Posti will publish ten stamp publications in January-June 2018. The Stamp Year will begin with the fairytale-like Valentine's Day stamps that feature much requested flower and animal themes. First day events will be moved from Tampere back to Helsinki Main Post Office.
The 2018 Valentine's Day stamps were designed by Leena Raappana-Luiro. The heart shape is present in the plant pictures, which are full of color and light. The Friendship is Light stamp booklet, which has five domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on January 24.
Santa Claus' Main Post Office, Posti's special shop in Rovaniemi, receives visitors from all over the world. To address them and all tourists fascinated by Finland, the assortment of international no-value indicator stamps will be complemented with Lapland-themed stamps designed by Stiina Hovi. The two stamps depict the northern lights and reindeer, which are favorite themes among tourists. The Enchantment of Lapland stamp booklet, which has ten international no-value indicator stamps, will be published on January 24.
In 2018, 200 years have elapsed since the birth of Zacharias Topelius, a famous Finnish author. Topelius, who is widely known in Finland as the "fairytale man", will be celebrated with a miniature sheet designed by Timo Berry. The sheet has a picture of the portrait of Topelius painted by Albert Edelfelt in 1889 and Rudolf Koivu's painting "Cradle and Angel Guardians" for Topelius' fairytale Adalmiina's pearl.The miniature sheet, which consists of two domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on January 24.
Susanna Rumpu and Ari Lakaniemi have designed the 2018 Easter stamps. The stamps depict children's Easter celebrations as they are today. The themes on the three stamps are a little boy dressed as the Easter Bunny, children preparing to present traditional rhymes at people's doors to receive treats, and a little witch with her treats. The Fresh and Healthy stamp sheet, which has 15 domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on February 28.
Posti will continue the Endangered Animals stamp sheet in cooperation with WWF Finland. The second publication in the series features arctic animals: the arctic fox, salmon and the snowy owl. The stamps have been designed by Petteri Mattila. The Endangered Animals stamp sheet, which has 15 domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on February 28.
The delighting themes on the stamps, which are illustrated by the beloved Minna Immonen, include the Veitch's peony, a hydrangea, a poppy, a harebell and a daisy. The stamps are suitable for greetings, for example, and convey sensitivity, joy, Finnishness and of course happiness. The Flowers of Happiness stamp sheet, which has fifteen domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on May 9.
The theme of the 2018 Europa stamps is bridges. For this theme, Posti will publish a stamp sheet designed by Klaus Welp. The two stamps in the stamp sheet depict a wooden bridge in the middle of an agricultural landscape in Humppila and a wilderness bridge in Suomussalmi. Europa: The Bridges stamp sheet, which has ten domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on May 9.
The theme in the Nordic series is fish. Erik Bruun has designed pictures of popular food fish for the Finnish stamps. The two stamps feature pike perch and a school of vendace.The Nordic: Fish stamp sheet, which has ten domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on June 6.
Of Finnish favorite tastes, the stamps feature coffee and salty licorice, for instance. Posti's customers proposed these and many other delicacies as stamp themes in spring 2017. Designed by Klaus Welp, the Finnish Tastes stamp booklet, which has six international no-value indicator stamps, will be published on June 6.
Minna Luoma has designed miniature sheets that feature the national costumes of Uskela and Jääski. Skillfully made details, such as a lace cap and buckle, were selected for the stamps together with the National Costumer Center of Finland. The National Costumes stamp sheet, which has six domestic no-value indicator stamps, will be published on June 6.
From January 2018 onwards, the first day events of new stamps will be arranged at Helsinki Main Posti Office. This will offer more and more visitors the possibility to have first day stamps on their items. New stamps, first day covers and other stamp products are on sale at the Main Post Office.
The first day events for the first half of 2018 will be arranged on January 24, February 28, May 9 and June 6.
All stamps available for sale are featured in Posti's online shop: www.posti.fi/goshopping.
