, cancel, souvenir sheet
*** This stamp is part of a larger series featuring flowers native to Sweden. The bluebell stamp is the only official EUROPA entry.
Official name for the set: Midsummer Myth – Bluebell Bellflower, or Harebell(Campanula rotundifolia)
Bluebells were voted Sweden’s national flower in 2021.
This year’s European theme among stamps is “Stories and myths”. What’s better for a foreign greeting than flower magic in midsummer night? Kristina Olofsdotter, Head of Stamps at PostNord Sweden.
Illustrator: Anna Handell
Handell created Åland Post’s delightful 2021 Songbirds Franking Labels (her first stamps for Åland). She has draft illustrations of the bluebells on her website: PORTFOLIO I BILDER – Anna Handell — Stamps, PostNord, 2022
Design & Konst – ANNA HANDELL – grafisk formgivare, illustratör, konstnär
Typography: Henrik Karlsson
illustrator booklet stamps: Anneli Frisk
Release date: April 28, 2022
Sweden’s Flower
Topics: flowers
10 stamps, see above for souvenir sheet, FDCs etc
offset
These stamps are listed under Sweden’s National Flower, which was their 2022 Europa entry. The above Bluebell was Sweden’s official entry into the competition. Although this set is sold under the National Flower title, I’ve opted to separate them out so it’s easier to find the EUROPA stamp.
illustrator booklet stamps: Anneli Frisk
Frisk is a member of the Society of Botanical Artists. Graduate of both Mälardalen University and the Society of Botanical Artists in London. Frisk is an illustrator and teacher with over 25 years experience and in recent years, has turned her attention increasingly towards botany and nature.
Typography: Henrik Karlsson
Release date: April 28, 2022
Navy 500 Years
Topics: ships | history
3 stamps, 2 souvenir sheets, FDC, cancel
offset
The Swedish Navy was formed June 7, 1522 when King Gustav purchased 10 armed ships from the Hanseatic City of Lübeck. He had them sail to Slätbaken, where they formed the backbone of the new Swedish Navy. It is one of the oldest, continuously serving, navies in the world.
The Navy celebrates its 500th anniversary – Swedish Armed Forces (forsvarsmakten.se)
Naval Museum celebrates 500 years of the Navy (marinmuseum.se)
Designer: Henrik Karlsson
Image supplied by: Maritime Museum, Naval Museum, Henrik Dahlström/National Archives, Saab AB, © David Bergman
Release date: April 28, 2022
August
Skirt Bags Kjolväskor
Topics: folk art | textiles
1 stamp, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel
offset
Kjolväskor is a type of embroidery folk art.
Once Swedish kjolväskor (skirt purses or pockets), part of the Swedish folkdräkt (folk dress), were used to carry oats or salt so the cows would follow you home. Today, they may hold your cell phone or your car keys! This practical decorative bag serves as a reminder of heritage and as a focal point of beauty as it carries your belongings … Natalie Norman Swedish Folkdräkt Fantasy – Nordic Center (nordiccenterduluth.org)
Designer: Norbert Tamas
Release date: August 25, 2022
My Cat
Topics: cats | animals
5 stamps, 2 souvenir sheets, FDC, cancel
offset
Illustrator: Annelie Carlström
Only five cats were selected out of 18.000, that competed in PostNord’s contest My cat. I had the great honor of portraying these amazing little creatures… Carlström on her Instagram post about these stamps
anneliecarlstrom (cargo.site)
Ape on the Moon posted brief bio on Carlström that is pure delight The Detailed and the Surreal with Annelie Carlström – Ape on the Moon
Release date: August 25, 2022
November
A Magical Christmas
Topics: Christmas
10 stamps, booklet, souvenir sheet, FDC, cancel, 2 postal envelopes
A series of greeting cards were also produced using the same motifs
Designer: Sabina Wroblewski Gustrin
Sabina considers her work with PostNord as one of her career highlights.
Sabina Wroblewski Gustrin (sabinawgustrin.com)
Release date: November 3, 2022
Winter Magic
Topics: photography | seasons
6 stamps, 2 souvenir sheets, FDC, cancel
offset
The photos used on this set of stamps are all from the 2021-2022 Ice Hotel. The Icehotel in Sweden | Since 1989 | ICEHOTEL
Photographers: Karin Alfredsson/Johnér, Asaf Kliger, Gunilla Falk, Mathias Darmell, Henry Arvidsson
Artist: Elisabeth Kristensen/Icehotel 32, Art Suite “Blue Tundra”
Kristensen is a Norwegian/Saami sculptor who specialises in natural materials to create fleeting pieces of art. She uses snow and ice to create temporary works that are to be appreciated in the moment, and in their natural settings, when possible.
In the center of her work lies the idea that everything is ephemeral, and part of a whole, because everything is subjected to the flow and transformation of life itself. The fact that something is permanent should not define its value, because temporality is also eternal. The most wonderful and the most painful moments in life are ephemeral and therefore eternity lies in every moment. Blue Tundra | ICEHOTEL
Release date: November 3, 2022
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