Time to return to Denmark for a stroll through their 2023 stamp program. I always think of a leisure stroll when I visit the Danish stamp pages. Its not something I can explain, but I always slow down and potter about Postnord’s Danish section, reading the info, wandering off to look at a few details, returning to the site. I never feel rushed. Which also means, it sometimes takes awhile for me to get around to actually posting the stamps. But here I am, with the latest releases for 2023 and chuckling about how I just spent nearly an hour looking at expresso shops in Copenhagen instead of finishing this article. Oh Copenhagen, you are one big distraction.
Denmark’s stamp program is traditionally small, around 6 to 8 sets for the year. 2023 is made up of 7 sets, including a prestige booklet on Architecture later in the fall. Looking back on the previous year, I realised I didn’t add as much detail as I should have. Something I’ll try to remedy this year. So far, I’m happy with the extra details, but if you have any you’d like to contribute, leave a comment. I love reader participation.
By the way, has anyone tried the espresso at Den Lille Gule Kaffebar? I’m living vicariously through my readers, so let me know what it’s like.
If you’d like to receive notification when Bitter Grounds is updated, just sign up for my weekly newsletter. It normally comes out Sunday evenings, unless I get distracted by shiny things, and then it will arrive on Monday.
Sign up for our weekly NEWSLETTER!
It’s free & includes all updated countries & links to new articles.
January
Everyday Cycling
Topics: sports
5 stamps, FDC, cance
offset
Denmark is a cyclist paradise. Quite flat and filled with bike paths, which makes it the perfect place for bikes. Cycling in Denmark – VisitDenmark
Artist: Maria Tran
mariatran.dk
Tran has a Master’s Degree in Design from KADK – The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, and now counts PostNord among her many clients.
She :
… designed these stamps that came out the day. 2. January with the theme ‘everyday cycling’ – cycling through life. A project I am SO proud to be part of, with a story that might be a bit autobiographical.
Maria Tran 🖍 (@mariatrandk) • Instagram photos and videos
Designer: Ella Clausen
Clausen’s name will pop up on quite a few Danish stamps. Her first design was the 2017 Pride Heart Up set. Since then she has gone on to create 7 more stamp sets (about 46 stamps make up the 7 sets).
Release date: January 2, 2023
Needlework
Topics: crafts
5 stamps, FDC, cancel
offset
5 needlework pieces from the following people are used on the stamps:
- Annette Ørts Hansen – 1st stamp “customizing” Annette Ørts Hansen (@annetteoerts) • Instagram photos and videos
- Karen Marie Dehn – 2nd stamp “freehand embroidery”
“If I have to say it myself, it feels pretty cool to get on a stamp, but even cooler that needlework has become such an important part of everyday life in Denmark that Postnord has chosen to celebrate the slow, the tactile and the beautiful craftsmanship with this series.” Karen Marie – Textile and Creative Workshops | Karen Marie - Mette Wendelboe Okkels – 3rd stamp – “knitwear”
“It is actually quite random, that knitting has become my way of expressing myself creatively. As a child, I always crocheted, knitted, sew and painted a lot. I sew my own dresses for the school balls and even my own wedding dress. I was a classic creative child…”
This article has an interview with “knitting icon” Mette, and discusses her influences and how she started knitting Meeting a knitting-icon – Mette from PetiteKnit (oenling.com).
Her website is available in a number of languages PetiteKnit - Jeanette Bøgelund Bentzen – 4th stamp – “air crochet” Air Crochet
- I Tråd Med Verden – 5th stamp “In Line With the World”
“…we run sewing and design workshops in disadvantaged residential areas, where we work with upcycling of discarded textiles as a focal point for creating job opportunities, networks and quality of life for people who have lost a foothold in the labor market.” ABOUT IN LINE WITH THE WORLD – ITMV
Photographer: Carsten Andersen
Designer: Ella Clausen
“My job has been conceptualization, art direction and layout.” (5) Post | Feed | LinkedIn
Release date: January 2, 2023
Architecture
Topics: architecture
4 stamps on souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel
offset
- Kornerup Town Hall in Vordingborg – named after Peter Ernst Iver Kornerup
Kornerups town hall in Vordingborg (realdania.dk) - Bindesbøll Town Hall in Thisted – named for Michael Gottlieb Birckner Bindesbøll
Bindesbøll’s town hall in Thisted | Realdania By & Byg (realdaniabyg.org) - Koch Courthouse in Store Heddinge – named for Jørgen Hansen Koch
Koch’s Courthouse|Site-Install (danskeark.com) - Meldahl Town Hall, Courthouse and County Jail in Fredericia – named after Ferdinand Meldahl
Meldahl City Hall (postgaarden.dk)
When these historic buildings were restored, they were renamed after the architect who designed them.
Illustrator: Bertil Skov Jørgensen
Jørgensen attended the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and later apprenticed in engraving under Martin Mörck
Designer: Ella Clausen
Clausen worked with architect Per Aaris Troelsen and Realdania By & Byg to create this set.
Photographer: Helene H. Mikkelsen/Realdania By og Byg (Thisted and Fredericia)
Release date: January 2, 2023
May
EUROPA 2023: Peace
Topics: Europa
10 stamps, 2 stamps on souvenir sheet
offset
Together for peace
The EUROPA stamp is matched with Denmark’s 1970 release that celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Danish Liberation.
Each participating country in this year’s EUROPA theme will us a common design from Luxembourg based designers Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir. The theme explores how delicate peace is and how it should be the highest value humanity should be working towards. This theme replaces the one originally planned for 2023, Underwater Fauna & Flora, which will be the 2024 theme.
PEACE the highest value of humanityThe world needs a new Peace symbol, uniting all nations.
Cultural differences perchance a barrier for a state of Peace. If only mankind could respect each other’s differences by understanding their significance and responding to them with consideration, the world would be a better place.
According to the special jury’s opinion, the winning design motif reflects the idea of the 2023 EUROPA competition in the most appropriate way. It’s a successful attempt to create a new sign representing peace on the basis of European centuries-old visual motif of a knot, symbol of infinite unity, friendship and love. This universal sign is also a perfect philatelic representation in relation with the celebrations of the 30th anniversary of PostEurop in 2023.
ADC’s Peace symbol voted to appear on the 2023 Europa stamps in over 50 countries. – A Designers’ Collective
Illustration of Europa stamp: Linda Bos and Runa Egilsdottir
Bos and Eglisdottir are part of A DESIGNERS COLLECTIVE in Luxemburg. Their design was picked to represent all Europa nations in this year’s theme.
Release date: May 4, 2023
Children’s Classics
10 stamps
offset
10 different classic children’s characters
- Mis with the blue eyes
- Otto the rhinoceros
- Carl
- The Giant Big Pear
- Sally and her father
- Cirkeline
- Noms
- Betty
- Snøvsen
- Rasmus Klump
Details coming soon
Release date: May 4, 2023
September
Flora Danica
4 stamps on souvenir sheet, 2 FDCs, cancel
offset
This is the second time this iconic porcelain dinnerware has appeared on a stamp.
Designer: Bertil Skov Jørgensen
Photographer: Iben Kaufmann
Release date: September 21, 2023
Prestige Booklet Architecture
Release date: May 4, 2023
November
Christmas Forest
10 stamps, mini sheet of 5, sheet of 10, full sheet of 50
Designer: Lisa Grue
About Lisa Grue
Release date: November 3, 2023
0 Comments