posten.ax
L I S H N G E
3 0 1 N O . 1 – 2
ÅLAND CHEESE P. 4 POPULAR MUSIC FESTIVALS P. 10 2013 EXHIBITIONS P. 24
HÅKANHÅKAN SEIZESSEIZES THETHE DAYDAY ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 1 nita äggblom DIRECTOR ÅLAND POST STAMPS
Åland from a butterfl y perspective
Keeping up with development is essential, so even for Åland stamps. This year’s SEPAC stamp featur- ing the Peacock butterfl y offers a piece of news for all keen collectors. Using a smartphone or a tablet computer you can experience Åland from a butterfl y perspective and visit a number of interesting stamp locations in Åland. All you need to do is download an app and, with the help of your phone or tablet, scan the stamp to enjoy the sights. Read more about the stamp on page 14 of this magazine.
1–2013
ÅLAND POST LTD STAMPS PO BOX 1100 AX-22111 MARIEHAMN ÅLAND, Finland
TELEPHONE E-MAIL From Finland: [email protected] 018 636 641 From abroad: EDITORS +358 18 636 641 Anita Häggblom ontents Katja Rikberg Telephone hours: Editorial 2 Mon–Fri 9 am – 4 pm Heidemarie Eriksson In July: Mon–Fri 9 am – 3 pm Björn Wennström News 3 Cecilia Mattsson FAX Åland cheese with a history 4 From Finland: TEXT An eco-friendly postal vehicle 6 018 636 608 Katja Rikberg From abroad: TRANSLATION White and yellow water lily 8 +358 18 636 608 Kristine Sund Popular music festivals 10 INTERNET LAYOUT www.posten.ax M/S Princess Anastasia 12 Cecilia Mattsson Nordic stamps: Butterfl y presents augmented reality 14 www.topoftheworld.nu PRODUCTION The nativity of Jesus 16 VISITING ADDRESS Åland Post Ltd Flygfältsvägen10 Waasa Graphics Håkan seizes the day 18 Sviby, Jomala COVER PHOTO Calendar 23 Kjell Söderlund
We reserve the right to change the information contained in this publication.
2 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN NEWS
ustomer service awarded a prize
We are honoured to have been awarded FINNISH STAMPS a challenge trophy by the Helsinki-based society for maximaphily, Maximifi latelisterna You can now buy your Finnish stamps from rf. The society awarded the prize to the the Åland Post stand at all exhibitions outside customer service of Åland Post Stamps for Finland. During the past year, the Finnish Post having supported the activities of Maximi- has been restructuring its business area for fi latelisterna. Virpi Isaksson from customer consumer services. As a result, Itella no longer service accepted the award in Helsinki in participates in stamp exhibitions abroad. December. Donated by Ape Järvinen, the “Customers have come to us, requesting trophy is made from Finnish spectrolite and information concerning Finnish stamps. adorned with gold panned in Lapland. Since we possess the knowledge regarding stamps and can offer both language skills and customer service, we could offer Itella to include Finnish stamps in our sales activities at exhibitions outside Finland”, Director of he book ”Ålands frimärken Stamps Anita Häggblom says. berättar 2012–2013” appears in ctober
DRAGONFLIES MOST BEAUTIFUL IN 2012
Customers of Åland Post have selected the two dragonfl y stamps issued on 4 June as the most beautiful Åland stamp series in 2012. In second place, we fi nd the miniature sheet Life at Sea and, in third place, we see the booklet with Architectural nostalgia. Prizes have been posted to the fol- lowing winners, chosen in a draw among all who voted: Kristina Jäppinen, Helsinki, Finland Cecilia Mörn, Godby, Åland Walter Mekerle, Hove, Belgium Hans G Rasmussen, Beder, Denmark Jari Laajala, Kirkkonummi, Finland
ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 3 he production and sale of butter and cheese has existed in Åland since the iddle ges. he fi rst Åland dairy was founded approx. 120 years ago. oday, the dairy cooperative Ålands entralandelslag (ÅCA) handles the Åland dairy production.
KJELLKJELL SÖDERLUNDSÖDERLUND 20132013
ÅlandÅland VÄRLDENVÄRLDEN Åland cheese with a history
Founded in 1921, the history of Ålands Central- located in Sund. The name is thought to originate andelslag dates back to the 1800s. ÅCA has developed from a traditional type of double cream cheese from a large number of small dairies that joined which was produced in Sund in the 1500s. Since forces in 1967 to form a cooperative dairy for all of then, cheeses with the name Kastelholm have been Åland. Today, ÅCA is owned by 43 dairy farmers produced to some extent. In the 1920s, for exam- who supply the dairy with some 15 million litres ple, the Kastelholm double cream cheese won sev- of milk per year. ÅCA processes the milk into other eral awards in a number of quality competitions. liquid milk products, cream, butter and cheese. CHARACTERISTICS AWARD-WINNING CHEESES ÅCA’s current variety of Kastelholm cheese has ÅCA cheeses have won several awards, the most tiny eyes and a 31% fat content. Kastelholm cheese recent success being the 2012 competition for best must age for at least 6 months for the fl avour to Finnish cheese. The cheeses ‘Kastelholm’, ‘Ålands develop properly. With a savoury aroma, the aged special’ and ‘Prostens magra’ came in second, cheese has a rather sharp and full-bodied taste that whereas the Åland ‘Edam’ won third place. A total grows more intense as the cheese ages. Apart from of 107 types of cheese were entered in the competi- being sold in Åland and Finland, Kastelholm can tion in 12 different categories. also be found in some parts of the Swedish market. The stamp photo is shot at Kastelholm castle. PRODUCED IN THE 1500S The Kastelholm cheese featured on the stamp got its name from the only medieval castle in Åland, Source: www.aca.ax
4 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN The cancel shows a milk churn.
The fi rst day cover illustration is an old cheese mould from the 1700s. The pattern of the mould reappears on the edge of the mini-sheet.
308 • y stamps – Åland cheese DATE OF ISSUE: 6 May 2013
PHOTOGRAPHER: Kjell Söderlund
DENOMINATION: 8 x Världen (€1.10)
PRICE FDC: €1.70
PRICE SHEET: €8.80 (8 stamps)
STAMP SIZE: 42 x 29 mm
SHEET SIZE: 145 x 105 mm, 8 x 1 stamp
PAPER:105 g/m²
PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset
PRINTING HOUSE: The Lowe Martin Group This issue is also this year’s frame for the My Stamps issue. The My Stamps service offers you the possibility to order stamps with your own design in the Post’s web shop at www.posten.ax.
jell öderlund Kjell Söderlund (born in 1968) works as a commercial photographer, mostly out of his studio. He became interested in photography during his studies, fi rst and foremost nature photography. His interest developed from being just a hobby to becoming his occupation, and he has worked as a full-time photographer for 15 years. Kjell has created a number of the scenery stamps as well as the 2006 My Stamps, 2008 My Åland, 2010 Åland Toys, 2012 Potato chips and 2012 Champagne Find. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 5 he 2013 uropa theme is ostal vehicles. e have chosen to feature a oyota uris ybrid delivery car. eing a silent-running model with no combustion when standing, this eco-friendly car offers several advantages for the environment.
AN ECO-FRIENDLY POSTAL VEHICLE
In recent years, Åland Post has actively committed can choose to drive solely on electricity or petrol itself to the environment. We were environmentally or use a combination of the two, which is the most certifi ed by DNV (Det Norske Veritas) according common driving mode. to the ISO 14001:2004 standard in November 2011. As part of our environmental focus, we have CHARGING THE BATTERIES obtained four eco-friendly cars of the type Toyota In addition to being eco-friendly, the Auris is silent- Auris Hybrid and were thus fi rst in Finland to use going and has no combustion at all when standing full hybrid eco-cars for delivery service! still. It is perfectly suited for the purpose since mail delivery involves a great deal of starts and stops. Every GREEN GRASS time you brake, the car gets a squirt of recharge. A Two advantages of the Auris are that it can be multi-information display provides the driver with a obtained with the steering wheel placed to the right variety of driving-related information such as instan- and offers good ergonomics for mail delivery pur- taneous source of power, allowing the driver to easily poses. To emphasize the eco-friendliness, the cars follow up on and adapt his or her driving technique. were taped with a decoration illustrating growing green grass. The cars are used for delivery in various ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION parts of Mariehamn. In some delivery districts, the Post also makes us of electric bicycles, an even more eco-friendly alter- ELECTRICITY, PETROL OR BOTH native than cars. One of the advantages of e-bikes The hybrid cars are driven by delivery persons who is that heavier loads of mail can be loaded on the have been specifi cally trained to manoeuvre them to bicycle without adding physical strain on the mail affect the environment the least possible. The great- delivery person. An electric automatic transmission est difference is when you start the car and do not starts working when the bicyclist starts pedalling hear the well-known roar of the motor. The driver the e-bike, hence facilitating the work.
6 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN The fi rst day cancel shows a postal bicycle.
309 • uropa – ostal vehicles
DATE OF ISSUE: 6 May 2013
PHOTOGRAPHER: Kjell Söderlund
EDITION: 170 000
DENOMINATION: Europa (€1.00)
PRICE FDC: €1.60
STAMP SIZE: 36.25 x 31.5 mm
SHEET SIZE: 2 x 15 stamps
PAPER: 102 g/m² On the fi rst day cover we see a mail delivery person on an e-bike, PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm an environmentally friendly alternative to using a car. An e-bike and an ordinary bicycle appear on the gutter pair strip of the stamp sheet. PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset
PRINTING HOUSE: Joh. Enschedé Stamps
jell öderlund Kjell Söderlund (born in 1968) works as a commercial photographer, mostly out of his studio. He became interested in photography during his studies, fi rst and foremost nature photography. His interest developed from being just a hobby to becoming his occupation, and he has worked as a full-time photographer for 15 years. Some of the many stamps created by Kjell are the Åland scenery stamps, 2006 My Stamps, 2008 My Åland, 2010 Åland Toys, 2012 Potato chips and 2012 Champagne Find. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 7 wo artistically beautiful stamps appear in une. hotographer and fl orist iina ahvanainen has featured a white and a yellow water lily.
hite and yellow water lily
Water lilies belong to the Nymphaeaceae family long. A red variety of the white water lily is not and grow in shallow water and wetlands, with its very common and has not been discovered in the roots in the sediment and its leaves and fl owers wild in Åland. The white water lily, on the contrary, fl oating on the water surface. There are about 60 thrives in about 20 to 30 lakes in Åland and can also species of water lilies around the world. The white be found in marshes on many archipelago islands. (Nymphaea) and yellow (Nuphar) water lilies are among the most primitive dicotyledons with fea- YELLOW MORE COMMON tures such as a large number of fl oral leaves arranged The blade of the fl oating leaves of the yellow water in concentric circles. lily is 15 to 30 cm long and more elliptic compared After fl owering, the pedicel coils and drags the to the leaves of the white water lily. The fragrant yel- fl ower under water where the fruit develops. When low fl ower measures 4–6 cm across. More common the seeds are ripe and released they rise back to the than the white water lily, the yellow water lily grows surface. The seeds fl oat with the help of an air-fi lled in about 50 lakes in Åland. Its fl oating leaves can aril and are dispersed by waves and current. Eventu- cover large areas up to an acre in size. ally they sink and germinate in the bottom muds.
BRIGHT WHITE FLOWERS The fl owers of the white water lily are bright white, Sources: ”Ålands fl ora” by Carl-Adam and Eva Häggström and the blade of the fl oating leaves is 10–30 cm and www.luontoportti.com.
8 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN A white water lily is featured on the fi rst day cover and a fl oating leaf forms the cancel.
310 & 311 • ater lilies DATE: 4 June 2013
PHOTOGRAPHER: Tiina Tahvanainen
EDITION: 2 x 170 000
DENOMINATIONS: Inrikes (€1.00), €2.50
PRICE FDC: €4.10
STAMP SIZE: 40 x 25.5 mm
SHEET SIZE: 2 x 16 stamps
PAPER: 110 g/m²
PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm
PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset
PRINTING HOUSE: Cartor Security Printing Two maximum cards featuring a yellow and a white water lily are also issued. The spe- cial cancel is designed as a yellow water lily.
iina ahvanainen Photographer and fl orist Tiina Tahvanainen was born in Dragsfjärd, southern Finland, in 1973. She has studied art in Karjaa and photography in Helsinki and has also worked in the travel agency industry. Since eleven years, she lives and works in Åland where she has had a number of exhibitions, solo as well as together with other artists. For Åland Post, she has previously created the 2011 Christmas seals. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 9 great many music events are arranged in Åland during the summer months. he ost focuses on two of them in 2013 with the issue of two action-packed and lyrical stamps.
POPULAR MUSIC FESTIVALS
Island in the Sun was fi rst arranged in August years, world-class performers and local bands alike 2008 on the small archipelago island of Jurmo in have met the crowd from the most popular stage the municipality of Brändö. A non-profi t volunteer in Åland. organisation working to promote a wider and bet- ter range of music life in Åland, especially in the FOR ALL AGES archipelago, organizes the festival. Lasting for two Rockoff is a festival for all ages; playing activities like days in July, the festival has grown each year with a jumping castle, games and a steeplechase course are a 2012 record of 800 visitors and more than 100 available for younger visitors, and adults can choose volunteers. With Island in the Sun, the organizers from a number of food services on the festival area. have a vision of creating an idyllic and sustainable Many visitors enjoy the performances from the top archipelago festival worth its price, offering a var- restaurant with a clear view of the main stage. iety of art, music and summery activities. SAME BUT DIFFERENT 9 DAYS IN JULY Despite close points of similarity between the two The Rockoff festival has been arranged in Marie- music festivals they vary on many points, a fact that hamn every summer since 1997. Arranged at the photographer Daniel Eriksson has succeeded in Town Hall square until 2002, the festival was re- catching on the stamp photos. While Island in the located to Mariepark in the western harbour in Sun is a smaller and more intimate type of festival 2003. Since 2007, the festival is back on the Town with slightly more alternative bands, Rockoff is larger, Hall square. For 9 days at the end of July every year, lasts longer and presents artists with a wider audience. Rockoff attracts up to 40 000 visitors, tourists and locals alike. Most of the artists performing come Sources: www.islandinthesun.nu, www.rockoff.nu and from Sweden and Finland but, during the course of www.visitaland.se.
10 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 312 & 313 • usic festivals
DATE OF ISSUE: 12 July 2013
PHOTOGRAPHER: Daniel Eriksson
EDITION: 2 x 170 000 € €1.10) Lokalpost ( 0.80) DENOMINATIONS: Världen (
PRICE FDC: €2.50
STAMP SIZE: 26.1 x 40.32 mm
SHEET SIZE: 2 x 16 stamps
PAPER: 102 g/m²
PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm
PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset
PRINTING HOUSE: Joh. Enschedé Stamps A vast crowd of people attending Rockoff can be seen on the front and back of the fi rst day cover. The gutter pair strip of the Island in the Sun sheet features various shots from the festival whereas the gutter pair strip of the Rockoff sheet shows Swedish artist Timbuktu meeting the crowd. The cancel is designed as an electric guitar.
aniel riksson Photographer Daniel Eriksson was born in 1968 in Åland where he also grew up. After his A-levels, he started working as a newspaper photographer for Tidningen Åland. He became interested in photography already as a teenager and soon started doing odd jobs for Tidningen Åland. He also freelances and has published a number of photography books, one of which focuses on the special Åland hunting of seafowl. Daniel’s
previous work for Åland Post includes the 2009 issues Electricity 100 ÅLANDSPOSTEN years and My StampsFRIMÄRKEN (Island • Games) 11 and 2010 My stamps (Children’s sailing). his year’s second stamp in the passenger ferry series features / rincess nastasia. he ship operates on the route tockholm– allinn– t etersburg– elsinki.
/ rincess nastasia
Ordered by Swedish shipping company Rederi Ab age but, when the visa checks became more rigorous, Slite, M/S Princess Anastasia was built in 1986 by St Peter Line decided to stop calling at Mariehamn. Wärtsilä shipyard in Turku to be placed in the ser- The Finnish Border Guard now required that Rus- vice of Viking Line. As sister ship of Viking Line’s sian cruise passengers pass through a proper visa M/S Mariella, she was named M/S Olympia. check at every port of call on the Baltic Sea, and not only the fi rst port of call, Helsinki. NAMED PRIDE OF BILBAO M/S Olympia operated for Viking Line between ST PETERSBURG AND MARIEHAMN TWIN TOWNS Stockholm and Helsinki from 1988 to 1993. When We issue this stamp in cooperation with the Russian Rederi Ab Slite went bankrupt in 1993, she was sold post. A very popular joint issue of a miniature sheet to P&O Ferries and, between 1993 and 2010, she in 2011 in connection with the 150th anniversary of served mostly between Portsmouth in England and Mariehamn paved the way for this new joint issue. Bilbao in Spain, now with the name M/S Pride of Bil- St Petersburg is also a twin town of Mariehamn. bao. Her name was shortened to M/S Bilbao in 2010. JOINT PRESENTATION PACK ALSO CALLED AT MARIEHAMN A pack holding both the Åland and the Russian On 2 April 2011, St Peter Line placed the ship in stamps is planned for this joint issue. More informa- traffi c on the route Stockholm–Tallinn–St Peters- tion will be available on the Post’s home page at www. burg–Helsinki under her new name M/S Princess posten.ax as the date of issue in August approaches. Anastasia. From August 2011 until April 2012, Mariehamn was one of the ports of call on her voy- Source: http://stpeterline.com
12 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN The fi rst day cancel shows M/S Princess 314 • Anastasia. assenger ferries, M/S rincess nastasia DATE OF ISSUE: 5 August 2013
ARTIST: Håkan Sjöström
EDITION: 200 000
DENOMINATION: €2.00
PRICE FDC: €2.60
STAMP SIZE: 35.4 x 26 mm
SHEET SIZE: 2 x 20 stamps
PAPER: 110 g/m²
PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm
PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset The ship S/S Dagmar illustrates the fi rst day cover. She was built in Denmark in 1900 and came to Åland in 1935 when bought by the PRINTING HOUSE: Cartor Security Printing shipping company Lundqvistrederierna. She was in traffi c until 1959, and her captain’s saloon can today be viewed at the Åland Maritime Museum.
åkan jöström Håkan Sjöström (born in 1933) is considered to be one of the foremost marine painters in Scandinavia today. Painting was an important part of Håkan’s youth. Upon completing his Bachelor of Science degree (Econ.), he started working at a shipyard in Turku, where he remained until retirement. Alongside his work, he also painted the shipyard’s newbuildings. Håkan has also had commissions for several shipping companies, including
Viking Line. In addition, he has illustrated magazines and books. A fewÅLANDSPOSTEN seascape commissions FRIMÄRKEN remain. • 13 This is Håkan’s tenth stamp for Åland Post. n ugust, all smartphone or tablet C users can join the uropean eacock butterfl y for an enticing visit to several tourist attractions in Åland. ugust is when Åland ost presents a thrilling piece of stamp news!
BUTTERFLY PRESENTS AUGMENTED REALITY
The European Peacock butterfl y belongs to the you have a smartphone or a tablet computer you family Nymphalidae and has a wingspan of 50 to can download a free app. When you later scan the 55 mm. It is not a coincidence that the pattern of stamp, an entirely new world reveals itself! Read this butterfl y reminds you of staring eyes, a perfect more about the free app, its name and how it deterrent against predators. Potential predators will works on the Post’s homepage at www.posten.ax fi nd the pattern of the fully extended wings alarming. in August.
CAMOUFLAGED THREE DIMENSIONAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS The wings are rusty red with a blue eye on the tip of This is a so-called AR-application. AR stands for each wing. The underside is dreary dark-brown and augmented reality, which implies that information the butterfl y is therefore perfectly camoufl aged against from your physical surroundings is mixed with a twig or a tree trunk. The adult peacock butterfl y three dimensional information via the app. Scan overwinters and wakes up from hibernation around the Peacock stamp and join the butterfl y for a vir- April and fl ies throughout June. During this period, tual tour around Åland, taking part of information the eggs laid on stinging nettles by the fi rst generation and interesting facts about the Åland attractions will have turned into caterpillars and pupas to become Kobba klintar, Kastelholm castle, Bomarsund for- butterfl ies in July. Second generation butterfl ies usu- tress, Pommern museum ship and the Maritime ally overwinter in crevices in wood, in a dark corner Museum. Read more about the app and how it of an old house or in a butterfl y box. works on the Post’s homepage in connection with the stamp issue. DOWNLOAD APP With this stamp, you do not only get a lovely and colourful stamp but also an interesting device. If Sources: www.wildlifegarden.se and http://sv.wikipedia.org.
14 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 315 • eacock butterfl y DATE OF ISSUE: 20 August 2013
ARTIST: Amanda Chanfreau
EDITION: 170 000
DENOMINATION: Världen (€1.10)
PRICE: FDC €1.70
STAMP SIZE: 35 x 35 mm
SHEET SIZE: 2 x 15 stamps
PAPER: 102 g/m² The maximum card and cancel PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm also feature the Peacock butterfl y. PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset This stamp is also the Åland SEPAC stamp and is therefore included in PRINTING HOUSE: Joh. Eschedé Stamps the joint folder holding the SEPAC stamps issued by all the members of SEPAC (Small European Postal Administrations Cooperation) on the 2013 animal theme.
To illustrate the fi rst day cover, Amanda Chanfreau has painted a lovely fl ower for the butterfl y to rest on.
manda hanfreau Amanda Chanfreau was born in 1983 in Helsinki and moved to Mariehamn with her family before starting primary school. She began her art education with a one-year Nordic Art program at the Åland Folk High School before joining the Visual Arts program (2 years) at Wik Folk High School in Uppsala, Sweden. She continued to the Idun Lovén School of Art in Stockholm for one year, completing her studies with a 3-year Textile Art program at HV School. She devotes most of her time to painting but has also created costumes for dance theatre and performance, stage design, textile paintings and sculptures in clay and concrete. Today, she focuses on photography, video and drawing. Amanda has had some tenÅLANDSPOSTEN exhibitions, mainly FRIMÄRKEN in Åland • but 15 also in Sweden. She has previously designed the 2011 postal stationery cards for Åland Post. n 8 ovember, Åland ost will be proud to present the greatest piece of news this year! his is when two hristmas stamps are issued as a joint venture with the atican. oth motifs are very well suited for franking hristmas greetings posted from Åland as well as the atican.
he ativity of esus
As small postal administrations, both Åland and stamps. Known also as the Palace of the Vatican the Vatican State are members of SEPAC (Small and the Papal Palace, the Apostolic Palace is the European Postal Administrations Cooperation). offi cial residence of the Pope. It is a large complex Our joint stamp issue becomes a reality now in of buildings with a total of more than 1 400 rooms November 2013 because of the good contacts cre- housing the State of the Vatican City, a handful of ated through this cooperation. chapels, Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel among others. ADORATION OF THE MAGI Both stamp motifs are from paintings on display in MINI-SHEET AND NORMAL SHEET the Vatican. Stamp number 317 features the Nativ- The stamp with the denomination Julpost will be ity of Jesus with the infant Jesus lying on a felt with issued in the form of a normal sheet holding 2 x 15 adoring Virgin Mary close by. Stamp number 318 stamps, whereas the other stamp with the denomi- shows the Adoration of the Magi with one of the nation €0.65 appears in the form of a mini-sheet three wise men paying homage to infant Jesus in of 8 stamps. The Vatican State will be issuing two the arms of Virgin Mary. stamps with the exact same motifs; however, both Vatican stamps will appear in the form of mini- ON DISPLAY IN THE APOSTOLIC PALACE sheets. More information about this joint issue and The two masterpieces are on display in the Borgia a joint presentation pack as well as images of the Apartment, a suite of six rooms in the Apostolic fi rst day cover and cancel will be published in the Palace in Vatican City. The Borgia Apartment was next edition of Ålandsposten frimärken and on the used as domicile by Pope Alexander VI. In the Post’s homepage www.posten.ax later in the year. late 15th century (1492–94), he commissioned the painter Pinturicchio to decorate the rooms Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgia_Apartment, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinturicchio and http:// with frescos, two of which can now be enjoyed on sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostoliska_palatset
16 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 317 AND 318 • hristmas 2013 DATE OF ISSUE: 8 November 2013
ARTIST: Pinturicchio
DESIGN: Cecilia Mattsson
EDITION: 1 x 200 000 and 70 000 mini-sheets
DENOMINATIONS: 8 x €0.65 and Julpost (€0.65) PRICE FDC: €1.90
STAMP SIZE: 31.5 x 36.25 mm
SHEET SIZES: 2 x 15 stamps, 1 x 8 stamps
PAPER: 110 g/m²
PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm
PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset
PRINTING HOUSE: Joh. Enschedé Stamps
The angles from the paintings featured on the stamps reappear as decoration on both sheets.
inturicchio Pinturicchio, Bernardino di Betto Biagio’s nickname, was born in 1454 in Perugia, Italy, and died in Siena on 11 December 1513. He was an Italian painter of the Renaissance. He started his artistic career training under Fiorenzo di Lorenzo. Pinturicchio was fi rst and foremost a painter of frescoes, but he also left behind a number of religious history paintings and portraits. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 17 refuse to let cancer stop me from getting on with my life. don’t have the time and I still have so much I want to do. åkan andberg, the artist behind the lue ibbon stamp, felt empowered by these thoughts when diagnosed with prostate cancer. SEIZESåkan THE DAY
In connection with a physical check-up in November “The procedure was uncomplicated, but I experi- 2010, Håkan’s doctor suggested that he should also enced a number of complications afterwards, pneu- test for prostate cancer. monia being only one of them. I usually tell people “I had none of the classical symptoms of prostate that I never had any problems with the cancer itself. cancer, so I wasn’t worried”, Håkan reminisces. I didn’t feel it and it didn’t hurt. Instead, the compli- After a few weeks, he was diagnosed with cancer cations have made me ill”, Håkan explains. and a biopsy was performed. It proved to be an aggressive and fast-growing type of cancer. Luckily, PLANTED SYMBOLIC SEEDS the cancer had not spread, so surgery was an option. He soon made a decision in relation to the cancer: Håkan and his wife Jeanette, who has been a tre- “I decided to be positive about it all, to not feel mendous help and support throughout the course sorry for and isolate myself. Naturally, I’ve had my of his disease, decided that he undergo surgery at ups and down, but I’ve tried to see it all as a lesson the S:t Görans hospital in Stockholm. to be learnt, to take one day at a time. But people in my surroundings have often been worried.” DA VINCI-METHOD Håkan is interested in gardening and, prior to his “They have no waiting lists and they apply the da operation in January 2011, it was time to plant the Vinci-method, a new type of surgery performed chili pepper seeds. At the time, he found it almost by a robot through three small incisions. With symbolic: this method, the patient also usually recovers “I wanted to show myself that I believed in the sooner.” future; I wanted to watch the seeds germinate and Surgery was performed two weeks later. grow to be harvested in the autumn.”
18 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN KJELL SÖDERLUND Håkan has created the garden sculpture which measures approx. 60 cm. In the summer, it lies in Håkan’s garden enjoying life. The photo shows Håkan at work when shooting photos ÅLANDSPOSTEN for the stamp FRIMÄRKEN image. • 19 rostate cancer can be a taboo subject. As Art Director and graphic designer, subject, but I believe that people Håkan’s initial idea was to create a typographical had better know. motif with colours and various shapes. “The expression Carpe diem (seize the day) quickly came to mind. Despite the fact that it is a pretty hackneyed expression, it is still what has become extra important to me after my cancer The so-called PSA-values declined after the sur- diagnosis. Taking charge of my life, being positive gery and tests were taken continuously to ensure and mindful.” that they remained low. But when the values started “In the end, I realized that I wanted the stamp climbing again in the autumn of 2011, Håkan had motif to symbolize me. I’m very interested in gar- to undergo radiation treatment, which is not avail- dening and nature, and I feel great joy in sowing a able in Åland. seed, watching it grow and reaping the crop in the “For two months, November and December, autumn. It’s a bit like the human life cycle. Being I fl ew to Turku every day. That was hard. The in nature, all your stress and worries disappear, you treatment took only 15 minutes, but the journey tend to become more present, an important factor required a full working day.” of my healing process.” Having attended a ceramics course for some NEVER TRIED TO HIDE THE DISEASE years, Håkan decided to feature one of his ceramic But he overcame even that battle. sculptures on the stamp. “I wanted to spend as little time as possible at the hospital so I spotted the Turku library, where I spent most of my days waiting. It also gave me easy access to the toilets, one of the adverse effects of radiation treatment being that you have to pee quite often.” Today (in December 2012) the cancer is gone. “There is a very small risk that it reappears. I’m tested every six months”, says Håkan, who has lue ibbon never thought of himself as being ill. The Blue Ribbon symbolizes the fi ght against prostate cancer and fi rst appeared in the USA He has been open about his disease and never in the mid-1990s. Prostate cancer is the most attempted to hide it. common type of cancer in men and, nowadays, “Prostate cancer can be a taboo subject, but I even the most common type of cancer in the believe that people had better know. Transparency entire population of Finland. More than 4 000 Finnish men are diagnosed with prostate cancer has also helped me process my own feelings.” every year, approx. 89 % of whom are cured. Prostate cancer tends to develop in men over the age of seventy; however, the appearance MINDFULNESS increases already after the age of fi fty. Prostate Håkan was fl attered to receive the commission to cancer develops when the cells of the prostate create the Blue Ribbon stamp for Åland Post. He gland start to change and become malignant. immediately started various thought processes to Source: www.cancer.ax fi nd an appropriate expression for a very diffi cult
20 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 316 • lue ibbon DATE OF ISSUE: 2 September 2013
ARTIST: Håkan Sandberg
EDITION: 170 000
DENOMINATION: €1.00 + €0.20
PRICE FDC: €1.80
STAMP SIZE: 36.25 x 31.5 mm
SHEET SIZE: 2 x 15 stamps
PAPER: 102 g/m²
PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm
PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset
PRINTING HOUSE: Joh. Enschedé Stamps Håkan has chosen the guiding words Carpe diem (seize the day) for the fi rst day cancel, a standard he makes an effort to meet. The garden sculpture featured on the stamp can be viewed in full on the fi rst day cover as well as on the gutter pair strip.
åkan andberg
Håkan Sandberg (born in 1962) comes from Stockholm in Sweden, but he lives in Åland since 2005. He has worked as graphic designer for various advertising agencies since his twenties and today works as Art Director for the agency April in Mariehamn. Håkan has designed the latest two editions of the
biennial Åland year book ”A story through Åland stamps”. This is Håkan’s ÅLANDSPOSTEN fi rst stamp FRIMÄRKENfor Åland Post. • 21 KJELL SÖDERLUND
Made from various parts, the legs of the garden sculpture are loose and its head can be turned. For the photo shoot,
Håkan dressed the moss with a pair of scissors for the KJELL SÖDERLUND background of the motif to look as good as possible.
“Representing a bon vivant who enjoys life on this earth, the man looks content and relaxed but, at the same time, somewhat curious. Although you are ill, the world is still there to enjoy and you are obliged to take delight in it,” Håkan explains.
PLACED SCULPTURE ON MOSS Approximately 60 cm tall, the sculpture lies in Håkan’s garden every summer, enjoying life. For the stamp motif, however, Håkan wanted to shoot him lying on moss. “I chose a spot in the forest where my wife and I åkan’s advice go to pick mushrooms; this particular spot means a great deal to me.” Håkan offers other men some simple pieces Photographer Kjell Söderlund assisted him with of advice: the rather detailed photo shooting. Håkan used • Take a PSA-test, an ordinary blood test. It is both scissors and brushes to dress the moss to per- so much better to know as early as possible. Had I been tested 5 years earlier, my surgery fection. And he is pleased with the result. would have been much less comprehensive. “The bluish glazing of the sculpture further • You don’t necessarily feel any of the symptoms enhances the Blue Ribbon connection.” of cancer. I had no symptoms of prostate cancer when I was diagnosed with the disease.
• Carpe diem, be mindful and enjoy the little things in life. It may be diffi cult to remember in everyday life, but remind your loved have tried to learn from ones of how important these little things are. my cancer experience.
22 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 2013 ISSUES CALENDAR
15 January Åland Art Museum 50 years 1 stamp, 1 postcard 19 February Wooden duck decoys, Postal label (Frama), Long-tailed Duck 1 maximum card 19 February Passenger ferries 1 stamp, 1 postcard 5 April Loons & greebes (WWF) Booklet of 8 stamps, 4 different motifs, 4 postcards 5 April Postal stationery, Spring 3 postal stationery cards 6 May My stamps – Åland cheese Mini-sheet of 8 stamps, 1 motif, 1 postcard 6 May Europa – Postal vehicles 1 stamp, 1 postcard 4 June Water lilies, white and yellow 2 stamps, 2 maximum cards 12 July Music festivals 2 stamps, 2 postcards 5 August Passenger ferries 1 stamp, 1 postcard 20 August Sepac – Peacock butterfl y 1 stamp, 1 maximum card 2 September Blue Ribbon 1 stamp, 1 postcard 8 November Christmas Mini-sheet of 8 stamps (1 motif) and 1 stamp, 2 postcards 8 November Christmas seals Sheet of 20 self-adhesive seals
DELIVERIES AND DEADLINES (NOTE! PRELIMINARY TIMES OF DELIVERY)
DELIVERY DEADLINE SUBS. NUMBER CHANGES DELIVERY CONTENTS 1-2013 28 February April Åland Art Museum 50 years, postal labels, Passenger ferries, Loons & grebes (booklet), 1 maximum card, 6 postcards, 3 postal stationery cards 2-2013 25 April June My Stamps – Åland cheese, Europa – Postal vehicles, Water lilies – white and yellow, 2 maximum cards, 2 postcards 3-2013 5 September October Music festivals, Passenger ferries, Sepac – Peacock butterfl y, Blue Ribbon, Christmas, 1 maximum card, 5 postcards 4-2013 24 October November Year Sets, packs, year pages, Christmas seals and decorations etc.
OTHER SUBSCRIPTION DELIVERIES (NOTE! PRELIMINARY TIMES OF DELIVERY)
PRODUCT DELIVERERY PRODUCT DELIVERY 2013 euro coin set April SEPAC folder September Model car no. 27 May Model car no. 28 October Stamp watch no. 12 June Åland Year Book 2012–2013 October Passengar ferries, August Stamp watch no. 13 October collector’s sheets
ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 23 ÅBO TURUN KEVÄT 2013 CALENDAR HELSINGBORG FRIMYNT 2013
2013 EXHIBITIONS In 2013, Åland Post takes part in the stamp exhibitions listed below. Additions and/or alterations are likely to be made. A complete and updated list of exhibitions is available at www.posten.ax.
INT. BRIEFMARKENBÖRSE INT. BRIEFMARKENMESSE FRIMÄRKETS DAG Munich, Germany Essen, Germany Stockholm, Sweden 28 February – 2 March 2–4 May Date not set
TURUN KEVÄT NORDIA 2013 FRIMÄRKS- OCH VYKORTSMÄSSA Turku, Finland Gardabæck, Iceland Norrtälje, Sweden 2–3 March 7–9 June 6 October
SAVOFILA STAMPS IN SVEDALA INT. BRIEFMARKENBÖRSE Kuopio, Finland Svedala, Sweden Sindelfi ngen, Germany 8–10 March 7–8 September 24–26 October
FRIMYNT BEIJING Helsingborg, Sweden Beijing, China 27 April 26–29 September
An exhibition card, cancellation and stamp will be available at all the above exhibitions. The 2013 theme is postal vehicles. Artist is Staffan Nylander.
2013 SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS So far, the following 2013 events have been issued with special cancellations:
14.2 ÅLAND SEA COMMANDERS ASSOCIATION 20.8 PEACOCK BUTTERFLY 120 YEARS (MAXIMUM CARD)
19.2 OLD WOODEN DUCK DECOYS (MAXIMUM CARD) 5.10 PINK/BLUE RIBBON GALA
20.4 ÅLAND GET-TOGETHER, 9.10 STAMP DAY ÅLAND STAMP COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY
4.6 WATER LILIES (MAXIMUM CARDS) DATE NOT SET ÅLAND POST 20 YEARS
15.6 POSTAL BOAT RACE 40 YEARS
Additions to the above list are likely to be made and will be listed in the next editions of this magazine. An updated list can be viewed at www.posten.ax, where you can also see illustrations of the special cancellations.
HOLIDAY CLOSING Åland Post Stamps will be closed on the following public holidays:
GOOD FRIDAY EASTER MONDAY MAY DAY ASCENSION DAY MIDSUMMER EVE 29 March 1 April 1 May 9 May 21 June
NEXT MAGAZINE The next edition of Ålandsposten Frimärken will be posted in November 2013.
24 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN