Finns voted for a stamp featuring the holly blue, Finland’s national butterfly, as the most beautiful stamp released in 2019. The winning stamp was released last June in the Finnish Nature Symbols II roll of stamps, in which Stiina Hovi, the designer of the stamps, wanted to depict memories of summer familiar to many Finns. The photograph used for the Holly Blue stamp was taken by Esa Ervasti.
The two Forest Hike stamps, issued last September, were voted as the second and third most beautiful stamps. The stamps’ nostalgic images feature a girl and a boy in a forest with puppies. Suvi Roiko, who took the photos for the stamps, wanted to highlight the friendship between children and animals with her painting-like photos.
This is not the first time Stiina Hovi’s stamp designs have won competitions: Finns voted her Sound of Silence stamp as the most beautiful stamp of 2017. The same stamp was chosen as the best stamp in the world at the international Nexofil Awards both for 2018 and the five-year period from 2013 to 2017.
The top three were close in the number of votes
The public could vote for Finland’s most beautiful stamp on Posti’s website or by sending a postcard. 42,103 votes were cast, of which 38,527 were online votes and 3,576 postcard votes.
The result of the vote was very close, and the difference in the number of votes for the stamps in first and third place was only around 200. The winning stamp received 3,721 votes, the stamp in second place received 3,611 and the stamp in third place received 3,511 votes.
The postcard votes were accompanied by messages and wishes
Counting the votes for the Finland’s Most Beautiful Stamp competition is an exciting event in itself. This year, a group of six Posti employees took part in the process. Posti’s Design Manager Tommi Kantola, who led the vote counting process, was happy with the popularity of the competition.
“Over 10,000 more votes were cast compared to last year, and we also received many messages and ideas from our customers. The postcard votes included suggestions for new stamp subjects and topics for articles in Postinen. Some voters also decorated their postcards with their own drawings, stickers or even calligraphy.”
The top 10 in the Finland’s Most Beautiful Stamp vote
(the name of the stamp series is included in parentheses)
1. Holly Blue (Finnish Nature Symbols II), Stiina Hovi
2. Girl and Dog (Forest Hike), Suvi Roiko
3. Boy and Dogs (Forest Hike), Suvi Roiko
4. Birch Forest (Finnish Nature Symbols II), Stiina Hovi
5. Snowflakes, Paula Salviander
6. Kalle Päätalo, Ari Lakaniemi & Susanna Rumpu
7. Horse (Finnish Nature Symbols II), Stiina Hovi
8. European perch (Finnish Nature Symbols II), Stiina Hovi
9. Flower Crown (Floral Artistry), Paula Salviander
10. Calla, Oona Himanen
All stamps available for sale are featured in Posti’s online shop at: www.posti.fi/ostoksille
