The other stamps published in October feature changes in everyday Finland as well as bridges and waterways
Itella Posti Oy will publish this year's enchanting Christmas stamps at the Helsinki Book Fair on Thursday, October 23. Other releases include a stamp booklet that celebrates the centennial year of Finnish independence and depicts the changing everyday life in Finland, and a roll of stamps featuring Finnish bridges and waterways. The four October stamp releases include no fewer than 18 different stamps.
The two Christmas stamps are full of fairy-tale atmosphere
This year, the Christmas stamps feature the artwork of Kristina Segercrantz, famous for several award-winning book illustrations. With these stamps executed with watercolor technique, Segercrantz wants to create a true Christmas fairy-tale atmosphere. In the blue-hued Christmas Eve Christmas-tariff stamp, an elf girl enjoys the enchanting atmosphere with a Christmas reindeer in candlelight. In the other Christmas stamp, the orange-hued Christmas Morning 1st-class stamp, an elf rings a large Christmas bell, feet off the ground. The graphic design of the Christmas stamps comes from Olavi Hankimo.
Six major changes in everyday Finland
In November 2013, Itella Posti Oy started its series of stamps to mark the centennial year of Finnish independence to be celebrated in 2017. This year, the theme of the stamps is changes in everyday life in Finland, influenced by, for instance, developing technology and globalization. Graphic artist Sami Saramäki has designed the Changes in Everyday Finland stamp booklet containing 1st-class stamps that depict six megatrends that have changed everyday life: information technology, culinary culture, domestic appliances, migration, pop culture and vehicles.
Ten different bridges in a stamp roll
The October releases also include a 100-piece roll of stamps that, by popular demand, features more motifs than before: no fewer than 10 different 1st-class stamps. The stamps depict Finnish bridges and waterways in different times of the year and day, photographed by Jaakko Tähti.
The spectrum of bridges ranges from small arch bridges in parks to major traffic bridges. The bridges in the stamps have been photographed in the following locations: Jyväskylä, Punkalaidun, Pihtipudas, Tampere, Vaajakoski, Viitasaari, Porvoo, Säkylä, Raippaluoto and Kärnänkoski. The graphic design of the Bridges and Waters stamps comes from a duo of experienced designers, Ari Lakaniemi and Susanna Rumpu.
The Helsinki Book Fair will feature designers, stamp products, special postmarks, competitions and prizes
Itella Posti Oy will be publishing the stamps on the opening day of the Helsinki Book Fair, Thursday, October 23, at the stand 7G35 at Messukeskus. The designers of the stamps will sign items and can be met at the first day event from 12 noon to 1 p.m. Items can be postmarked with unique first day cachets. First Day cancellations will be available during the entire day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Posti's stand 7H38 will sell all of these new stamps and the first day covers designed for them. At the stand, you can also buy the popular Helsinki stamp of the Stamp Day, depicting Merihaka in the evening.
The brand-new Stamp Year 2014 book will also be published at the Fair. The book tells the stories behind the stamps and also includes all stamps published throughout the year. In addition, the Stamp Year Pack 2014 will also become available for sale.
Posti will organize competitions at the Fair where you can win several collector's items, such as the sold-out first day cover for the Tom of Finland stamps, signed by designer Timo Berry, the first day cover signed by the F1 world champion Kimi Räikkönen and the special-edition Dudesons stamp prank sheet. In addition, prizes include five gilded sterling silver plates depicting the Helsinki stamp published in 1963. The stamp was designed by Tove Jansson's mother Signe Hammarsten-Jansson.
In connection with the Helsinki Book Fair, there will also be the Stamp Fair that has its own special postmark, designed by Jukka Talari. Posti's stand will also feature a mailbox: the items left in it will be postmarked with a special postmark.
All stamps available for sale are featured in Posti's online shop.
