Category: Åland

Winter-strolling Åland hares on this year’s Chinese zodiac stamp issue 

 20 October sees a continuation of the odyssey of the Chinese horoscope animals in an Åland setting. On this ninth miniature sheet in the series, interpreting the Year of the Hare, artist Martin Mörck has illustrated hares in their winter-attire, roaming among modern holiday houses on northern Åland. 

Artist Martin Mörck was commissioned to illustrate the zodiac animal in an Åland winter setting. He explains: 

“White hare against white snow was the challenge. I thought of Bruno Liljefors and got to work. One of the modern cliff houses was to appear in the background, so, I used the reflections of the sea in the windows. I drew the water a little bluer than it might be at this time of year and a faint winter sun. It worked well as a contrast, and I could also use the blue tone for shadows in the snow. I gathered the hares in a small-talking group down by the reeds. The reeds became the warm element, along with the calligraphy. This time, there were no hidden details to discover, but I am very pleased with the result!” 

The mountain hare (Lepus timidus) is the only hare appearing in Åland. In the winter, they often roam among the modern holiday houses in northern Geta. The Havsvidden Resort with a guest harbour, hotel, and restaurant has been aorund for 30 years. In the early 2000s, the resort was expanded with modern cliff villas. Blending into the landscape among the red granite cliffs, the 40 cliff houses are equipped with 1–3 bedrooms, sauna, large terraces, and panoramic windows with sweeping views of the sea.

Facts about the issue 

Name of issue Hare 

Date of issue 20 October 2022 

Artist Martin Mörck 

Design Johanna Finne 

Calligraphy Ruizhen Liu 

Edition 25 000 

Denomination €3.60 

Price FDC €4.60 

Price maximum card €3.50 

Stamp size 60 × 50 mm 

Sheet size 170 × 95 mm 

Paper 110 g/m2 

Perforation 13 per 2 cm 

Process 4-colour offset 

Printer Cartor Security Printers 

The stamps are available for purchase in Åland Post Stamps webshop www.alandstamps.com.

Stamp focuses on tick-borne disease research in Åland

To spread knowledge about ticks, Åland Post spotlights the research in Åland into tick-borne diseases with an issue on 6 September. Tick-borne diseases are increasing worldwide, and Åland has one of the highest incidences of infections. Åland researchers have made important contributions to this field of research and developed much of the diagnostics used today. Åland illustrator Peter Bergström took on the task to illustrate the stamp motif.

On a background of elongated spirochetes of the bacterium borrelia, the stamp shows an adult female tick and a schematic picture of antibodies, which laboratory technicians try to detect when analysing blood samples. The spirochetes are also reminiscent of the swaying grass in which ticks often sit, waiting for people and animals to pass.

Borrelia burgdorferi is the name of the bacterium that ticks can carry and transmit through bites. The common tick Ixodes ricinus thrives in moist and shady places with dense undergrowth. The best way to protect yourself from ticks is to wear light clothing when in damp terrain and to keep the grass short. Still, less than 10% of ticks carry bacteria, and the infection is not always transmitted. The risk of infection is almost non-existent if you remove the tick within 24-48 hours after being bitten. 

Åland is a high-risk area for tick-borne diseases, which occur in large parts of the world and have become a public health problem in both the USA and Europe. Lyme disease is the world’s most common tick-related disease. Research in Åland has been dominated by finding a reliable method for detecting active Lyme disease. 

Illustrator Peter Bergström thought long and hard prior to accepting the  challenge of illustrating the blood-sucking arachnid: “I hesitated to take on the task for a long time. It’s a difficult and not very image-friendly motif. In the end, Åland Post convinced me, pointing out the importance and urgency of the subject.”

Facts about the issue

Name of issue Tick-borne disease research

Date of issue 6 September 2022

Artist Peter Bergström 

Design Johanna Finne 

Edition 45 000 

Denomination €2.70

Price FDC €3.70Stamp size 30×40 mm 

Sheet size 2×12 stamps

Paper 110 g/m2 

Perforation 13 per 2 cm 

Process 4-colour offset + UV-coating

Printer Cartor Security Printing

The stamps are available for purchase in Åland Post Stamps webshop www.alandstamps.com.

Sea-buckthorn juice from Åland – a postage stamp vitamin boost

This year’s theme for the Sepac stamp series issued by the small European postal administrations is locally produced beverages. As stamp motif, Åland Post decided to highlight sea-buckthorn, Åland’s own super berry. A varied range of sea-buckthorn beverages is produced in Åland. Tiina Tahvanainen has photographed the motif of the stamp to be issued on 6 September. 

 Åland is one of a few areas in Finland where sea-buckthorn grows in the wild. The wild shrubs grow in dense stands and thrive best on stone and gravel beaches. The thorny branches make the berries difficult to pick. The small  orange, juicy and sour berries of the sea-buckthorn ripen in the autumn and  contain high amounts of beneficial vitamins, antioxidants, and fats. Squeezed from the berries, the raw juice is used as such, but also as the base of jams, marmalades, syrups, and ice cream. The fruit pomace is also used in various products. 

Photographer Tiina Tahvanainen enjoyed the photo commission: “I’m always equally proud to be commissioned to make a stamp, and I love to work with set design. Getting everything right is the challenge. The position of every little berry matters because of the small format. First, I sketched on paper and tested different accessories and variations. I decided to use my grand-mother’s old juice bottles that are over 100 years old. It was a little sweaty to make them hold tight. As I started the assignment in the middle of winter, I first had to work with frozen berries, and I finished by photographing the berries in nature.” 

Facts about the issue 

Name of issue Sepac – locally produced beverages 

Date of issue 6 September 2022 

Photographer Tiina Tahvanainen 

Design Johanna Finne 

Edition 45 000 

Denomination €1.90 

Price FDC €2.90 

Stamp size 50×25,2 mm 

Sheet size 2×12 stamps 

Paper 110 g/m2 

Perforeration 13 per 2 cm 

Process 4-colour offset 

Printer Cartor Security Printing 

The stamps are available for purchase in Åland Post Stamps webshop www.alandstamps.com.