14 ~ GLOBAL STAMP NEWS - APRIL 2009 tified fortresses to be able to hold off the classes felt unsure about Sweden’s future role Chrisler Brul1Slr6m I Associate Editor Russian advance until additional forces in the country and developed new relations could be sent from Sweden. However, this with the possibly with the ulterior tactic didn’t work and consequently the motive of obtaining Finnish independence. A Souvenir Sheet Celebrates Russian occupation of the entire country With firmly in Russian hands, the was soon accomplished.‘ country was made Grand Duchy. Finland Finland’s Bicentennial Many members of the Finnish ruling enjoyed a considerable degree of internal i . ~. - ' 1:’:/»I "*\r.5. ' I'=. »- - “s .= "s=a=="I centuries, Russian rulers indicated a desire to extend their minions all the way to the Baltic Sea. Sweden’s (and Finland’s) with Russia were marked by ous armed conflicts. ._.,.==;.=2525252;a;e;e=a;a;a;g,5;'>:-§§-. 1* ,- The last major conflict started 1808 as a consequence of the gmV3», ,. -- - ~ leonic wars. France had join with Russia and other powers to cre- On January 22nd, 2009 Finland released ate an alliance against Great Britain. an impressive souvenir sheet marking the Russia wanted Sweden to join the important events of 1809 which eventually alliance, but the government led to Finnish independence. refused. Way back in the Middle Ages, Finland On February 21st, 1808, a gradually became part of Sweden. For more force of some than six centuries, the citizens on the east- the Finnish border. Due to very se- ern shore of the Baltic Sea had basically vere winter conditions, it was impos- the same rights as those in Sweden itself. sible to rush reinforcements to Fin- ' Q :l1>:~15i$'¥‘lL:S5><=i\<-'2 .>.:.<.;..»¢>.,t~1 .li§w?=1s<§\il2.{. -= r\=.-> :-~:r\.1=1 p ~ ~ 'i_-we-'-°<=< The Finns sent their own representatives land from Sweden. The Swedish high , ‘J... 1):‘; -¢;,;._;;.,; ,~,,;,(.._-“.6.;.,,;;a;1.=_= flu ; ->1: >.‘~;.s»<~.e~ to the Swedish parliament and Sweden and Commarld ¢XP@¢I¢d the heavily f°r-

self-determination. Foreign policy and de- delegation that was sent to St. Petersburg in fence issues remained the responsibility of 1808. Later on, he held several important the St. Petersburg government. positions in the Grand Ducal administration. Finland finally achieved its national in- The fourth and last stamp is devoted to dependence after World War I and the up- Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (1757-1814). He heavals in Russia. was quite a colorful character who was Let’s take a closer look at the souvenir friends with the Swedish king and the Rus- sheet. It depicts the opening of the 1809 sian tsar. He was not only a soldier but also Lantdag (orparliament) in the town ofBorga a courtier and diplomat. From 1811 rmtil (located on the Baltic coast east ofHelsinki). his death in 1814, he was Minister for Firm- Tsar Alexander I (1777-1825) opened the ish Affairs in St Petersburg. ' session by reading out his new govemment’s As it tumed out, the Firms had to fight policies for the Grand Duchy ofFinland. The hard for national independence. The Rus- Tsar explained that “Finland had now be- sian grip of the cotmtry eventually became come a nation among nations”. a lot f'n-rner and those who spoke too loudly The souvenir sheet has four portrait about independence had to go into exile or stamps, and the Tsar is depicted on the keep a very low profile. stamp to the left. It is based on a portrait 1809 obviously was a very significant by Francois Gérard which is kept at the year for the Finnish people which ofcourse . warrants this interesting souvenir sheet. The The second stamp shows a portrait of i printing order was for 250,000 sheets. Each Georg Magnus Sprengtporten‘(1740-1819), stamp has a face value of 80 eurocents. a military man who left his post in the Also there was a limited printing of4.000 in order tojoin the Russians. ' numbered sheets on special paper and with He believed that the Russians would help several details printed in real gold. The make Finland an independent nation. He sheets were printed by Cartor, a French was also the Grand Duchy’s very first gov- company which specializes in unusual ways ernor general albeit for just six months. ofprinting postage stamps. I suppose these The third stamp depicts Carl Erik golden sheets were produced to give some Marmerheim (1759-1837) who was one of extra pizzazz to this issue. After all 4,000 the pioneers for Finnish independence. souvenir sheets is a very small quality to Marmerheim was in charge of a Firmish satisfy worldwide collector demand. I