Stamp Celebrates Åland’s 100

By Nancy Nygård

The first Åland stamp was issued on March 1, 1984. Since that time, sixteen stamp motifs have been available each year. The Åland Post must approve all stamp designs. Each design must describe nature, culture, history, industry, or society of the islands and be a medium for the promotion of Åland Two stamp designs commemorate the islands’ hundred years of autonomy.

The first series, One Hundred Years of Willfulness was released on February 1, 2022. The stamps are based on the graphic profile of the Åland anniversary year created by Annika Rehn Zetterqvist. They illustrate a few symbols that represent Åland and Ålanders’ willfulness.

Designer Anika explains, “The biggest challenge was the limited space and the request that the motifs would fit together like a puzzle. There is no main symbol except the sea, which of course cannot be ignored since we live on an island. Here, you find the important maritime history with both Pommern (sailing ship) and the Lågskar lighthouse, but also the midsummer crown as a familiar symbol of Åland’s cultural history. The deer represents public Åland, while the swan is a flirt with Finland. The Åland creativity and nature interact in the dragonfly created from cutlery spoons by scrap artist Johan Karlsson. The berry with leaves underneath is the logo of Åland’s development and sustainability agenda. The Åland network Bärkraft (sustainability) has won the EU’s sustainability award for having defined its own local agenda based on the UN’s global sustainability objectives. It suited the topic of willfulness well, the courage to go your own way and create something of your own.”

The second stamp design, ‘Åland autonomy one hundred years’ became available on June 9, 2022. Åland artist Jonas Wilén shows a cross section of the Åland Islands of today. If you wish to purchase stamps you can do so online: www.webshop.alandpost.com

Illustration by Annika Rehn Zetterqvist courtesy of Visit Åland.