Tag: Posten Norge

From punishable crime to human value

Society’s expectations of gender expression and sexuality have changed radically over the past fifty years. In 2022, it will be 50 years since homosexual conduct was decriminalised in Norway. On 21 April 1972, Section 213 of the Norwegian Penal Code, which prohibited sexual acts between men, was repealed. This was a breakthrough for the homosexual movement and marked a more open fight for equal rights for homosexuals.

The unstinting work of Karen-Christine (Kim) Friele and the Norwegian Society of 1948 (DNF-48) led to complete legalisation. Over the past 50 years, we have therefore gone from legislation decreeing that homosexuality was a criminal offence to regarding equality rights for homosexuals and heterosexuals as a fundamental Norwegian value, which characterises both our society and culture.

Gender boundaries

Society used to regard sexuality as taboo, but attitudes have changed considerably and there is now growing respect for marriage equality for same-sex couples and their right to a church wedding. Gender boundaries have also become more fluid and each person has a “right to gender identity”, allowing individuals far greater freedom to express their gender identity the way they want. The gay rights movement was occasionally specific and almost exclusively focused on issues facing lesbians and male homosexuals. Today, the policy area has been expanded to include a far wider gender and sexuality field.

NEW STAMP 17 JUNE 2022

NK 2078 LOVE IS LOVE

Value and subject: Domestic 50g: The rainbow flag and a heart with the text “LOVE IS LOVE”

Design: Camilla Kvien Jensen

Issued in: Sheets of 50 stamps

Print: Offset from Joh. Enschedé Security Print

Print run: 100,000

In 1872, probably very few people knew of the event that took place in the history of philately that year. Now we know. Norway’s posthorn stamps would eventually become the world’s oldest, unbroken series of stamps.

The talented German-Norwegian architect Wilhelm von Hanno was commissioned to produce a design for the stamps. He was a well-known architect who designed the Trinity and Grønland churches, a school, fire station and police station in Oslo. He was also a sculptor and taught drawing to young students, one of whom was Theodor Kittelsen. Von Hanno worked with Heinrich Ernst Schirmer on a design for the new Parliament building. Although it won the competition in 1857, their proposal was later rejected.

In the first few years after 1872, the posthorn stamps had denominations in Skilling. Then in 1877, Norway started to issue them with denominations in Øre. There have been numerous different printers, printing techniques and designers over the years. The posthorn stamps were given a veritable facelift in 2001 by the stamp artists Sverre Morken and Enzo Finger. They combined the original motif of the stamp with modern, fivecolour offset production. The new stamps were issued in all the colours of the rainbow with a metallic gold crown and horn and silver under the wings, creating a series that is simultaneously on-trend and classic – a worthy 150-year-old world record holder!

NEW STAMP 17 JUNE 2022

NK 2077 POSTHORN

Value and subject: Kr 90.00: Posthorn

Design: Enzo Finger, Sverre Morken

Issued in: Sheets of 50 stamps

Print: Offset from Joh. Enschedé Security Print

Print run: Definitive issue