Finland – Finlandia 88

This FDC of Finlandia 88 was issued in 1987 and is the third in the Finlandia 88 series. This miniature sheet as the ones in 1985, 1986 and 1988 were issued to support the World Stamp Exhibition. The stamps show the railway engine Lemminkainen. It was the engine used on 31^st January 1862 when the famous Helsinki – Hameenlinna line was inaugurated. Transporting mail started on this route in April 1862. The map shows the Finnish rail network in 1870 and in 1987. Incidentally, Hämeenlinna is the oldest railway station in Finland. The orgininal station building, designed by the architect Carl Albert Edelfelt, was destroyed during the Finnish Civil War in 1918. The current red brick station building was designed by Thure Hellström and completed in 1921. Hämeenlinna is located about halfway between Helsinki and Tampere. Ella sent me this wonderful cover.