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THE TALES OF Maja Lindberg P. 3 GOLDEN AGE OF ÅLAND MUSIC P. 12 KENTA – SEVENFOLD WORLD CHAMPION P. 8

MEET THE NORDIC NIGHTMARE

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 1 Anita Häggblom DirEctor ÅLAND Post staMps

Åland looks towards China In 2013, seven Chinese youths competed to be chosen as the designer and engraver of an Åland miniature sheet featuring the unique species Åland sheep. The challenging yet very rewarding co-operation with China has been brought about thanks to Swedish engraver Martin Mörck who, in cooperation with PSPB, the Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post Group, has been tutoring the students over the last two years. The students have gained a great deal of knowledge about Åland and our special species of sheep as work has progressed to be able to freely design their contribution to the competition. Take a closer look at the winning concept in this magazine. For Åland Post, it is an intriguing venture in a new market with great potential, and we eagerly await the market response to this issue.

1–2014

ÅLAND POST LTD STAMPS PO BOX 1100 AX-22111 ÅLAND,

TelephONe EDITORS From Finland: Anita Häggblom 018 636 641 Heidemarie Eriksson From abroad: Sari Venho Contents +358 18 636 641 Cecilia Mattsson Editorial 2 Telephone hours: TEXT Mon–Fri 9 am – 4 pm News 3 Anna Karlsson In July, Mon–Fri 9 am – 3 pm Nettle-leaved bellflower 4 Translation FAX Kristine Sund From Finland: Alie Lindberg’s fantastic journey 6 018 636 608 LAYOUT World champion body type 8 From abroad: Håkan Sandberg +358 18 636 608 My Stamps 10 PRODUCTION INTERNET April Kommunikation Golden age of Åland music 12 www.posten.ax Waasa Graphics Christmas fair dreams 14 E-mail COVER PHOTO Robert Helenius 16 [email protected] Daniel Eriksson Åland-China Year of the Sheep 20 visiting ADdRESS Flygfältsvägen10 Calendar 23 Sviby, Jomala

We reserve the right to change the information contained in this publication.

2 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN nEws

Magic autumn by Maja Lindberg A hillside of chanterelles. A pile of rustling leaves. The migratory birds’ dart across the sky. This autumn, illustrator Maja Lindberg makes her debut as artist for Åland Post with three postal stationery cards on an autumn theme – a season to which she herself is ambivalent. ”It’s a beautiful season with incredible colours, but I regret the falling leaves.” Maja has previously worked as potter and web designer and today combines pencil-drawing with computer colouring. ”Mixed media” is the only word she can think of that describes her method. And many motifs are found in the world of fairy tales. ”I enjoy the slightly mysterious, dark legends. To combine darkness with the sparkling illusive.” Maja’s three cards are issued on 25 August.

above and beyond for Åland Auctions

The 1st auction on Åland Post’s newly launched were dealt with immediately without causing any Åland Auctions web site closed in the middle of problems for the customers. December and the 2nd only recently. Auction ”We are prepared to be an actor in the world- coordinator Tom Granberg is satisfied with the wide auction field, no matter what,” Tom says. outcome. In fact, more than satisfied. He is currently busy emptying the shelves after ”As a new and relatively unknown player on the second auction which comprised an excellent the auction field, we have done extremely well. set of medals and distinctions from Finnish Jaeger We have had buyers from countries all around the platoons as well as other artefacts. world such as Australia, USA, many countries in The next auction is scheduled to start in August. Europe and Asia. And, of course, many customers Objects will be accepted until end-July. Tom from the Scandinavian countries.” promises that the 3rd auction will also include A few minor teething problems on the site some genuine rarities.

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 3 It is an imposing herb, the nettle-leaved bellflower. Growing up to one metre tall with pointed petals it is one of the largest of the bellflower family. Its serrated leaves and square stem very much resemble those of the nettle, hence the name.

Nettle-leaved bellflower

The family Campanulaceae comprises some 700 is often found in hazel groves and broad-leaved wood- species in 35 genera. In Åland, we find four genera of lands where defoliation guarantees fresh, nutritious, some 15 species – ranging from the graceful little decomposing soil every year. The pointed corolla is bluebell to the stately giant bellflower that grows initially erect, eventually slightly nodding. to a height of over 100 cm. Giant bellflower and Now and again, genetics play the nettle-leaved nettle-leaved bellflower resemble one another. The bellflower a trick and it turns out white. A white latter can be differentiated from the former by its flower can still set seeds but the new plants may not sharp-edged and rough-haired stem. set white flowers. To be sure of the colour, the plant must be divided. remedy against sore throat The Latin name of bellflowers, Campanula, is the Nettle-leaved bellflower diminutive of campa meaning bell, like in church Family: Bellflowers – Campanulaceae bell. Thus, Campanula means small bell. The name growing form: Perennial herb Height: 40–100 cm. Stem unbranched, sharp-edged, often of the species trachelium comes from the Greek trac- reddish and rough-haired flower: Corolla bell-shaped, 25–45 mm long. Petals fused helos meaning throat. In folk medicine, the herb and bluish-violet was formerly used to treat sore throat. leaves: Alternate. Upper stem leaves stalkless, blade double-toothed. Lower stem leaves long-stalked and ovate habitat: Groves, coppices, forest margins, forest meadows Thrives in deciduous forests flowering time: July–August Nettle-leaved bellflower grows up to 40–100 cm and was originally a plant to be found in calcium-rich soils Sources: www.luontoportti.fi, Nature Morning - Swedish in Åland. Preferring a thick layer of humus-rich soil, it Radio, Virtual Flora (linnaeus.nrm.se)

4 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN The first day cover is also decorated by the tall nettle-leaved bell- flower, one of 15 bluebell species in Åland. It is also featured on a maximum card

The first day cancel as well as the special cancel depict the corolla of the nettle-leaved bellflower.

325 • Sepac – Nettle-leaved bellflower DATe of issue: 8 May 2014

Photographer: Andy Horner

EDITION: 150 000

Denomination: Europa (€1.10)

Price: FDC €1.75

stamp size: 36.5 x 32 mm

sheet size: 2 x 15 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm

Printing method: 4-colour offset

Printing house: The Lowe Martin Group

Andy Horner and his search for the perfect bell I was on the lookout for several weeks at the end of June last year, when driving, cycling and walking. The nettle-leaved bellflower prefers shady deciduous forests, so it is rather tricky to find and also difficult to photo- graph against a clean background. But I got lucky! On a warm evening walk in high summer, my wife spotted a beautiful specimen! I jumped with joy and ran home to fetch my camera. In the following days, I returned to the flower several times to catch the morning and evening light. Now, ÅLANDSPOSTEN when it’s autumn FRIMÄRKEN and I pass • 5 by its black withered stem, it reminds me of summer. Tiny fingers drumming drills next to her plate at the dinner table. Five-year old Alie Lindberg from Kastelholm has found her right element – the piano. But where this will lead, she cannot yet imagine, even in her dreams.

Alie’s fantastic journey At a time when women were generally considered quite some time studying for Liszt. In a glowing legally incompetent beings to be kept safe at home, letter of recommendation from 1871, he writes: tightly laced in a corset, Alexandra Emilia ”Alie” Lind- ”Her overwhelming talent, brilliant technique and berg made an extraordinary journey - from her life as good taste will raise admiration anywhere she goes. the daughter of a Kastelholm jailer to the great stages She is an artist - heart and soul.” of Europe. Her exceptional talent at the piano was revealed when she started playing at the age of five. Alie’s grand Piano At the age of ten, clergyman and education advocate Rumour has it that Liszt helped Alie choose the Frans Petter von Knorring helped her in going to grand piano featured on the stamp, but we cannot , where she attended school and took piano be certain. Circumstances do not tally exactly, but lessons. Her path as a concert pianist had started. ”it’s not improbable”, as pianist Jan-Ole Lönnblad writes in his thesis. At any rate, it is a Duysen, now A Liszt student in the possession of the Åland Museum. Studying in Dresden, Alie was introduced to vir- tuoso Carl Tausig in 1868. He soon became so Quiet old age enchanted with his gifted student that he, only a Alie Lindberg was warmly applauded at several con- few years later, brought his young trainee with him certs during the 1870s, some of which were given to meet Franz Liszt, one of the most acknowled- in London, Berlin and Dresden. She later married ged pianists in the world at the time. And he, too, to live a quiet old age in . When she died was fascinated by our Kastelholm girl. Following a in 1933, few remembered her successful career as matinée in Weimar, at which Alie had put her soul concert pianist. into pieces of Beethoven, Chopin and Rubinstein, Liszt is said to have stood up, broken off a twig of three leaves from his laurel wreath and handed it to her in appreciation. Alie stayed in Weimar for Sources: Jan-Ole Lönnblad and Lorentz Bryggman

6 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN Alie Lindberg’s grand was made by J. L. Duysen piano factory in Berlin, founded in 1860. 324 • Europa – Music instruments

DATe of issue: 8 May 2014

Photographer: Kjell Söderlund

DesIGn: Cecilia Mattsson

Edition: 150 000

Denomination: Europa (€1.10)

Price: FDC €1.75

stamp size: 39.5 x 26 mm

Sheet size: 2 x 16 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m²

perforation: 13 per 2 cm

The first day cover features the shiny keys of Alie Lindberg’s grand Printing method: 4-colour offset piano, telling a story of incessant use. Printing house: The Lowe Martin Group

Kjell Söderlund sees years of patina As many others, I had never heard of Alie Lindberg. She had an unusual career, particularly for a woman of her time. Her grand had a number of beautiful and interesting details and quite a bit of patina has developed over the years. My technical solution for this photo was to use a contrast-rich lighting to emphasize the details of the grand in a harmonious way. Studying the piano more closely was quite interesting. The wear and tear of the keys, telling a story of hours, weeks and years of use, was fascinating. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 7 Developing into a good powerlifter is all about persistence, optimism and talent. Kenta Sandvik can almost tell from a person’s body type which discipline of powerlifting he is best suited for. Then again, when you need both hands to count your WC titles, you would know.

World champion body type

20 years ago, in the autumn of 1993, Kenneth ”Kenta” of “not always ending up last”, Kenta’s track record Sandvik first slunk into the gym behind a friend. He is impressive. 7 world and 4 European bench press wanted to do something, to exercise. And there, championships. 2 European powerlifting titles. 9 among weights and barbells, he found what he was world records and, in 2011, voted into the Inter- looking for. It wasn’t until 2001, however, that he national Powerlifting Federations Hall of Fame. found his sport powerlifting consisting of the dis- “A good powerlifter must show persistence and ciplines bench press, squat and deadlift. an unyielding attitude. You have setbacks in all “At the time, I needed some type of incentive. sports. In powerlifting, you stand alone and can Something to keep me going. And when it all comes only blame your defeat on the person in the mirror. down to it, a competition is the absolutely best It’s all about body proportions; if you’re two metre benchmark to tell if your training is successful. You tall and slim then powerlifting will prove difficult. get straight answers from the kilos on the barbell.” But if you’re 1.70 with a dense body, you’re more likely to succeed.” Three sessions every week Kenta keeps an intensive pace of 8 to10 competi- not done yet tions a year. Three training sessions every week suf- Kenta claims that the fellowship and the fun of the fices. The muscles take a battering when subjected sport motivate him to continue. to the extreme weights that Kenta lifts. His best “What makes you quit someday may be one of two competition squat lift lies at 417.5 kg, bench press reasons: you either hurt yourself or lose the incentive. If at 345.5 kg and deadlift at 327.5 kg. you don’t perform well for a longer period of time, you’ll “You can say that muscle tissue is actually broken probably lose it.” But Kenta’s career is far from over. down when lifting weights. That’s why rest and food “I’m close to 40 now, in only 18 months. But I is so very important, it builds up muscle tissue.” haven’t hit the roof yet and still have something to give. I’m not through yet!” Sevenfold world champion For a guy who started competing with an attitude

8 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN Kenta has won the bench press World Championship seven times. His medals decorate the gutter strip. The maximum card shows the champ at work. His per- sonal bench press record is 345.5 kg.

326 • Powerlifting The first day cancel shows The special cancel DATe of issue: 31 May 2014 Kenta’s 2003 gold medal shows Kenta’s gold from Trenčín, Slovakia medalj from 2007 Photographer: Daniel Eriksson edition: 150 000

Denomination: Lokalpost (€0.90)

Price: FDC €1.55

Stamp size: 40 x 25.5 mm sheet size: 2 x 16 stamps

Paper: 110 g/m² perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Printing method: 5-colour offset

Printing house: Cartor Security Printing

Daniel Eriksson on Kenta’s home turf I photographed Kenta on his home turf – in the Idrottsgården gym. We initially attempted a portrait photo taken at a local sandpit but it didn’t work. Even if the photos were very good, it didn’t illustrate powerlifting the right way. We went to the gym instead. The shot used for the first day cover shows Kenta, sevenfold world champion, with his hands victoriously in the air. His shadow is larger. I’ve longed to shoot this type of photo of one of the successful powerlifters in Åland. The stamp photo is a portrait, focusing ÅLANDSPOSTEN more on the person FRIMÄRKEN than the •sport. 9 If Ammi Krogius were an animal she’d be a bird – free to fly high. Animals acquire human qualities in her paintings, like the clever cat featured on this year’s summer stamp.

Ammi humanizes animals He has a plan, Ammi Krogius’ lazily fishing cat. So and settled down in Mariehamn. She applies the certain to catch a bite that the plate already awaits. ceramic design language in the cards she has created Who is he, the cat on the cliff? on behalf of Åland Post. “He is a little something of all us human beings,” “I like to place the animals in the spotlight, give Ammi says. them a human expression. I find it difficult to “I see so many human qualities in cats. They are limn people, this is easier for me. And the sense of bon vivants, sly and wise, indeed, many of their absurdity also increases when an animal is featured qualities remind very much of us. This particular on a bicycle.” motif came out of a sensation of sitting on a rock, Her cardinal source of inspiration is her own angling. I was thinking of how I enjoy the Åland head. She sees herself as a storyteller and rather archipelago, the atmosphere.” naive at that. Using animals in her motifs is nothing new. Ammi “I always want my paintings to tell a little story. Krogius lived for 25 years in St Paul de Vence, a small And it must be a positive story, not a dismal one medieval artists’ village situated near Nice, where she and better somewhat eerie than sad.” ran a pottery with her husband. The subtle animals If you were an animal, which animal would you be? then took shape in clay. “Well, you tell me! A dog, perhaps. Or a pig. Or, Unfortunately, Ammi’s hands eventually began no, a bird! I would so enjoy having the freedom of to protest, so she could no longer work with ceram- a bird. The ability to fly high.” ics. In 1999, she returned to her home country

10 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 327 • My stamps - Summer Date of issue: 31 May 2014

Artist: Ammi Krogius

Edition: 50 000

Denomination: 8 x Europa (€8.80)

Price: FDC €1.75

Stamp size: 43.2 x 28.8 mm

Sheet size: 1 x 8 stamps

Paper: 135 g/m²

perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Printing method: 4-colour offset

: The Lowe Martin Group Printing house The mini-sheet featuring Ammi Krogius’ fishing cat is this year’s My Stamps frame. Using the My Stamps service, you can order stamps with a motif of your own choice. Order information at www.posten.ax.

On Ammi Krogius’ summer series we see a cat fishing, his meal and his catnap afterwards.

Ammi Krogius’ perception of archipelago Born in Sweden in 1947, artist Ammi Krogius grew up in Helsinki. She is a trained ceramist and ran a pottery shop in the south of France for 25 years until arthrisis in the hands made it impossible for her to continue working in clay. A yearning for her mothertongue as well as the land and the sea made her move back north in 1999 and settle down in Mariehamn from where she now continues her artistic work. This year’s summer stamp was born out of the sensation of sitting ÅLANDSPOSTEN on a rock in the FRIMÄRKEN sun, angling. • 11 During some groovy years in the middle of the 1960s, dances were arranged in the Åland community centres on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and, sometimes, even on Sundays. The bands Anacondas, Hitch Hikers and Stockdoves took pop music of the world to Åland and Finland. The three orchestras are now featured on three stamps.

golden age of åland music

It is early 1960s and rock n´ roll has run out of steam. uniformity is no longer in fashion. The guys let Figurehead Elvis Presley serves in the army and Buddy their hair grow and made an effort to appear as Holly has died in a plane crash. But fairer winds are blow- odd as possible. ing in England. The Shadows has created a new genre, “I remember a pair of black and white chequered barbed wire music, spreading like fire across Europe, also trousers worn by our bassist Freddie Rasmussen.” to Sweden with imitators such as The Spotnicks and The Violents. And British pop is soon to be born – The Bea- sometimes hard tles and Rolling Stones are about to conquer the world. Håkan Rikberg played with the Hitch Hikers, a band mainly touring the Finno-Swedish stages. They toured Hambo and schottische in Turku and Helsinki, making detours to Ostro- The range of music in the early 1960s more or less bothnia. One time, they performed in the same consists of music performed on accordion, upright television program as Sonny & Cher. bass and guitar for the traditional dances hambo, “We made a serious attempt at leading the life schottische and foxtrot. But not for long; Åland of professional band members. If we succeeded barbed wire band Anacondas is formed in 1962. is another question. Those could indeed be hard “We more or less dominated the Åland music times,” Håkan laughs. scene of music, I should say. Where we were, every- They always filled the premises at the youth club body wanted to be. We played in community centres Uncan, their home stage. up to four times a week,” Karl-Erik ”Kille” Williams, “Groups of students on study tours arrived from clarinet and guitar player in Anacondas, accounts. Finland in the spring. The atmosphere was terrific!” Kille recalls their costumes. In the early 1960s, Åland fans were not the type to scream and faint, identical costumes were a must – white trousers but band members did experience a certain degree and bright red jacket and, later, black trousers and of fame. “In an Åland perspective, we were rather glittering jacket. But as pop music enters the scene, popular, I do believe.”

12 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN 329 • Golden Age of Åland music DATe of issue: 25 August 2014

design: Cecilia Mattsson

edition: 90 000

denomination: 9 x Lokalpost (€0.90)

Price: FDC €3.35

stAMP size: 53.13 x 24 mm

BOOKLET SIZE: 65.5 x 176 mm

Paper: 98 g/m²

perforation: 13 per 2 cm

printing method: 4-colour offset The booklet cover features the Hitch Hikers’ tour printing house : Post Nord buss with messages and expressions of affections from loyal fans scribbled all over it.

A gramophone record forms the first day cancel. Singer Dan Eriksson of the Anacondas guested the Swedish talk show Hyland’s Corner in 1970 performing the song ”The Childhood Home”. The song reached number one on Svensktoppen, the Swedish hit list, on 21 February1971.

Cecilia Mattsson got into retro-inspired mood To get in the right mood, I listened to the bands while designing the stamps. The music was quite different from what we listen to today. I spent quite some time tracking down the photographers of the best possible originals. As my detective work progressed, I heard a great many stories from earlier days. Outside expert Patrik Dahlblom was of great assistance to me. The quality of the photos varied, so I decided on designing a collage. To underline the feeling of nostalgia, I used the duplex technique which implies that one colour, green ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 13 or brown for example, is applied to black and white photos. Rosy-cheeked children, Christmas candles, fluffy newly-fallen snow and white mittens. Little Christmas fair tastes of homemade almond toffee and smells of freshly cut spruce twigs. The Christmas tale comes alive in Emelie Hage’s Christmas stamp with a motif from Jan Karlsgården, shimmering with holograms.

ÅLAND

Julpost EMELIE HAGE 2014

Christmas fair dreams

The largest and most long-lived Christmas fair staircase. Everybody seems to love Little Christmas in Åland is the Little Christmas fair arranged on nowadays.” the premises of Jan Karlsgården open-air museum The stamp shows a parent with a child. Muffled neighbouring Kastelholm castle in Sund. Luckily, up and warm, they trod through the white snow expectations on Little Christmas are so much lower towards Christmas candles shimmering from holo- than the inflated expectations on its sibling. grams. “That’s the good thing about Little Christmas: “I imagined a parent introducing a child to the it’s an unpretentious version of Christmas. No Christmas spirit. Somewhere, at the back of my parents panicking with stress, no demand for piles head, was the Astrid Lindgren tale about Brenda of Christmas presents for the children. A bag of Brave. She helps her grandmother selling pepper- chocolates and a cosy time is more than enough,” mint rocks at the fair when she has fallen ill. Emelie Hage says. To Emelie, the Jan Karlsgården Little Christmas fair is a lovely fairy tale that she carries with her from childhood. A dream of rosy cheeks, lit candles and whirling snow. She acts as an eager Little Christmas Little Christmas is the day before the first of ambassador in her home city Stockholm. Advent in Finland and Åland. Families often “I gladly tell colleagues and friends about our Little decorate a small Christmas tree and give small Christmas traditions in Åland. That we have a small Christmas presents to the children. According to Christmas tree, give small presents and trick the chil- old tradition, Little Christmas presents are left by the outer door by St. Claus’ elves. dren into believing that elves make the noise in the

14 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN FDC. Emelie Hage features Christmas as a fairy tale. Rosy cheeks, a lit candle and an orange with aromatique cloves.

The first day cancel is a gingerbread man and woman.

330 • Christmas 2014 DATe of issue: 9 October 2014

Artist: Emelie Hage

edition: 300 000

denomination: Julpost (€0.70)

Price: FDC €1.35

stamp size: 40 x 30 mm

sheet size: 2 x 12 stamps

paper: 103 g/m²

perforation: 13 per 2 cm

printing method: 4-colour offset + hologram

printing house: Cartor Security Printing

The 2014 Christmas stamp focuses on the market at the Jan Karlsgården Little Christmas fair.

In search of the Christmas spirit in high summer Emelie Hage first drew the image and then applied watercolours. The motif was born during high summer when Emma wandered about with her camera, dreaming of newly-fallen snow. Emma trained to become a graphic designer at Konstfack and Bergh’s School of Communication. Raised in Mariehamn, she now lives and works as Art Director in Stockholm, where she acts as keen ambas- sador for the Little Christmas tradition. Her circle of friends are slowly adopting ÅLANDSPOSTEN our Åland FRIMÄRKEN tradition. • 15 A life of extremes

Robert Helenius “The Nordic Nightmare”

born: 2 January 1984 height: 199 cm profession: Professional fighter

Family: common-law spouse Sandra Helsing, children Chillie/6, Kingston/4 and Wilde/10 months address: A draughty little croft in Lumparland track record: European heavyweight - champion. Undefeated in 19 matches as profes sional fighter. 2006 European Amateur Cham- pionships bronze medalist. Won 2003–2005 Finnish super heavyweight Championship title eriksson daniel

16 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN Father of three vs. heavyweight fighter. Aggressive opponent vs. loving family man. The spotlight in the ring vs. the feeling of emptiness after a match. Preparation vs. setback. Meeting extreme opponents in his personal ring corners,Robert Helenius’ lives a life of contrasts. Resting is for the grave.

One life in the ring, another outside of it. It is not always easy to combine the roles as heavyweight fighter and toddlers’ dad.

After five years in Berlin, heavyweight fighter Rob- first visit, and this impression has stuck. ert Helenius has made a stopover in Lumparland “People are very friendly everywhere, in fact, the with his family and puppy. Robert and his partner islanders are perhaps more welcoming than people in Sandra Helsing from Åland found one another Finland are in general. The nature is incredibly beau- when Sandra worked as police officer in Porvoo. tiful. I enjoy fishing and being out in the woods.” She had started boxing for fitness and visited the He has not yet encountered any negative sides to training facility where Robert’s father Karl worked the small community, in any case, none that do not as instructor. At some point, between Sandra’s box- also exist in Porvoo, Helsinki, or even in Berlin. ing sessions and Robert’s tough training schedule, “Tabloids and media in general are much to blame they fell in love and became a couple. At the same when people judge each other. When media point time, he won the bronze medal in the European fingers at one or another, it’s OK for ordinary people superheavyweight Championships. And, of course, to do the same. People tend to focus more on what visited Åland for the first time. other people do than on what they make with their “I came to meet my parents-in-law. I was slightly own lives.” nervous but it all went incredibly well. I ended up He has an indecisive attitude to his life in the spot- in the sauna with Sandra’s dad already on the first light as a professional sportsman. evening.” “In the ring, there’s nothing better! You’re in the spotlight, the crowd is roaring and the kick of ad- Good impression of Åland renalin is tangible. I never feel more alive than then. Before Robert met Sandra, he only had a vague per- Outside the ring it’s different, but I have learned to ception of Åland. He got a good impression on his better deal with the sensation over the years.”

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 17 New orientation in training as possible. When I feel this empty, I don’t enjoy Robert, his partner Sandra Helsing and their chil- anything. It must be hard on Sandra sometimes.” dren Chillie, Kingston and Wilde left Berlin last autumn after a period of tough negotiations with cramped but cosy Robert’s promoter . Robert Currently house-hunting in Porvoo, the family lives is now free from Sauerland but with an option in a cottage in Lumparland, intended to become to cooperate. He has now hit it off with another their summer cottage. A charming croft with ceil- important Ålander in his life – trainer Tom Witting. ing paintings, a draught along the floor, a garden “Tom works with neurotraining. He contacted overgrown with weeds and lots of charm. Here, they me at an earlier time, when I had injured my share around 50 square metres – two adults, three shoulder. So, I now gave him a chance. We trained children and Panda, a good size Dogue de Bordeaux together for three days and, already after three days, which will grow to weigh around 50–60 kilo. I felt that “this is the shit”.” “Sure, quarters are tight. Sure, it’d be nice with a Robert explains neurotraining in simple terms: well-isolated house that doesn’t get as cold at night. through acupressure on specific muscles the nerve- But it’s cosy and it’s home for now. My home is where path between brain and muscle is revived and will Sandra and the children are, where is not important. start better cooperating. I enjoy living in the bush. This is my Åland.” “We work long training sessions, drilling certain basic exercises. It has helped me enormously. I’ve reached extremely good results in a short time,” Robert claims. His daily dose of training varies from five to seven hours in the gym or outdoors. His father’s gym in Porvoo, where his career began, is where he now performs his boxing training again. hard to adjust Robert’s life is full of sharp contrasts. One week, he is a loving family father. The following week, an aggressive heavyweight fighter. We all have different sides to our personality but we do not all need to keep them as clearly apart as Robert does. “It’s hard to adjust. At a training camp, for instance, the idea is to bait the beast inside me. And then I must shut up the beast and take care of three children.” After a fight, Robert would prefer to withdraw and lie under a stone. The adrenalin, the pep-talk, the energy and the preparation are all left in the ring, leaving only an empty shell. “It’s not easy to find the joy of living again. I sym- pathise with athletes who are tempted by drugs or alcohol, the feeling of void can be overwhelming. I Robert loves spending time outdoors and sees cliffs and sea have my family and try to benefit from them as much as important elements of his Åland

18 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN The stamp shows Robert with his family: the children Chillie, Kingston and Wilde and partner Sandra Helsing.

328 • My Åland date of issue: 9 June 2014

photographer: Daniel Eriksson

edition: 150 000

denomination: €2.30

Price: FDC €2.95 The first day cover shows Robert Helenius training in the gym. 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

The first day cancel is a stylized version of The Nordic Nightmare symbol.

Daniel Eriksson illustrates two sides of Robert Robert and his family decided on the angle of approach for the stamp motif. It was windy; Sandra’s mother had a tight grip on the reflector panel. The photo session had to be brief, but I think we succeeded in creating the atmosphere Robert’s family was looking for. The photo for the first day cover was shot in Robert’s training gym in Berlin. A powerful photo of a world champion which I chose to reproduce ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 19 in black-and-white, contrasting the calm and peaceful archipelago photo, showing two sides of Robert. An Åland stamp from China? Sure! For the 2014 stamp year, Åland Post announced a design competition among well-known engraver Martin Mörck’s students in Beijing. The winners have now been selected and a miniature sheet featuring Åland sheep will be out in November.

Åland – China Year of the Sheep

Martin Mörck is the name of one the best quali- “The students found it difficult to know what fied engravers in the world. He is likely to leave a was important to feature together with the sheep. considerable legacy when he puts his burin down Should they depict the colours of the flag in the and his microscope on the shelf. A few years ago, background? Or the Bomarsund fortress? Should Martin Mörck was charged with the important the style be Chinese or European?” commission of teaching ten Chinese students the time-consuming process of creating a hand- Artistic background engraved, steel-plate printed stamp – an original Stamp engraving is a moribund art. Traditionally, artwork in the smallest possible format. engrave­rs started out at a banknote printing house to later enter upon a career in stamp engraving. Year of the sheep Today, banknotes are digitally engraved and offset is For the 2014 stamp year, Åland Post announced a the most commonly used printing method. No one design competition among Martin Mörck’s students gave it a thought that an entire generation of en- in Beijing. 2015 is the Year of the Sheep according to gravers without heirs was getting older and older. the Chinese zodiac. The commission for the students Basically self-taught, Martin Mörck grew up in from the Chinese capital city was to create a minia- an artistic home with incessant access to material for ture sheet featuring Åland sheep. Quite a challenging expressing his creativity and with a philatelist father, commission, as it turned out: at that. “It wasn’t easy to find the right feeling. None of the “I was around 12 or 14 years old when I started students had any idea of the existence of Åland. We engraving in copper. During my art studies I realized searched on Google Earth to locate it,” Martin tells. that I should probably develop my skills further since, Reading articles and looking at a great deal of as it turned out, I already knew as much as my teachers.” photos from Åland was another part of the process In 1976, after training as an apprentice with as was a workshop led by Martin. engraver Arne Wallhorn, he started freelancing at the

20 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN The miniature sheet depicts Åland sheep at close range as well as viewed from afar. The bodytype of this species is low and compact with long wool. About half of the rams and approximately 20% of the ewes are horned. These illustrations are sketches that may be changed.

331 • Åland sheep The special cancel shows the The Chinese sign for sheep sheep in front of a typical forms the first day cancel. DATe of issue: November 2014 Åland roundpole fence. artists: Hao Ou & Liu Bo

EngRAVing: Liu Minghui & Yang Zhiying

Edition: not set

Denomination: 4 x €0.80

Price: FDC €3.85

stamp size: 44.2 x 35.8 mm

sheet size: 170 x 95 mm

Paper: 110 g/m²

perforation: 13 per 2 cm

Printing method: 4-colour offset + foiling

Printing house: Postage Stamp Print- ing Bureau of China Post Group

The cooperation between Åland Post, Martin Mörck and Postage Stamp Printing Bureau of China Post Group resulted in the Åland sheep issue.

Chinese engravers commissioned with Åland sheep The competition winners design the miniature sheet in cooperation. Two other students, Liu Minghui and Yang Zhiying, make the engravings. Since these are their first engravings, they have two months to complete their work. Xiaofei designs the first day cover and cancel as well as the special cancel for the maximum cards. Li Hao and Xu Zhe design a maximum card each. In this way, all seven students will be involved in creating products for Åland Post. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 21 Work review with the winners. From left: Cecilia Mattson, Åland Post, the interpreter, Liu Bo and Hao Ou.

Press conference. From left: Henrik Lundberg, CEO Åland Post, Anita Häggblom, Åland Post Stamps, the winners Liu Bo and Hao Ou. Behind them Martin Mörck and the other students. age of 21. Since then, Martin Mörck’s signature can so we wanted to depict it together with the sheep. be found on more than 800 stamps in 15 countries. The water-colour technique makes the illustration This is a time-consuming type of craft; an engraving relaxed and peaceful,” Hao Ou explains. can take both three and four weeks. The engraving Thanks to their pre-studies for the work at hand, is made under a microscope and one little misplaced the students have now formed a picture of Åland, cut can force you to start all over again. even if Åland is still distant and very exotic to them. “You need an enormous amount of patience to do “It appears to be a beautiful place, full of warmth this type of work and you must really enjoy your own and love,” Hao Ou says. company, because you cannot work together with others. The work demands deep concentration, only your little finger moves, more or less.”

Sheep and windmill The winners of the design competition are Hao Ou and Liu Bo. Hao Ou is an experienced engraver, According to the Chinese zodiac, 2015 is the year of in fact, the first female engraver in China. She was the sheep, a year of peace and harmony, a pros- perous year for creativity and health. People born in chosen to organize the work of the team since she the year of the sheep are often empathetic and kind- has already designed many stamps. They each pro- hearted and, possibly, somewhat insecure. Sheep duced sketches after which the best one was chosen prefer peace and quiet, may be somewhat taciturn, as their contribution. but enjoy family life. “The windmill is a characteristic feature of Åland,

22 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN CALENDAR 2014 issues

7 February Old wooden duck decoys, Postal label , 1 postcard Velvet Scoter 7 February Mariehamn Theatre Society 1 stamp, 1 postcard 100 years 7 February Passenger ferries 2 stamps, 2 postcards 17 March Nordic – Ships at Sea Miniature sheet, 1 postcard 11 April Zero tolerance 1 stamp, 1 postcard 8 May Europa – Music instruments 1 stamp, 1 postcard 8 May Sepac – Nettle-leaved bell- 1 stamp, 1 maximum card flower 31 May Powerlifting 1 stamp, 1 maximum card 31 May My stamps, Summer Mini-sheet of 8 x 1 motif, 1 maximum card 9 June My Åland 1 stamp, 1 postcard 25 August Golden Age of Åland Music Booklet of 9 stamps, 3 x 3 motif, 3 postcards 25 August Postal stationery, autumn 3 postal stationery cards 9 October Christmas 1 stamp, 1 postcard

9 October Christmas seals Sheet of 20 self-adhesive seals Date not set Åland sheep 1 miniature sheet of 4 stamps, 2 x 2 motifs, 2 maximum cards

DeLiVERies and deadlines (nOte! Preliminary times of delivery)

delivery deadline subs. number changes delivery contents 1-2014 27 February April Postal label, Theatre Society, 2 Passenger ferries, Nordic (miniature sheet), Zero tolerance, 6 postcards 2-2014 30 April June Europa – Music instruments, Sepac – Nettle-leaved bellflower, Powerlifting, My stamps – Summer, 3 maximum cards, 1 postcard 3-2014 4 September October My Åland, Ål. music (booklet), Christmas, Åland sheep (miniature sheet), postal stationery, 2 maxi- mum cards, 5 postcards 4-2014 29 October November Year Sets, packs, year pages, Christmas seals and decorations etc.

Other subscription deliveries (Note! Preliminary times of delivery)

Product Delivery Product Delivery 2014 Euro coin set February Model car no. 29 April Passenger ferries, collector’s sheets February Stamp watch no. 14 June Nordic pack March Model car no. 30 November

ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 23 CALENDAR

STOCKHOLM FRIM. DAG 2014 2014 Exhibitions Åland Post takes part in the following exhibitions during 2014. Additions and/or alterations are likely to be made; a complete and updated list is available at www.posten.ax.

int. briefmarkenbörse int. briefmarkenmesse int. briefmarkenbörse , Essen, Germany Sindelfingen, Germany 6–8 March 8–10 May 23–25 October

Frimärkets dag Philakorea Salon d’automne Stockholm, Sweden Seoul, South Korea Paris, France 29 March 7–12 August November

STAMPS IN SVEDALA baltex 2014 nordia 2014 Svedala, Sweden Malmö, Sweden Lilleström, Norway 29–30 March 29–31 August 21–23 November

aboex 2014 SYDFRIMEX 2014 Monacophil Turku, Finland Eskilstrup, Denmark Monaco 11–13 April 18–19 October December At all the above exhibitions we offer an ­exhibition card, stamp and cancel. The 2014 Åland exhibi- tion products feature bell towers, and were designed by artist Sandra Henriksson.

2014 Special cancellations The following 2014 events have so far been issued with special cancellations:

8.5 Nettle-leaved Bellflower (maximum card) 9.10 stamp day

31.5 My stamp, summer (maximum card) 8.11 Finnish Red cross – Åland branch 75 years

31.5 powerlifting (maximum card) nov Åland sheep (maximum cards)

14.6 Postal boat race nov ÅLAND STAMPS 30 YEARS

26.9 association vårt hjärta 15 years

Additions to the above list are likely to be made. In this case, they will be listed in the next edition of this magazine and announced at www.posten.ax, where illustrations of the special cancels can also be viewed.

Holiday closing Åland Post Stamps will be closed on the following public holidays:

Good friday easter monday 1 may ascension day midsummer’s eve 18 April 21 April 1 May 29 May 20 June

Next magazine The next edition of Ålandsposten Stamps will be posted in November 2014.

24 • ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN