posten.ax GLISH EN
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ÅLAND CHEESE P. 4 POPULAR MUSIC FESTIVALS P. 10 2013 EXHIBITIONS P. 24
HÅKAN SEIZES THE DAY
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nita äggblom D I R E C TO R Å L A N D P O S T S TA M P S
Åland from a butterfly perspective This year’s SEPAC stamp featurKeeping up with development is essential, so even for Åland stamps. Using a smartphone or a tablet s. collector keen all for ing the Peacock butterfly offers a piece of news a number of interesting stamp visit and ive perspect y butterfl a from Åland computer you can experience with the help of your phone or tablet, locations in Åland. All you need to do is download an app and, page 14 of this magazine. on scan the stamp to enjoy the sights. Read more about the stamp
1–2013 ÅLAND POST LTD STAMPS PO BOX 1100 AX-22111 MARIEHAMN ÅLAND, Finland
TELEPHONE
From Finland: 018 636 641 From abroad: +358 18 636 641 Telephone hours: Mon–Fri 9 am – 4 pm In July: Mon–Fri 9 am – 3 pm
frimarken@posten.ax EDITORS
Anita Häggblom Katja Rikberg Heidemarie Eriksson Björn Wennström Cecilia Mattsson
Editorial
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News
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Åland cheese with a history
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Katja Rikberg
An eco-friendly postal vehicle
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TRANSLATION
White and yellow water lily
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FAX
From Finland: 018 636 608 From abroad: +358 18 636 608 INTERNET
www.posten.ax Nordic stamps: www.topoftheworld.nu VISITING ADDRESS
Flygfältsvägen10 Sviby, Jomala
TEXT
Kristine Sund LAYOUT
Cecilia Mattsson PRODUCTION
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M/S Princess Anastasia
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Butterfly presents augmented reality 14 The nativity of Jesus Håkan seizes the day
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COVER PHOTO
Calendar
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We reserve the right to change the information contained in this publication.
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Popular music festivals
Åland Post Ltd Waasa Graphics Kjell Söderlund
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ontents
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NEWS
ustomer service awarded a prize FINNISH STAMPS You can now buy your Finnish stamps from the Åland Post stand at all exhibitions outside Finland. During the past year, the Finnish Post has been restructuring its business area for consumer services. As a result, Itella no longer participates in stamp exhibitions abroad. “Customers have come to us, requesting information concerning Finnish stamps. 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 Stamps Anita Häggblom says.
We are honoured to have been awarded a challenge trophy by the Helsinki-based society for maximaphily, Maximifilatelisterna rf. The society awarded the prize to the customer service of Åland Post Stamps for having supported the activities of Maximifilatelisterna. Virpi Isaksson from customer service accepted the award in Helsinki in December. Donated by Ape Järvinen, the trophy is made from Finnish spectrolite and adorned with gold panned in Lapland.
imärken he book ”Ålands fr 3” berättar 2012–201 appears in ctober
DRAGONFLIES MOST BEAUTIFUL IN 2012 Customers of Åland Post have selected the two dragonfly stamps issued on 4 June as the most beautiful Åland stamp series in 2012. In second place, we find the miniature sheet Life at Sea and, in third place, we see the booklet with Architectural nostalgia. Prizes have been posted to the following 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
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he production and sale of butter and cheese has existed in Åland since the iddle ges. he first Åland dairy was founded approx. 120 years ago. oday, the dairy cooperative Ålands entralandelslag (ÅCA) handles the Åland dairy production.
KJELL SÖDERLUND
2013
Åland VÄRLDEN
Åland cheese with a history Founded in 1921, the history of Ålands Centralandelslag dates back to the 1800s. ÅCA has developed from a large number of small dairies that joined forces in 1967 to form a cooperative dairy for all of Åland. Today, ÅCA is owned by 43 dairy farmers who supply the dairy with some 15 million litres of milk per year. ÅCA processes the milk into other liquid milk products, cream, butter and cheese.
located in Sund. The name is thought to originate from a traditional type of double cream cheese which was produced in Sund in the 1500s. Since then, cheeses with the name Kastelholm have been produced to some extent. In the 1920s, for example, the Kastelholm double cream cheese won several awards in a number of quality competitions. CHARACTERISTICS
AWARD-WINNING CHEESES
ÅCA cheeses have won several awards, the most recent success being the 2012 competition for best Finnish cheese. The cheeses ‘Kastelholm’, ‘Ålands special’ and ‘Prostens magra’ came in second, whereas the Åland ‘Edam’ won third place. A total of 107 types of cheese were entered in the competition in 12 different categories.
ÅCA’s current variety of Kastelholm cheese has tiny eyes and a 31% fat content. Kastelholm cheese must age for at least 6 months for the flavour to develop properly. With a savoury aroma, the aged cheese has a rather sharp and full-bodied taste that grows more intense as the cheese ages. Apart from being sold in Åland and Finland, Kastelholm can 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, 4
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Source: www.aca.ax
The cancel shows a milk churn.
The first day cover illustration is an old cheese mould from the 1700s. The pattern of the mould reappears on the edge of the mini-sheet.
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y stamps – Åland cheese
D A T E O F I S S U E : 6 May 2013 P H O T O G R A P H E R : Kjell Söderlund D E N O M I N A T I O N : 8 x Världen (€1.10) P R I C E FDC: €1.70 P R I C E S H E E T: €8.80 (8 stamps) S T A M P S I Z E : 42 x 29 mm S H E E T S I Z E : 145 x 105 mm, 8 x 1 stamp P A P E R : 105 g/m² P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : 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, first 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 ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 5 Åland Toys, 2012 Potato chips and 2012 Champagne Find.
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 itself to the environment. We were environmentally certified by DNV (Det Norske Veritas) according to the ISO 14001:2004 standard in November 2011. As part of our environmental focus, we have obtained four eco-friendly cars of the type Toyota Auris Hybrid and were thus first in Finland to use full hybrid eco-cars for delivery service! GREEN GRASS
Two advantages of the Auris are that it can be obtained with the steering wheel placed to the right and offers good ergonomics for mail delivery purposes. To emphasize the eco-friendliness, the cars were taped with a decoration illustrating growing green grass. The cars are used for delivery in various parts of Mariehamn. ELECTRICITY, PETROL OR BOTH
The hybrid cars are driven by delivery persons who have been specifically trained to manoeuvre them to affect the environment the least possible. The greatest difference is when you start the car and do not hear the well-known roar of the motor. The driver 6
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can choose to drive solely on electricity or petrol or use a combination of the two, which is the most common driving mode. CHARGING THE BATTERIES
In addition to being eco-friendly, the Auris is silentgoing and has no combustion at all when standing still. It is perfectly suited for the purpose since mail delivery involves a great deal of starts and stops. Every time you brake, the car gets a squirt of recharge. A multi-information display provides the driver with a variety of driving-related information such as instantaneous source of power, allowing the driver to easily follow up on and adapt his or her driving technique. ELECTRIC AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
In some delivery districts, the Post also makes us of electric bicycles, an even more eco-friendly alternative than cars. One of the advantages of e-bikes is that heavier loads of mail can be loaded on the bicycle without adding physical strain on the mail delivery person. An electric automatic transmission starts working when the bicyclist starts pedalling the e-bike, hence facilitating the work.
The first day cancel shows a postal bicycle.
uropa – ostal vehicles
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D A T E O F I S S U E : 6 May 2013 P H O T O G R A P H E R : Kjell Söderlund E D I T I O N : 170 000 D E N O M I N A T I O N : Europa (€1.00) P R I C E FDC: €1.60 S T A M P S I Z E : 36.25 x 31.5 mm S H E E T S I Z E : 2 x 15 stamps P A P E R : 102 g/m²
On the first day cover we see a mail delivery person on an e-bike, 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.
P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 cm P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : 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, first 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 ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN • 7 Åland, 2010 Åland Toys, 2012 Potato chips and 2012 Champagne Find.
wo artistically beautiful stamps appear in une. hotographer and florist iina ahvanainen has featured a white and a yellow water lily.
hite and yellow water lily Water lilies belong to the Nymphaeaceae family and grow in shallow water and wetlands, with its roots in the sediment and its leaves and flowers floating on the water surface. There are about 60 species of water lilies around the world. The white (Nymphaea) and yellow (Nuphar) water lilies are among the most primitive dicotyledons with features such as a large number of floral leaves arranged in concentric circles. After flowering, the pedicel coils and drags the flower under water where the fruit develops. When the seeds are ripe and released they rise back to the surface. The seeds float with the help of an air-filled aril and are dispersed by waves and current. Eventually they sink and germinate in the bottom muds.
long. A red variety of the white water lily is not very common and has not been discovered in the wild in Ă…land. The white water lily, on the contrary, thrives in about 20 to 30 lakes in Ă…land and can also be found in marshes on many archipelago islands. YELLOW MORE COMMON
The blade of the floating leaves of the yellow water lily is 15 to 30 cm long and more elliptic compared to the leaves of the white water lily. The fragrant yellow flower measures 4–6 cm across. More common than the white water lily, the yellow water lily grows in about 50 lakes in Åland. Its floating leaves can cover large areas up to an acre in size.
BRIGHT WHITE FLOWERS
The flowers of the white water lily are bright white, and the blade of the floating leaves is 10–30 cm 8
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Sources: �Ålands flora� by Carl-Adam and Eva HäggstrÜm and www.luontoportti.com.
A white water lily is featured on the first day cover and a floating leaf forms the cancel.
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ater lilies
D A T E : 4 June 2013 P H O T O G R A P H E R : Tiina Tahvanainen E D I T I O N : 2 x 170 000 D E N O M I N A T I O N S : Inrikes (€1.00), €2.50 P R I C E FDC: €4.10 S T A M P S I Z E : 40 x 25.5 mm S H E E T S I Z E : 2 x 16 stamps P A P E R : 110 g/m² P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 cm P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : Cartor Security Printing
Two maximum cards featuring a yellow and a white water lily are also issued. The special cancel is designed as a yellow water lily.
iina ahvanainen Photographer and florist 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 first arranged in August 2008 on the small archipelago island of Jurmo in the municipality of Brändö. A non-profit volunteer organisation working to promote a wider and better range of music life in Åland, especially in the archipelago, organizes the festival. Lasting for two days in July, the festival has grown each year with a 2012 record of 800 visitors and more than 100 volunteers. With Island in the Sun, the organizers have a vision of creating an idyllic and sustainable archipelago festival worth its price, offering a variety of art, music and summery activities.
years, world-class performers and local bands alike have met the crowd from the most popular stage in Åland. FOR ALL AGES
Rockoff is a festival for all ages; playing activities like a jumping castle, games and a steeplechase course are available for younger visitors, and adults can choose from a number of food services on the festival area. Many visitors enjoy the performances from the top restaurant with a clear view of the main stage. SAME BUT DIFFERENT
9 DAYS IN JULY
The Rockoff festival has been arranged in Mariehamn every summer since 1997. Arranged at the Town Hall square until 2002, the festival was relocated to Mariepark in the western harbour in 2003. Since 2007, the festival is back on the Town Hall square. For 9 days at the end of July every year, Rockoff attracts up to 40 000 visitors, tourists and locals alike. Most of the artists performing come from Sweden and Finland but, during the course of 10
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Despite close points of similarity between the two music festivals they vary on many points, a fact that photographer Daniel Eriksson has succeeded in catching on the stamp photos. While Island in the Sun is a smaller and more intimate type of festival with slightly more alternative bands, Rockoff is larger, lasts longer and presents artists with a wider audience. Sources: www.islandinthesun.nu, www.rockoff.nu and www.visitaland.se.
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usic festivals 2013 D A T E O F I S S U E : 12 July Eriksson P H O T O G R A P H E R : Daniel E D I T I O N : 2 x 170 000
en (₏1.10) Lokalpost (₏0.80) D E N O M I N A T I O N S : Värld P R I C E FDC: ₏2.50
2 mm S T A M P S I Z E : 26.1 x 40.3 ps S H E E T S I Z E : 2 x 16 stam P A P E R : 102 g/m²
cm P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 lour offset P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-co EnschedĂŠ Stamps P R I N T I N G H O U S E : Joh.
A vast crowd of people attending Rockoff can be seen on the front and back of the first 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 Å Lyears A N D S and P O S TMy E N Stamps F R I M Ä R(Island K E N • 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 Slite, M/S Princess Anastasia was built in 1986 by Wärtsilä shipyard in Turku to be placed in the service of Viking Line. As sister ship of Viking Line’s M/S Mariella, she was named M/S Olympia.
age but, when the visa checks became more rigorous, St Peter Line decided to stop calling at Mariehamn. The Finnish Border Guard now required that Russian cruise passengers pass through a proper visa check at every port of call on the Baltic Sea, and not only the first port of call, Helsinki.
NAMED PRIDE OF BILBAO
M/S Olympia operated for Viking Line between Stockholm and Helsinki from 1988 to 1993. When Rederi Ab Slite went bankrupt in 1993, she was sold to P&O Ferries and, between 1993 and 2010, she served mostly between Portsmouth in England and Bilbao in Spain, now with the name M/S Pride of Bilbao. Her name was shortened to M/S Bilbao in 2010.
ST PETERSBURG AND MARIEHAMN TWIN TOWNS
We issue this stamp in cooperation with the Russian post. A very popular joint issue of a miniature sheet in 2011 in connection with the 150th anniversary of Mariehamn paved the way for this new joint issue. St Petersburg is also a twin town of Mariehamn. JOINT PRESENTATION PACK
ALSO CALLED AT MARIEHAMN
On 2 April 2011, St Peter Line placed the ship in traffic on the route Stockholm–Tallinn–St Petersburg–Helsinki under her new name M/S Princess Anastasia. From August 2011 until April 2012, Mariehamn was one of the ports of call on her voy12
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A pack holding both the Åland and the Russian stamps is planned for this joint issue. More information will be available on the Post’s home page at www. posten.ax as the date of issue in August approaches. Source: http://stpeterline.com
The first day cancel shows M/S Princess Anastasia.
assenger ferries, M/S rincess nastasia 314 •
D A T E O F I S S U E : 5 August 2013 A R T I S T: Håkan Sjöström E D I T I O N : 200 000 D E N O M I N A T I O N : €2.00 P R I C E FDC: €2.60 S T A M P S I Z E : 35.4 x 26 mm S H E E T S I Z E : 2 x 20 stamps P A P E R : 110 g/m² P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 cm
The ship S/S Dagmar illustrates the first day cover. She was built in Denmark in 1900 and came to Åland in 1935 when bought by the shipping company Lundqvistrederierna. She was in traffic until 1959, and her captain’s saloon can today be viewed at the Åland Maritime Museum.
P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : Cartor Security Printing
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 few seascape remain. ÅLAN D S P O S T Ecommissions N FRIMÄRKEN • 13 This is Håkan’s tenth stamp for Åland Post.
n ugust, all smartphone or tablet C users can join the uropean eacock butterfly 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 butterfly belongs to the family Nymphalidae and has a wingspan of 50 to 55 mm. It is not a coincidence that the pattern of this butterfly reminds you of staring eyes, a perfect deterrent against predators. Potential predators will find the pattern of the fully extended wings alarming.
you have a smartphone or a tablet computer you can download a free app. When you later scan the stamp, an entirely new world reveals itself! Read more about the free app, its name and how it works on the Post’s homepage at www.posten.ax in August.
CAMOUFLAGED
THREE DIMENSIONAL TOURIST ATTRACTIONS
The wings are rusty red with a blue eye on the tip of each wing. The underside is dreary dark-brown and the butterfly is therefore perfectly camouflaged against a twig or a tree trunk. The adult peacock butterfly overwinters and wakes up from hibernation around April and flies throughout June. During this period, the eggs laid on stinging nettles by the first generation will have turned into caterpillars and pupas to become butterflies in July. Second generation butterflies usually overwinter in crevices in wood, in a dark corner of an old house or in a butterfly box.
This is a so-called AR-application. AR stands for augmented reality, which implies that information from your physical surroundings is mixed with three dimensional information via the app. Scan the Peacock stamp and join the butterfly for a virtual tour around Åland, taking part of information and interesting facts about the Åland attractions Kobba klintar, Kastelholm castle, Bomarsund fortress, Pommern museum ship and the Maritime Museum. Read more about the app and how it 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 14
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Sources: www.wildlifegarden.se and http://sv.wikipedia.org.
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eacock butterfly
D A T E O F I S S U E : 20 August 2013 A R T I S T: Amanda Chanfreau E D I T I O N : 170 000 D E N O M I N A T I O N : Världen (€1.10) P R I C E : FDC €1.70 S T A M P S I Z E : 35 x 35 mm S H E E T S I Z E : 2 x 15 stamps P A P E R : 102 g/m² P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 cm P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : Joh. Eschedé Stamps
The maximum card and cancel also feature the Peacock butterfly. This stamp is also the Åland SEPAC stamp and is therefore included in 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 first day cover, Amanda Chanfreau has painted a lovely flower for the butterfly 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 Å L A exhibitions, N D S P O S T E Nmainly F R I M Äin R KÅland E N • but 15also focuses on photography, video and drawing. Amanda has had some ten in Sweden. She has previously designed the 2011 postal stationery cards for Åland Post.
n 8 ovember, Ă…land 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 Ă…land as well as the atican.
he ativity of esus As small postal administrations, both Ă…land and the Vatican State are members of SEPAC (Small European Postal Administrations Cooperation). Our joint stamp issue becomes a reality now in November 2013 because of the good contacts created through this cooperation.
stamps. Known also as the Palace of the Vatican and the Papal Palace, the Apostolic Palace is the official residence of the Pope. It is a large complex of buildings with a total of more than 1 400 rooms housing the State of the Vatican City, a handful of chapels, Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel among others.
ADORATION OF THE MAGI
Both stamp motifs are from paintings on display in the Vatican. Stamp number 317 features the Nativity of Jesus with the infant Jesus lying on a felt with adoring Virgin Mary close by. Stamp number 318 shows the Adoration of the Magi with one of the three wise men paying homage to infant Jesus in the arms of Virgin Mary. ON DISPLAY IN THE APOSTOLIC PALACE
The two masterpieces are on display in the Borgia Apartment, a suite of six rooms in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City. The Borgia Apartment was used as domicile by Pope Alexander VI. In the late 15th century (1492–94), he commissioned the painter Pinturicchio to decorate the rooms with frescos, two of which can now be enjoyed on 16
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MINI-SHEET AND NORMAL SHEET
The stamp with the denomination Julpost will be issued in the form of a normal sheet holding 2 x 15 stamps, whereas the other stamp with the denomination ₏0.65 appears in the form of a mini-sheet of 8 stamps. The Vatican State will be issuing two stamps with the exact same motifs; however, both Vatican stamps will appear in the form of minisheets. More information about this joint issue and a joint presentation pack as well as images of the first day cover and cancel will be published in the next edition of Ålandsposten frimärken and on the Post’s homepage www.posten.ax later in the year. Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borgia_Apartment, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinturicchio and http:// sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostoliska_palatset
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hristmas 2013 D A T E O F I S S U E : 8 November 2013 A R T I S T: Pinturicchio D E S I G N : Cecilia Mattsson E D I T I O N : 1 x 200 000 and 70 000 mini-sheets D E N O M I N A T I O N S : 8 x €0.65 and Julpost (€0.65) P R I C E FDC: €1.90 S T A M P S I Z E : 31.5 x 36.25 mm S H E E T S I Z E S : 2 x 15 stamps, 1 x 8 stamps P A P E R : 110 g/m² P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 cm P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : 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 first and foremost a painter of frescoes, but he also left behind a number of religious history paintings and portraits. ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN
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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.
åkan
SEIZES THE DAY
In connection with a physical check-up in November 2010, Håkan’s doctor suggested that he should also test for prostate cancer. “I had none of the classical symptoms of prostate cancer, so I wasn’t worried”, Håkan reminisces. After a few weeks, he was diagnosed with cancer and a biopsy was performed. It proved to be an aggressive and fast-growing type of cancer. Luckily, the cancer had not spread, so surgery was an option. Håkan and his wife Jeanette, who has been a tremendous help and support throughout the course of his disease, decided that he undergo surgery at the S:t Görans hospital in Stockholm. DA VINCI-METHOD
“They have no waiting lists and they apply the da Vinci-method, a new type of surgery performed by a robot through three small incisions. With this method, the patient also usually recovers sooner.” Surgery was performed two weeks later. 18
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“The procedure was uncomplicated, but I experienced a number of complications afterwards, pneumonia being only one of them. I usually tell people that I never had any problems with the cancer itself. I didn’t feel it and it didn’t hurt. Instead, the complications have made me ill”, Håkan explains. PLANTED SYMBOLIC SEEDS
He soon made a decision in relation to the cancer: “I decided to be positive about it all, to not feel sorry for and isolate myself. Naturally, I’ve had my ups and down, but I’ve tried to see it all as a lesson to be learnt, to take one day at a time. But people in my surroundings have often been worried.” Håkan is interested in gardening and, prior to his operation in January 2011, it was time to plant the chili pepper seeds. At the time, he found it almost symbolic: “I wanted to show myself that I believed in the future; I wanted to watch the seeds germinate and grow to be harvested in the autumn.”
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 Å L A Nfor D S Pthe O S stamp T E N F Rimage. I M Ä R K E N • 19 Håkan at work when shooting photos
rostate cancer can be a taboo subject, but I believe that people had better know.
The so-called PSA-values declined after the surgery and tests were taken continuously to ensure that they remained low. But when the values started climbing again in the autumn of 2011, Håkan had to undergo radiation treatment, which is not available in Åland. “For two months, November and December, I flew to Turku every day. That was hard. The treatment took only 15 minutes, but the journey required a full working day.” NEVER TRIED TO HIDE THE DISEASE
But he overcame even that battle. “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 never thought of himself as being ill. He has been open about his disease and never attempted to hide it. “Prostate cancer can be a taboo subject, but I believe that people had better know. Transparency has also helped me process my own feelings.” MINDFULNESS
Håkan was flattered to receive the commission to create the Blue Ribbon stamp for Åland Post. He immediately started various thought processes to find an appropriate expression for a very difficult 20
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subject. As Art Director and graphic designer, Håkan’s initial idea was to create a typographical 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 diagnosis. Taking charge of my life, being positive and mindful.” “In the end, I realized that I wanted the stamp motif to symbolize me. I’m very interested in gardening and nature, and I feel great joy in sowing a seed, watching it grow and reaping the crop in the autumn. It’s a bit like the human life cycle. Being in nature, all your stress and worries disappear, you tend to become more present, an important factor of my healing process.” Having attended a ceramics course for some years, Håkan decided to feature one of his ceramic sculptures on the stamp.
lue ibbon The Blue Ribbon symbolizes the fight against prostate cancer and first appeared in the USA in the mid-1990s. Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men and, nowadays, even the most common type of cancer in the entire population of Finland. More than 4 000 Finnish men are diagnosed with prostate cancer every year, approx. 89 % of whom are cured. Prostate cancer tends to develop in men over the age of seventy; however, the appearance increases already after the age of fifty. Prostate cancer develops when the cells of the prostate gland start to change and become malignant. Source: www.cancer.ax
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lue ibbon
D A T E O F I S S U E : 2 September 2013 A R T I S T: Håkan Sandberg E D I T I O N : 170 000 D E N O M I N A T I O N : €1.00 + €0.20 P R I C E FDC: €1.80 S T A M P S I Z E : 36.25 x 31.5 mm S H E E T S I Z E : 2 x 15 stamps P A P E R : 102 g/m² P E R F O R A T I O N : 13 per 2 cm P R I N T I N G M E T H O D : 4-colour offset P R I N T I N G H O U S E : Joh. Enschedé Stamps
Håkan has chosen the guiding words Carpe diem (seize the day) for the first day cancel, a standard he makes an effort to meet. The garden sculpture featured on the stamp can be viewed in full on the first 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 Post. Å L A N Dfi Srst P Ostamp S T E N Ffor R I MÅland ÄRKEN • 21
KJELL SÖDERLUND 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 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 go to pick mushrooms; this particular spot means a great deal to me.” Photographer Kjell Söderlund assisted him with the rather detailed photo shooting. Håkan used both scissors and brushes to dress the moss to perfection. And he is pleased with the result. “The bluish glazing of the sculpture further enhances the Blue Ribbon connection.”
have tried to learn from my cancer experience.
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• ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN
åkan’s advice Håkan offers other men some simple pieces of advice: It is • Take a PSA-test, an ordinary blood test. le. possib as early as know so much better to y Had I been tested 5 years earlier, my surger ve. ehensi compr less much would have been ms • You don’t necessarily feel any of the sympto te of cancer. I had no symptoms of prosta e. diseas the with sed diagno cancer when I was little • Carpe diem, be mindful and enjoy the things in life. It may be difficult to remember in everyday life, but remind your loved ones of how important these little things are.
CALENDAR
2013 ISSUES 15 January
Åland Art Museum 50 years
1 stamp, 1 postcard
19 February
Wooden duck decoys, Long-tailed Duck
Postal label (Frama), 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 butterfly
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 NUMBER
DEADLINE SUBS. 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 butterfly, 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, collector’s sheets
August
Stamp watch no. 13
October
ÅLANDSPOSTEN FRIMÄRKEN
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ÅBO TU RUN
CALENDAR
KEVÄT
HELSINGBORG FRIMYNT 2013
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 28 February – 2 March
Essen, Germany 2–4 May
Stockholm, Sweden Date not set
TURUN KEVÄT
NORDIA 2013
FRIMÄRKS- OCH VYKORTSMÄSSA
Turku, Finland 2–3 March
Gardabæck, Iceland 7–9 June
Norrtälje, Sweden 6 October
SAVOFILA
STAMPS IN SVEDALA
INT. BRIEFMARKENBÖRSE
Kuopio, Finland 8–10 March
Svedala, Sweden 7–8 September
Sindelfingen, Germany 24–26 October
FRIMYNT
BEIJING
Helsingborg, Sweden 27 April
Beijing, China 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 120 YEARS
19.2
OLD WOODEN DUCK DECOYS (MAXIMUM CARD)
5.10
PINK/BLUE RIBBON GALA
20.4
ÅLAND GET-TOGETHER, ÅLAND STAMP COLLECTORS’ SOCIETY
9.10
STAMP DAY
4.6 15.6
WATER LILIES (MAXIMUM CARDS)
20.8
DATE NOT SET
PEACOCK BUTTERFLY (MAXIMUM CARD)
ÅLAND POST 20 YEARS
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.
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