The 100th anniversary of the Union of Journalists in Finland is also celebrated with its own stamp
Stamp Year 2021 begins next Wednesday, January 20, when four new stamp publications with a total of 11 different stamp designs are released.
Caring, colors and decorative shapes
This year’s Valentine’s Day stamps feature fairytale-like animals and colorful patterns formed by flowers. The illustrations done by Riku Ounaslehto in his rich style portray a fluffy squirrel perched on a branch, a butterfly sipping nectar from a flower, a bird building a nest, a rabbit watering plants, a deer with a handsome pair of antlers and three bumblebees pollinating flowers.
“It was interesting to illustrate friendship through animals. Amid colors and decorative shapes, you can notice animals subtly showing how they care about each other and their surroundings. People, on the other hand, use flowers to show their loved ones that they care. Attached to the reverse side of a postcard, these stamps are like miniature flower deliveries,” says Ounaslehto.
The Let’s Take Care stamp booklet contains six different domestic non-value indicator stamp designs.
Familiar plants from grandmother’s garden
The new stamps illustrated by Oona Himanen present perennial ornamental plants that are familiar to many and grown in gardens and public spaces.
“For the stamps, I wanted to feature flowers that evoke memories and feelings. Columbines and orange lilies have a long tradition in Finland, and these flowers could also be found in my grandmother’s garden. In my opinion, both flowers are especially elegant and beautiful. The vivid and cheerful colors of the illustrations help brighten the mood and are a great choice for various congratulatory messages,” says Himanen.
Congratulate with Flowers will be issued as a 10-stamp sheet containing two different domestic non-value indicator stamp designs. In addition to this, there will also be a two-stamp sheet that includes both stamp designs.
Flowers convey spring messages
In her stamp designs, Paula Salviander depicts an abundant flower garden whose blooming flowers can be used to decorate spring messages sent during Easter, for example. The stamps feature daffodils, tulips, carnations, lilies, hydrangeas, Chinese hibiscuses, sunflowers, peonies and gerberas.
“Throughout history, flowers have been used to convey messages, and different flowers have had their own meanings. This made me think of a flower garden whose many colorful flowers convey the positive message of flowers in the form of stamps,” says Salviander.
Flower Garden will be issued as a 10-stamp sheet containing two different domestic non-value indicator stamp designs.
Journalism defends freedom of speech
The Union of Journalists in Finland will have its 100th anniversary on March 28. The anniversary is celebrated with a poster-style stamp designed by Ilkka Kärkkäinen. The stamp is about the freedom of expressing one’s opinion and the right to take part in discussions. “The simplified stamp design has the letter J and black and white speech bubbles that represent different opinions. The stamp also features the number 100, which refers to the anniversary,” says Kärkkäinen.
The Union of Journalists in Finland promotes its members’ professional standing, safeguards journalism and ethical standards and champions the freedom of speech. The union has about 14,000 members, who work in print media, radio, television and the publishing industry and for various communications companies.
“Every Finn has the right to receive information and participate in public discussion. We must stand up for these rights also for the next 100 years and make sure that Finnish citizens have sufficient and equal access to reliable information. This is why we need to protect the media’s ability to function also in the future,” says Hanne Aho, the Chairperson of the Union of Journalists in Finland.
in Finland 100 Years stamp sheet has 10 domestic non-value indicator stamps.
PLEASE NOTE! Due to restrictions related to the coronavirus situation, Posti will not hold a first-day event for the stamps issued in January.
All stamps for sale are featured in Posti’s online shop at posti.fi/goshopping