Midsummer in Åland 27.4.1998

You can see them scattered here and there on the Åland islands; the stately and beautifully embellished Midsummer poles – a symbol for both Åland and the summer. is a beloved tradition. You are welcome to participate in the old rituals around the Åland Midsummer pole and help with all from decorating with leaves to pole rising. Midsummer is a festival that the people of Åland celebrate joyfully, preferably outdoors, with friends and family. The girls make wreaths of meadow flowers to wear on their heads. Joint dinners and the raising of the village’s Midsummer pole are also part of the Midsummer celebrations. The celebrations are also noticed in the grocery stores and shops which all close early at Midsummer Eve. Some are also closed on Midsummer Day, so shop your groceries in time! Traditional foods for midsummer are for example pickled fish and early potatoes in combination with well-chilled schnapps, smoked and pickled salmon, crisp bread or black bread – and a tasty strawberry cake for dessert. Midsummer Eve is always celebrated on the Friday that is included in the time period 19-25 of June.
In 1998 besides all the normal fervour Midsummer Festival was celebrated by Aland, by also issuing this commemorative stamp 4.20 and First Day Cover on 27.4.1998. Pia gave me this pretty FDC.

Ancient Coins of Cyprus 13.6.1977

Cyprus was, in the 6th century B.C., divided into ten kingdoms, those of Salamis, Paphos, Kourion, Kition, Lapithos, Marion, Amathus, Tamasos, Idalion and Soloi. Each kingdom had its own government with the Kings as an absolute monarch, who also had the right to strike coins. This right was continued to be held by the Kingdoms of Cyprus until the Ptolemaic conquest of the island at the end of the 4th century B.C. The most important of the kingdoms of Cyprus was that of Salamis where the first coins were struck circa 538 B.C., during the reign of King Evelthon. The remaining kingdoms struck coins in the 5th century B.C. The coins of the kingdoms of Cyprus were mainly of silver, but Salamis, Kition and Marion struck coins of gold during the 4th century B.C., most probably for economic reasons. Bronze was also used for the Cypriot coins.

The symbols on the Cypriot coins were at first of oriental origin but later in certain kingdoms they were replaced by Greek figures, mainly those of Gods Apollo and Athena. The inscriptions on the coins were at first in the Cypriot syllabary, but later from the 4th century B.C. in the Greek alphabetic writing. During the Ptolemaic period after 294 B.C. the coins of Cyprus struck in the three Cypriot mints of Salamis, Paphos and Kition, copied the types of Ptolemaic coins of Egypt. Of special importance were, in the Roman times, the coins of silver or bronze which had on the reverse the inscription "KOINON KYPRION" or the temple of Aphrodite and Paphos. These coins were struck in Cyprus as from the 1st century A.D.

My dear friend Merja gave me this First Day Cover commemorating The Ancient Coins of Cyprus which was issued on 13.6.1977. The coins featured on the stamps are (top left) bronze coin of Emperor Trajan; (top right) silver tetradrachm of Demetrios Poliorcetes; (lower left) silver tetradrachm of Ptolemy VIII; (lower right) gold octadrachm of Arsinoe II.

Bali Dances

This miniature sheet depicting dancers from Bali was issued in connection with Pariwisata or Tourism 1970. Balinese dances are a very ancient tradition that is a part of the religious expression among the Balinese people. In Hinduism, dance is an accompaniment to the perpetual dissolving and reforming of the world. The creative and reproductive balance is often personified as Shiva's wife, Durga, sometimes called Uma, Parvati, or Kali. This has significance in Balinese Hinduism, since the common figure of Rangda is similar in many ways to Durga. In Bali there are various categories of dance, including epic performances such as the omnipresent Mahabharata and Ramayana. Certain ceremonies at village temples feature a special performance of a dance-drama, a battle between the mythical characters Rangda, and the witch representing evil, and Barong, the lion or dragon, representing good. Among the dance traditions in Bali, Barong, Legong and Kecak deserve special mention.

For those interested, Bali is an Indonesian island located in the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, lying between Java to the west and Lombok to the east. It is one of the country's 33 provinces with the provincial capital at Denpasar towards the south of the island (strictly speaking, the province covers a few small neighbouring islands as well as the isle of Bali). With a population recorded as 3,891,000 in the 2010 Census, the island is home to most of Indonesia's small Hindu minority. In the 2000 census about 92.29% of Bali's population adhered to Balinese Hinduism while most of the remainder follow Islam. It is also the largest tourist destination in the country and is renowned for its highly developed arts, including traditional and modern dance, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking, and music. Bali, a tourist haven for decades, has seen a further surge in tourist numbers in recent years.

Greenland 24.5.2008 - Royal Wedding - Joachim & Marie

Greenland issued this FDC to commemorate this Royal Wedding in the Danish Royal Household. The Bridegroom was Prince Joachim of Denmark, Count of Monpezat (born in Copenhagen, 7 June 1969) a member of the Danish Royal Family. He is the younger son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, Prince Consort of Denmark. Joachim is sixth in line to the Danish throne, following his elder brother the Crown Prince and his four children. And the Bride was Marie Agathe Odile, Princess of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat, (née: Marie Agathe Odile Cavallier; born 6 February 1976) is the second wife of Prince Joachim of Denmark.
The wedding took place on Saturday 24 May 2008 at 1700 in Møgeltønder Church. The ceremony was performed by Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen. A wedding banquet was held at the couple's home, Schackenborg Castle. Upon her marriage to Joachim, Marie's title is Her Royal Highness Princess Marie of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat. Marie, who had been a French citizen and a member of the Roman Catholic Church, became, in connection with the marriage, a Danish citizen and a member of the Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Denmark. Thank you My Dear friend Maria for this nice FDC.

Centenary of films in Finland 1.4.1996

This lovely First Day Cover and the nice stamps on it given to me by my dear friend Pia were issued on 01 April 1996. It was to commemorate the Centenary of Films in Finland. The eight stamps portray eight well known Finnish movies. They are :-

1/8 – Juha

2/8 – Laveata tietä
3/8 – Tuntematon sotilas
4/8 – Old projector

5/8 – Jäniksen vuosi
6/8 – Valkoinen peura
7/8 – Kaikki rakastavat

8/8 – Varjoja paratiisissa

Finland is a country of exciting extremes — bright summers complimented by long, dark winters. Just about any landscape your film requires, from lush, untouched wilderness to urban environments, Finland is a nest of possibilities. And thanks to first-rate infrastructure, all locations are easily accessible via road. As a world leader in cutting-edge technology, cell phone coverage and Internet access in Finland is never a problem, even in the backwoods. What about working with local crews? Accessibility and punctuality are a trademark of the Finnish people: regardless of weather and unforeseen circumstances, Finns not only get things done, but they get them done on time. And, this is just the sort of infrastructure and environment required for the movies industry to flourish.
The first Finnish fiction film, Salaviinanpolttajat ("Bootleggers") by Louis Sparre and Teuvo Puro premiered on May 29th, 1907.in Helsinki.
"Not even still pictures were preserved. Even the plot is only known on the basis of newspaper advertisements", says Sakari Toiviainen, 60, a researcher at the Finnish Film Archive. He started work at the archive in 1968, and is the longest-serving employee there.
To mark the centenary of Finnish film, he released a magnificent book Sata vuotta - sata elokuvaa ("One Hundred Years - One Hundred Films").
The moving image itself first came to Finland already in the summer of 1896, when films by the Lumière brothers were shown. The first actual cinemas were built at the beginning of the century. The first Finnish short documentaries are believed to have been produced in Finland in 1904.

Tuvalu - 80th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force

Tuvalu, formerly known as the Ellice Islands, is a Polynesian island nation located in the Pacific Ocean, midway between Hawaii and Australia. Its nearest neighbours are Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa and Fiji. It comprises four reef islands and five true atolls. Its population of 10,472 makes it the third-least populous sovereign state in the world, with only Vatican City and Nauru having fewer inhabitants. In terms of physical land size, at just 26 square kilometres (10 sq mi) Tuvalu is the fourth smallest country in the world, larger only than the Vatican City at 0.44 km² (0.17 sq mi), Monaco at 1.95 km² (0.75 sq mi) and Nauru at 21 km² (8.1 sq mi). And Tuvalu decided to commemorate the 80^th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force, with these stamps in 1998. In this connection a short brief about the RAF would not be out of place.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world The RAF has taken a significant role in British military history, playing a large part in the Second World War and in more recent conflicts. As of mid 2011, the RAF operates around 998 aircraft; as such it is one of the largest and most technologically sophisticated air forces in the world. The RAF has a total manpower strength of 42,200 regular personnel and 1,500 Royal Auxiliary Air Force personnel. In addition the RAF can call-upon 33,400 Royal Air Force Reserves. The majority of the RAF's aircraft and personnel are based in the UK with many others serving on operations (principally Afghanistan and the Middle East) or at long-established overseas bases (Ascension Island, Canada, Cyprus, Diego Garcia, Gibraltar, the Falkland Islands and Germany). The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence (MoD), which are to "provide the capabilities needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government’s foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security."

The above statement goes hand in hand with the RAF's definition of air power, the concept that guides the RAF strategy. Air Power is defined as: "The ability to project military force in air or space by or from a platform or missile operating above the surface of the earth. Air platforms are defined as any aircraft, helicopter or unmanned air vehicle."

Paavo Johannes Nurmi - The Flying Finn 11.12.1973

Paavo Johannes Nurmi, born June 13,1897 at Turku, Finland and died seventy-six years later on October 2, 1973 at Helsinki Finland. He was the son of Johan Fredrik Nurmi, carpenter, and Matilda Vilhelmina Laine.
Paavo Nurmi is considered the greatest runner of all time. He was known as "The King of Runners" or the "Flying Finn". Famous all over the world, Nurmi became an unending source of national pride for the newly independent Finland. Paavo Nurmi was driven by love of running. He had a burning will to succeed in life, and racing was his way to gain recognition from his fellow men and to fulfil the high standards he had set for himself. Martti Jukola, a famous Finnish sports journalist, wrote in 1935: "There was something inhumanly stern and cruel about him, but he conquered the world by pure means: with a will that had supernatural power." He made his Olympic debut at the 1920 Antwerp Games. He took the competition by storm winning gold medals in the 10,000m, the cross-country individual and team event. He also claimed a silver in the 5,000m. Brilliance in Paris .At the 1924 Paris Games, Nurmi made history by becoming the first athlete ever to win five gold medals at a single Olympic Games. In the space of four astonishing days, Nurmi won the 1500m, the 5,000m, the 3,000m team event and the two cross-country events. The one that got away. Nurmi had hoped to defend his 10,000m title, but Finnish officials, fearing for his health, refused to enter him in the event. Back in Finland, an angry Nurmi made his point by setting a 10,000m world record that would last for almost 13 years.

Professional controversy. At the 1928 Amsterdam Games, Nurmi completed his Olympic career by winning the 10,000m and earning silver medals in the 5,000m and the steeplechase. By this time, Nurmi was so famous he was invited to become the main attraction in athletic meets worldwide. This prompted the IAAF to brand him a professional, causing him to miss out on the 1932 Olympic Games and a possible 10th gold medal.

At three Olympic Games from 1920 to 1928 Nurmi won a total of twelve medals. Nine gold and three silver. Three golds and one silver at Antwerp in 1920, five golds at Paris in 1924 and one gold and two silvers at Amsterdam in 1928. Paavo Nurmi is one of the most successful male athletes in Olympic history and one of only four athletes to win nine Olympic gold medals.
Marjatta Väänänen, the Finnish Minister of Education, said in her commemoration speech at his funeral, "Records will be broken, gold medals will lose their lustre, winners find their victors. However, as a historical concept, Paavo Nurmi will never be beaten." On October 11th, 1973, Paavo Nurmi was given a state funeral. The ceremony took place in the Old Church of Helsinki. From there he was taken in a motorcade to his native Turku where he was buried in the family grave at the Old Cemetery. 

My dear friend Ella sent me this wonderful FDC.

150th anniversary of Juhani Aho 5.9.2011

Stamps published this fall in Finland depict national themes, as the new stamps released on September 5 celebrate the 150th anniversary of Juhani Aho. Juhani Aho (1861-1921), a Finnish icon, was one of the first professional authors in Finland. The 150th anniversary of his birth will be celebrated on September 11. In honour of the anniversary, a miniature sheet of two stamps designed by Timo Berry and Teemu Ollikainen will be published on September 5, depicting Juhani Aho’s career: his work as an author and journalist, and the strong sense of patriotism that characterized it.

One of the stamps (left one on the mini sheet) depicts Juhani Aho's extensive novel collection, which strongly represented Finnish nature, attitudes and social changes. His most beloved works include Rautatie, Papin rouva and Juha. Aho modernized Finnish prose, while filtering international influences into his works. The stack of papers depicted in the stamp is a reference to the concise type of short stories developed by the author - woodchips. The second stamp is associated with Juhani Aho's career as a journalist for Finnish newspapers. Aho was one of the founders of the Päivälehti newspaper (published between 1890 and 1904) where he discussed many of the day's burning issues, including the position of women and workers. The picture below the stamp illustrates the young editors of Päivälehti.
Aho's literary output is wide-ranging since he pursued different styles as time passed. He started as a realist and his first novel Rautatie (Railroad, 1884), which is considered one of his main works, is from this period. Later he moved towards neoromanticism with novels Panu and Kevät ja takatalvi as well as Juha. The last one is one of his most famous works and has been twice as adapted an opera, by Aare Merikanto and by Leevi Madetoja, and to film four times, most recently in 1999 by Aki Kaurismäki. His novel Yksin (Alone), published in 1890, controversially bold by the standards of Finnish literature in that epoch, is a roman à clef. Its tale of unfulfilled love is the autobiographical novel of Aho's passion for Aino Järnefelt who, at that time, was secretly engaged to Jean Sibelius, whom she would later marry. The initial feelings of anger and jealousy that reading the novel provoked in Sibelius were soon forgotten and, in later life, Aho and Sibelius were close friends as well as neighbours in Järvenpää, where the composer had a villa baptized "Ainola" (the Realm of Aino).
In addition to his novels Aho wrote a number of short stories of distinct style, called "splinters" ("lastuja" in Finnish). Their topics could vary from political allegories to depictions of everyday life. The first and most famous of the short stories is When Father Brought Home the Lamp, depicting the effect of the innovation on people living on countryside. Nowadays the title is a Finnish saying used when something related to new technology is introduced.
Aho was one of the founders of Päivälehti, the predecessor of the biggest newspaper in Finland today, Helsingin Sanomat. My dear friend Ella sent me this cover.

Kalevala - Aino & Väinämöinen 5.9.1997

This wonderful Miniature sheet on the FDC is indeed a tribute to the well known epic in Finland. The stamps and the cover were issued on 5.9.1997. Aino is a figure in the Finnish national epic Kalevala. It relates that she was the beautiful sister of Joukahainen. Her brother, having lost a singing contest to Väinämöinen, promised Aino's "hands and feet" in marriage if Väinämöinen would save him from drowning in the swamp into which Joukahainen had been thrown. Aino's mother was pleased at the idea of marrying her daughter to such a famous and well born person, but Aino did not want to marry such an old man. Rather than submit to this fate, Aino drowned herself (or ended up as a nix). However, she returned to taunt the grieving Väinämöinen as a salmon. The name Aino, meaning "only", was invented by Elias Lönnrot who composed the Kalevala. In the original poems she was mentioned as the "only daughter" (ainoa tytär). Painting by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, depicting the Aino Story of Kalevala on three panes: The left one is about the first encounter of Väinämöinen and Aino in the forest. The right one depicts mournful Aino weeping on the shore and listening to the call of the maids of Vellamo who are playing in the water. The central pane depicts fishing Väinämöinen having thrown away a small fish, now turning out to be Aino, who laughs at him and vanishes forever. This beautiful set of three cards were given to me by My Dear Friend Pia

During the national romantic period at the end of the 19th century the mythological name Aino was adopted as a Christian name by Fennoman activists. Among the first to be named so were Aino Järnefelt (Aino Sibelius), born 1871 and Aino Krohn (the later Aino Kallas), born 1878. According to the Finnish Population Register Centre, over 60,000 women have been given the name. It was especially popular in the early 20th century, and the most common first name for women in the 1920s. It has returned to favor in the 21st century; it was the most popular name for girls in Finland in 2006 and 2007.

The Pharaoh on his Chariot.

This lovely stamp was issued by Egypt on 2^nd January 2000 on Post Day (Scott # 1739). The stamp was imperforated. To me it seems that the Pharaoh is either going out hunting, or leading his men in war. Whatever he was doing, he looks mighty impressive. My dear friend Maria gave this wonderful stamp to me.

Anti tuberculosis fund raising stamps 12.9.1973

The displayed FDC dated 12.9.1973 has stamps on the cover, which are Anti tuberculosis fund raising stamps. Which means that part of the revenue obtained from the sale of these stamps was used towards prevention of tuberculosis, especially in children. The paintings on these stamps are by Hugo Simberg, Vilho Sjostrom and Juho Rissanen respectively. My dear friend Ella sent me this pretty FDC.

Painters Simberg and Juho Rissanen are well known for most of Finnish people. But, Sjöström is familiar to only those who are interested in art. All these three Finnish artist were born in 1873, thus 1973 was the 100^th anniversary of their birth. This cover and the stamps were issued to commemorate that very event.

Hugo Simberg (1873-1917) was a symbolist painter and graphic artist. He was born at Hamina. In 1891, at the age of 18, he enrolled at the Drawing School of the Viipuri Friends of Art, and also studied at the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Association. In 1895 he became the private pupil of Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Simberg studied with Gallen for three periods. In 1896 Simberg went to London, and in 1897 to Paris and Italy. During these years he exhibited several works at the Finnish Artists' autumn exhibitions, including 'Autumn', 'Frost' and 'The Devil Playing Music'. Critical success led to his being made a member of the Finnish Art Association, and to his being appointed to teach at the Drawing School of the Viipuri Friends of Art. In 1904 he was commissioned to decorate the interior of Saint John's church in Tampere (now Tampere cathedral), a project which he carried out with Magnus Enckell between 1904 and 1906. He died at Ähtäri in 1917. The two characters Simberg used most frequently for his art are the "Poor Devil" and Death personified. Simberg's paintings emphasize topics macabre or supernatural. A good example of this is his painting Kuolema kuuntelee ("Death Listens"). Simberg's famous painting The Wounded Angel, too, is somewhat gloomy, its titular character appearing in the shape of a winged angel with a bandaged head, borne on a stretcher by two somberly dressed boys, one of whom looks toward the viewer with a serious expression. The painting is the best known of the artist's works and is especially famous in Finland. The painting on the stamp is A girl and a lamb. This painting is realistic in style.

Wilho Sjöström (1873-1944) was a Finnish painter and professor. He had many positions of trust and because of this he was an opinion-leader. Sjöström studied from 1891 to 1893 at the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Association like Simberg. He also was a pupil of Akseli Gallen-Kallela. He studied in Paris, Copenhagen, Florence, Rome and London.

Sjöström paited in realistic style. He painted landscapes mainly, especially flowing waters, lakes and rivers. He also painted many portraits, for example a portrait of Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim. The painting on the stamp is ‘Summer evening’.

Juho Rissanen (1873-1950) was born in Kuopio and he died in Miami, Florida. His family was a working-class family. Rissanen was one of the first Finnish painters whose parents were from working class. Rissanen painted ordinary country folk and ordinary Finns at work. When Rissanen was ten years old, his father got lost on the ice in winter; he was drunk and froze to death. This was a traumatic experience for a young boy. Rissanen has painted many paintings about this. Rissanen emigrated from Finland in 1918 to Denmark. Later he moved to France and then to the United States. The stamp on the FDC is ’Mountain spring’ painted in 1903.

100th anniversary of Finnish comics 5.9.2011

Who doesn’t like comics. Most of us read comics in our childhood and youth. And many like me even now. I just love them. When one enters the world of comics, daily stresses and strains don’t stand a chance, at least while I am reading it. My dear friend Ella, sent me this FDC and a couple of maxicards commemorating Finnish comics.

The year 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of Finnish comics. November 21st 1911 was the day when the first ever Finnish comic book was printed, The author was 19-year old Ilmari Vainio and the book Professori Itikaisen tutkimusretki (The Expedition of professor Itikainen, WSOY). The comic book has had several printings since then, and this year it is published as an anniversary edition. Itikainen’s story is very typical for its own time, travelling around the world in a balloon, wondering strange and funny places and cultures. This event was celebrated on 5.9.2011 by publishing a stamp sheet designed by Ville Tietäväinen, entitled The 100th Anniversary of Finnish Comics, depicting the family tree of Finnish comics. The pictorial motifs include popular characters from the first six decades of Finnish comics from the 1910s to the 1960s. The selected images represent the most distinctive features of each character. The 1910s are represented by Ola Fogelberg's Janne Ankkanen which was published in Suomen Kuvalehti and later in Kansan Kuvalehti. Hjalmar Löfving's Olli Pirteä, which was published in Sirkka, represents the 1920s. The 1930s return with Herra Kerhonen, whose author, Gösta Thilén, is regarded as one of the masters of wordless comics. The 1940s are represented by Antti Puuhaara, which was published in Yhteishyvä as drawn by Aarne Nopsanen and written by Raul Roine. For the 1950s, the stamp sheet features Kili ja Possu, written by Olavi Vikainen, who specialized in animal characters in children's comics that were published in a number of Finnish and Swedish papers. The stamp for the 1960s depicts Unto Uneksija, which was published in Pellervo. Veikko Savolainen, its creator, is better known as Joonas thanks to one of his later works. Professor Itikainen the first Finnish comics character is inspecting the tree of comics - the miniature stamp sheet depicting different comics characters from the early decades in 20th century. The first day cancellation forms a speech bubble.

The Orient Express

This Miniature sheet was issued by DPR Korea to commemorate The Orient Express which was the name of a long-distance passenger train service originally operated by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. It ran from 1883 to 2009 and is not to be confused with the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train service, which continues to run. My dear friend Maria sent me this minisheet. I am not sure if she has travelled on this famous route. To an extent Agatha Christie made this train famous by her mystery “Murder on the Orient Express”.
The route and rolling stock of the Orient Express changed many times. Several routes in the past concurrently used the Orient Express name, or slight variants thereof. Although the original Orient Express was simply a normal international railway service, the name has become synonymous with intrigue and luxury travel. The two city names most prominently associated with the Orient Express are Paris and Istanbul, the original end points of the timetabled service. In 1977, the Orient Express stopped serving Istanbul. Its immediate successor, a through overnight service from Paris to Vienna, ran for the very last time from Paris on Friday, June 8, 2007. After this, the route, still called the "Orient Express", was shortened to start from Strasbourg instead, occasioned by the inauguration of the LGV Est which affords much faster travel times from Paris to Strasbourg. The new curtailed service left Strasbourg at 22.20 daily, shortly after the arrival of a TGV from Paris, and was attached at Karlsruhe to the overnight sleeper service from Amsterdam to Vienna.
On 14 December 2009, the Orient Express ceased to operate and the route disappeared from European railway timetables, reportedly a "victim of high-speed trains and cut-rate airlines". The Venice-Simplon Orient Express train, a private venture using original carriages from the 1920s and 30s, continues to run from London to Venice and to other destinations in Europe, including the original route from Paris to Istanbul. The first menu on board (October 10, 1882): oysters, soup with Italian pasta, turbot with green sauce, chicken ‘à la chasseur’, fillet of beef with ‘château’ potatoes, ‘chaud-froid’ of game animals, lettuce, chocolate pudding, buffet of desserts.

The Evening Standard 1996 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 96)

The FDC displayed, is a Football souvenir cover with Wembly/Evening Standard cancellation. The 1996 UEFA European Football Championship (Euro 96) was hosted by England, who won the right to host the tournament ahead of bids from Austria, Portugal and the Netherlands. It was the tenth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and endorsed by UEFA. It was the first to use the "Euro" name, and the first where 16 nations competed. The tournament's final stages took place between 8 and 30 June 1996. The slogan of the tournament was "Football Comes Home", as England is where the rules of the game were first standardised. English football and popular culture has since referenced the competition fondly, even though the home team did not reach the final. The five footballers appearing on these stamps have been chosen by the general public through a national poll organised by the Royal Mail, the result of which will be made public in February 1996, and were :-
- 19p stamp: Dixie Dean -
- 25p stamp: Bobby Moore -
- 35p stamp: Duncan Edwards -
- 41p stamp: Billy Wright -
- 60p stamp: Danny Blanchflower -

Turku Castle 4.5.1961

Turku Castle is a monument of Finnish history situated in the city of Turku in Finland. Together with Turku Cathedral, the castle is one of the oldest buildings still in use in Finland. Turku Castle is the largest surviving medieval building in Finland and one of the largest surviving medieval castles in Scandinavia. It stands as a national monument, on the banks of the Aura River, as it has done since the 14th century. The history of Turku Castle stretches back to the 1280s. The castle's heyday was in the mid 16^th century, during the rule of Duke Johan and Katarina Jagellonica. Among others, the Renaissance floor was built at that time.
Turku Castle was founded on an island on the estuary of Aurajoki River in the 1280s as the administrative castle of the Swedish Crown. The water level was three and half meters higher than now in those days, therefore, the castle was located on an island. The castle was originally built in the form of a rectangular fortified camp. The fortified camp became a closed castle in the early 14th century, and the castle was divided into a main castle and bailey. Under the Swedish Duke Johan between 1556 and 1563, Turku Castle was renovated into a handsome renaissance castle; this is when its main features became the size they are today. In the 1630s the bailey became the official residence for Pietari Brahe, the governor general of Finland. In the late 18th century, after the county governor and Higher Regional Court had moved from the castle to town, the castle underwent significant changes. The bailey became a prison and the main castle became a granary. The castle functioned as a prison until the 1890s after which the historical museum was placed in the bailey. Turku Castle was damaged by Soviet aircraft in the beginning days of the Continuation War 1941. Restoration of the castle to its former Renaissance glory had begun before the war and went on gradually after it, over the decades. The renovation was complete in 1987 and the castle was handed over on October 12, 1993 to the City of Turku which is entrusted with its operation for the Finnish state, its owner.The fully repaired castle was opened to the public in 1961. Turku Castle is a significant landmark at the mouth of Aurajoki River, and it is surrounded by the harbour and the small-scale industry and strorage areas that go with it. The Castle is part of the Finnish cultural and architectural heritage as an architectural monument, a museum and as premises for distinguished celebrations. The Castle has been rented to Turku City for the use of the Museum Centre of Turku. The castle is Finland's most visited museum, with attendance reaching 200,000 in some years. In addition, many of the larger rooms are used for municipal functions. My dear friend Pia gave me this cover postmarked 4.5.1961.

Luganskteplovoz diesel locomotives Plant

These four Ukrainian stamps on the First Day Cover were issued on 8.8.2008 for celebrating the Luhansktepovoz locomotives Plant in Luhansk in the Ukraine. This locomotives factory is mainly employed in manufacturing Diesel locomotives. Luhanskteplovoz, earlier known as Voroshilovgrad Locomotive works is a large industrial company in Luhansk, Ukraine, manufacturing locomotives, multiple unit trains (both electric and diesel) as well as other heavy equipment. The company was founded in 1896 as Russischen Maschinenbaugesellschaft Hartmann in Luhansk and renamed Lokomotive factory Octoberrevolution (after the October Revolution) in 1918 following the Russian revolution. In the second half of the twentieth century the plant produced thousands of the well known 'M62' and DR Class 130 (TE109) ("ludmillas") diesel electric locomotives for eastern European Soviet Bloc countries. My dear friend Ella gave me this nice FDC.

Europa 1992 - 500 Years of the discovery of America 29.5.1992

The theme chosen by the European Postal and Telecommunications Organisation (CEPT) for Europa 92 was "500 years since the discovery of America". The Cyprus issue consisted of four stamps, in pairs of two of the same value, as shown on the First Day Cover. The 10c+10c pair depicts Columbus' first voyage and embarkation at Palos. The second pair of 30c+30C depicts a portrait of Columbus with the ships "Santa Maria", "Nina" and "Pinta".

In the 15th century, the Europeans basically carried out their voyages of discovery for economic reasons, i.e. difficulties in free trade with the East, stories about large quantities of gold and the desire of the Europeans to control international trade. The voyages of discovery were possible because of new means such as the building of the caravel - a long, narrow, agile and resistant ship - the discovery of the compass and the use of other instruments such as the astrolabe, sextant and maps.
Christopher Columbus was born, probably at Genoa - there is no agreement as to the date, 1463 or 1446/7 or 1451. He was engaged in trade later with sea voyages. Columbus, convinced of the spherical shape of the Earth, nurtured ambitious plans of discoveries. He tried in vain to convince the king of Portugal John II to assign him the discovery of a new route to the Indies something that could be achieved by traveling westwards all the time. The same thing happened when he initially asked for the help of Ferdinand and Isabella, king and queen of Aragon and Castille.
Finally Columbus got help from the Spanish kings and on August 2, 1492 he set sail the three ships, the "Santa Maria", the "Pinta", and "Nina" from the Andalusian port of Palos to discover the Indies. Traveling continuously westwards he arrived on October 12 in the Antilles. The first island sighted by Columbus was called San Salvator. Today this island is identified with Watling island in the Bahamas. Columbus made three more voyages (1493, 1498, 1502) without finding the quantities of gold he had been dreaming. He died in poverty on May 20, 1506 convinced that he had reached Asia, in the West Indies.
The discovery of Columbus changed the course of humanity and enriched the world with a new continent. It has caused a revision and modernization of science and technology and brought about tremendous development in the economy of the world. My dear friend Merja gave me this lovely cover.

Finland celebrates 400th Anniversary of publication New Testament 2.10.1948

Translation of the New Testament into Finnish and development of a Finnish grammar was made by Mikael Agricola (1510-1557), Bishop of Turku, leader of the Reformation in Finland. To commemorate this important event. A First Day cover was issued in conjunction with these two stamps on 2.10.1948. My dear friend Pia gave me this FDC.
Mikael Agricola was a great advocate of Lutheranism, is considered the father of Finnish literature. His ABC-book published 1538 is the first known book in Finnish, but the translation of New Testament (1548) is his greatest achievement. The New Testament, also referred to as the "Christian Greek Scriptures", is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament.
Unlike the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible, of which Christians hold different views, the contents of the New Testament deal explicitly with 1st century Christianity, although both the Old and New Testament are regarded, together, as Sacred Scripture. The New Testament has therefore (in whole or in part) frequently accompanied the spread of Christianity around the world, and both reflects and serves as a source for Christian theology. Phrases as well as extended readings directly from the New Testament are also incorporated (along with readings from the Old Testament) into the various Christian liturgies. The New Testament has influenced not only religious, philosophical, and political movements in the Christian world, but also left an indelible mark on its literature, art, and music. The New Testament is an anthology, a collection of works written at different times by various authors. In almost all Christian traditions today, the New Testament consists of 27 books. The original texts were written beginning around AD 50 in Koine Greek, the lingua franca of the eastern part of the Roman Empire where they were composed. All of the works which would eventually be incorporated into the New Testament would seem to have been written no later than the mid-2nd century.

China 2009 World Stamp Exhibition Theme Days

These two commemorative covers were given to me by my dear friend Maria. The 2009 World Stamp Exhibition was held from April 10 to 16, 2009 in Luoyang, Henan Province. Each of the seven days during the event was devoted to a theme; namely Philatelic Exhibition Day, Youth & Teenager Activity Day, Post Day,

Heluo Culture Day, International Philately Peak Forum Day, Award Day and FIP/FIAP Day, respectively. To mark the event China National Philatelic Corporation specially issued a set of seven covers.

Two of these covers are shown here. They are of the 10th and the 11th April respectively. They depict the Philatelic Exhibition day: The inauguration ceremony and the issuance ceremony. And, The Youth and Teenager Activity Day: Children’s painting contest based on stamp designs. And on this ocassion some 2000 children exhibited their paintin skills.

50th Anniversary of end of World War II

Victory in Europe Day (V-E Day or VE Day) commemorates on 8 May 1945 (in Commonwealth countries; 7 May 1945), the date when the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany and the end of Adolf Hitler's Third Reich. The formal surrender of the occupying German forces in the Channel Islands was not until 9 May 1945. On 30 April Hitler committed suicide during the Battle of Berlin, and so the surrender of Germany was authorized by his replacement, President of Germany Karl Dönitz. The administration headed by Dönitz was known as the Flensburg government. The act of military surrender was signed on 7 May in Reims, France, and ratified on 8 May in Berlin, Germany. Maria sent me this lovely FDC issued by Saint Lucia to commemorate this momentous day in human history.
The mini sheet on the cover shows a replica of The War Medal 1939–1945 which was established on August 16th 1945, and was awarded to all personnel of the armed forces of the British Commonwealth (excluding the Home Guard) and Merchant Navies for having served at least 28 days, operational or non-operational, between September 3rd 1939 and September 2nd 1945. For members of the Merchant Navy the 28 days had to be served at sea. The medal was granted in addition to the other campaign stars and the Defence Medal. A few categories of civilians, such as war correspondents and civil air transport crews also qualified. A single oak leaf emblem is worn to signify a "Mention-in-Despatches" and the silver oak leaf signifying a "King’s Commendation for Brave Conduct" is worn on the medal. There are no bars or clasps other than these emblems.
The circular medal is made of cupro-nickel, except the Canadian issue, which is silver, It is 1.42 inches in diameter. The obverse shows the crowned coinage effigy of King George VI, facing left, and the legend GEORGIVS VI D : BR : OMN : REX ET INDIAE IMP :. The reverse of the medal shows a lion standing on the body of a dragon. This dragon is double-headed, one of an eagle and one of a dragon to signify the principal occidental and oriental enemies. At the top are the dates 1939/1945.
The ribbon is 1.25 inches wide and red, white and blue with a narrow red stripe in the centre with a narrow white stripe on either side, broad red stripes at either edge with two intervening stripes of blue.

600th Anniversary of the City of Porvoo3.12.1946

Porvoo is a city and a municipality situated on the southern coast of Finland approximately 50 kilometres (30 mi) east of Helsinki. Porvoo is one of the six medieval towns in Finland, first mentioned as a city in texts from 14th century. Porvoo is the seat of the Swedish speaking Diocese of Borgå of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland. The town received its name from a Swedish earth fortress near the river Porvoonjoki which flows through the town. The name Porvoo is the Fennicised version of the Swedish name (Borgå) and its parts of borg meaning "castle" and å "river". Porvoo was first mentioned in documents in the early 14th century, and Porvoo was given city rights around 1380, even though according to some sources the city was founded in 1346. The old city of Porvoo was formally disestablished and the new city of Porvoo founded in 1997 when the city of Porvoo and the Rural municipality of Porvoo were consolidated. When Sweden lost the city of Viborg to Russia in 1721, the episcopal seat was moved to Porvoo. At this time, Porvoo was the second largest city in Finland. After the conquest of Finland by Russian armies in 1808 Sweden had to cede Finland to Russia in 1809 (the Treaty of Fredrikshamn). The Diet of Porvoo in 1809 was a landmark in the History of Finland. The Tsar Alexander I confirmed the new Finnish constitution (which was essentially the Swedish constitution from 1772), and made Finland an autonomous Grand Duchy.

The Porvoo Common Statement is a report issued at the conclusion of theological conversations by official representatives of four Anglican Churches and eight Nordic and Baltic Lutheran Churches in 1989–1992. It established the Porvoo Communion, so named after the Porvoo Cathedral where the Eucharist was celebrated on the final Sunday of the conversations leading to the Statement. My dear friend Pia gave me this FDC which was issued on 3.12.1946 to commemorate the 600^th Anniversary of the City.

Pope Benedict’s First Papal Visit to Cyprus 4.6.2010

Pope Benedict XVI’s overseas travels typically involve vast crowds of adoring Catholics, often squeezed into sports stadiums or public venues for large-scale Masses.
But when Benedict made the first official papal visit to Cyprus in June 4-6 2010, his total flock numbered just 25,000, and his main speech was held in the sports field of an elementary school. Even so, Benedict’s words and gestures during his brief visit resonated far beyond the divided island nation. The momentous issues on his agenda include the Catholic Church’s relations with Orthodox Christianity, Islam and Judaism, and the plight of Christians throughout the Middle East.
As indicated in a document released earlier that year, major topics of the Vatican synod included religious freedom in Muslim countries, Islamic extremism, Israel’s “occupation” of the Palestinian territories, and the recent exodus of Christians from the region.
Benedict also met with Archbishop Chrysostomos II, leader of Cyprus’s 800,000 Orthodox Christians, in the latest sign of warming relations between the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, which split nearly 1,000 years ago. In December of the previous year, the Vatican and Russia finally established full diplomatic relations — a move previously opposed by the large and influential Russian Orthodox Church, which long resented Catholics for allegedly attempting to convert Orthodox believers.
Benedict’s visit could also highlight a source of conflict between Orthodox Christians and Muslims. For three and half decades, the island has been divided between the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus in the south, and a northern sector seized by the Turkish military in 1974, which is now almost exclusively Muslim.
Although travel between the zones has been permitted since 2003, reunification is not in sight. Orthodox leaders are especially vehement about the desecration and destruction of the churches they were forced to abandon in the north, a subject they raised during Benedict’s stay.
Islam has been a delicate subject for Benedict since September 2006, when he quoted a medieval description of the religion as “evil and inhuman” and “spread by the sword,” which led to violent outbursts throughout the Muslim world. Merja my dear friend gave me this memorable FDC.

70th Anniversary of The first Aland Parliament 8.6.1992

According to the decision in 1921 by the League of Nations that Åland should belong to Finland as an autonomous region. The first council elected under Autonomy Act met at the first plenary session on 9.6.1922. The Stamp is based on a photograph of participants at the first council. Finland was to have sovereignty over Åland and the self governing law from 1920 should be broadened with additional guarantees. The Swedish language would be protected and the Åland land would remain in the hands of the natives. In Åland the disappointment was great over the decision. In 1922 the first elections of the new Åland Parliament were held and its first plenary assembly was on June 9th of the same year. That day is now celebrated as Åland's Independence Day. Pia gave me this FDC which commemorates the 70 th Anniversary of Indepence.

Nowadays the legislative body of Åland, the Åland Parliament, is called "lagting" and there are 30 members. The Åland Parliament has the right to legislate its own laws within several areas such as education, culture, healthcare, industry, internal traffic, police, post, radio and telephone. Åland follows the Finnish laws when it comes to foreign affairs and legal questions.

IMO-WMO Centenary FDC 6.8.1973

My dear friend Ella sent me this FDC which commemorates the Centenary of the International Meteorological Organisation, which in 1947 transformed itself into the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The Brussels Conference also planted the seeds of the First International Meteorological Congress, which was held in Vienna in 1873. The Congress resulted in a major breakthrough in the history of meteorology-- the creation of the International Meteorological Organization (IMO) to coordinate the collection and international exchange of meteorological data and information. Although a non-governmental organisation, IMO provided the framework for international cooperation in meteorological data collection, research and service provision until the end of World War II.
On 11 October 1947, representatives of 31 countries attending the Eighth Conference of Directors of IMO in Washington D. C. endorsed the transformation of IMO into a new inter-governmental World Meteorological Organization (WMO). After a long debate, the Convention was voted unanimously. Nevertheless it did not actually come into force until 23 March 1950, that being the thirtieth day after the date of the deposit of the thirtieth Member's instrument of ratification and accession. This birthday, 23 March, is celebrated every year by all WMO Member countries, as World Meteorological Day.

Åland sceneries 16.9.2009

Aland Post issued two news stamps featuring different sceneries in Aland. The stamps are based on magnificent photographs by Erkki Santamala and Andy Horner and feature a scene of Eckerö and a scene of Sund. These are additional stamps to the scenery stamps that have been issued annually by Aland.
Eckerö is the westernmost municipality of both Åland and Finland. From here, the Eckerö Line ferries depart for Grisslehamn on the Swedish side. Eckerö is well-known to all philatelists seeing that this is also where the traditional Postal Boat Race either departs or finishes. In Eckerö lies the fine old Post and Customs House from 1828 by the architects Carl Ludvig Engel and Carlo Bassi. The building is now a popular sight with a café, an art exhibition and a postal mail route museum. The Signhildskär island just off the coast of Eckerö is where, in the beginning of the 1800s, the Swedish army fought the final battle on ice, consequently losing Finland to the Russian Empire. The population of Eckerö is approximately 900 and tourism is an important source of income. Some twenty camping sites and holiday villages and almost as many cafés and restaurants are located here. Eckerö stamp motif is from Degersand: The Degersand beach in the village of Torp in southern Eckerö is a popular outing spot for Ålanders as well as tourists. Degersand, where Andy Horner took the photo, is the only landscape in Åland with sand dunes. The Eckerö FDC features shells. The Eckerö postmark is a feather.
Sund lies on the eastern side of main Åland, approximately 20 kilometers from Mariehamn, This municipality is rich in culture-historical surroundings with both the Kastelholm Castle and the ruins of the Bomarsund fortress (which I mentioned in an earlier post). Close to the Kastelmolm Castle lies the Jan Karlsgården open air museum, presenting a typical Åland farmstead at the end of the 19^th century. Recurrent Midsummer celebrations and well-attended market on the first Saturday in Advent are popular arrangements. In the proximity of Jan Karlsgården and the castle, we find the prison museum Vita björn. There has been prisoners and warders in Kastelholm since the castle was built. Prisoners were first kept in the castle, the crown prison Vita björn was built in 1784 and used until 1975. Sund stamp motif Rock plateau: Erkki Santamala’s stamp photo is taken at the Lillnäsberget in Sund, the scenery of which is characterized by its diversity. At the top of this rock plateau standing some 60 meters above the sea, we find flat rock forests dominated by old pine trees. Below the steep and vertical descent of the rock lie a hazel grove and a small natural meadow, which is mowed every year. A picture from Skålberget adorns the FDC with the Sund stamp, and two ravens appear on the Sund postmark. My dear friend Ella sent me these two beautiful FDCs.

1996 Christmas Stamps by Mauri Kunnas 1.11.1996

The three stamps on the cover are a Snowman, Santa, and gnome playing musical instruments. The stamp in the centre depicts Santa Claus reading letters, and the last stamp shows a depiction of a rabbit and reindeer watching the northern lights.
The topic of the pretty 1996 Christmas stamps were images from the beloved “Santa and the Magic drum” children’s book (and movie) by Mauri Kunnas. The 1996 Christmas stamps introduced a set of three different designs to promote the movie’s premiere. Unlike in many countries, in Finland Christmas eve is what children (and all alike) await anxiously as Santa (Joulupukki) visits homes during the evening and early night to bring greetings and gifts. After that he continues his journey to other countries of the world. A very common way to relax the prevailing tension is to play games, read books and watch family movies (like Santa and the magic Drum). My dear friend Pia sent this lovely cover to me.

Treaty of Friendship, Co-operation and Mutual Assistance between Finland and the USSR

The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance concluded between Finland and the Soviet Union in 1948, was one of the basic documents of the post-war foreign policy in Finland. The Agreement of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, also known as the YYA Treaty from the Finnish Ystävyys-, yhteistyö- ja avunantosopimus (YYA-sopimus), was the basis for Finno–Soviet relations from 1948 to 1992. Under the treaty, which was signed on April 6, 1948, the Soviets sought to deter Western or Allied Powers from attacking the Soviet Union through Finnish territory, and the Finns sought to increase Finland's political independence from the Soviet Union. It thus ensured Finland's survival as a liberal democracy in close proximity to strategic Soviet regions, such as the Kola Peninsula and the old capital Leningrad.

Under the pact, Finland was obliged to resist armed attacks by "Germany or its allies" (in reality interpreted as the United States and allies) against Finland, or against the Soviet Union through Finland. If necessary, Finland was to ask for Soviet military aid to do so. The agreement also recognized Finland's desire to remain outside great-power conflicts, allowing the country to adopt a policy of neutrality in the Cold War. Due to the uncertain status of Finno–Soviet relations in the years after the Continuation War, and the precise interpretation of the treaty's wording, Finland followed the Warsaw Pact countries' decision and did not participate in the Marshall Plan. As a result, Finland's post-war period of economic hardship was prolonged, compared to other European capitalist countries, and it thus became considerably more economically dependent on the Soviet Union. In general, Finland kept its relations towards western military powers officially distant (including the proposed Scandinavian Defence Union) and NATO in particular. By avoiding supporting the West, it attempted to fend off Soviet pressure for affiliation with the Warsaw Pact.

This treaty according to me was completely USSRcentric, probably dictated by the Soviets, and gulped down under duress by the Finns. It was a case of “Like it, or Lump it” for Finland. Unfortunately, this blog can only attempt to introduce the nuances of a topic. The search and interpretation of the rest of history is upto the reader. My dear friend Ella gave me this FDC.

Beach Volleyball in Aland 16.8.2011

On 16 August 2011, a Beach volleyball stamp by artist Catharina Nygård was issued in Aland.

The stamp appears in the form of a minisheet of eight identical stamps. The frame of the My Stamps issue is also the 2011 frame for all the Post's My Stamps products, the web shop service that allows you to create stamps with a motif of your own choice. At the same time, the stamp promotes Paf Open, a tournament for men and women on the international world tour of beach volleyball (Swatch FIVB World Tour), arranged in Aland in August.

Paf Open was first arranged in August 2007, but the organizers refrained from arranging the event in 2008 as it collided with the Olympic Games in Beijing. Since then, Paf Open has become a recurrent event in Aland each summer. My dear friend Ella sent me this nice FDC and the maxicard.

50th Anniversary – The RAN – Fleet Air Arm

The Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Australian Navy came into existence with the commissioning of the Air Base at Nowra, NSW, HMAS Albabtross, on 31^st August 1948. The FAA flew its first combat missions on 5^th October 1951 in Korea, and has since been involved in Vietnam, the Gulf War conflicts, and United Nations peace-keeping duties. The Fleet Air Arm has also been prominent in coastal surveillance and civil disaster relief operations, with helicopters regularly assisting in flood relief, bushfire control and sea rescue operations. In 1998 the RAN operated Seahawk, Sea King, Squirrel and Kiowa helicopters from frigates, survey and supply ships. The jubilee of HMAS Albatross and the Fleet Air Arm was being celebrated with an international reunion at the Australian Naval Aviation Museum between 28^th October and 2^nd November 1998. . In 2000, following the removal from service of the land-based Hawker Siddeley HS 748 aircraft, the FAA became an all-helicopter force, operating in the anti-submarine warfare and maritime support roles. As of 2011, the FAA consists of three active squadrons, operating four helicopter types.
The stamp shows a Sea Hawk helicopter landing on a guided missile frigate. The cover photograph shows a Firefly aircraft on the aircraft carrier HMAS Sydney being loaded before takeoff. Maria gave me this nice FDC.

National Museum of Finland 7.4.1973

The National Museum of Finland The National Museum of Finland illustrates Finnish history from prehistoric times to the present day. Major archaeological finds, the historical, numismatic and ethnological collections have been put together for over 170 years. Workshop Vintti on the third floor is an interactive exhibition especially designed for children, where visitors can study the history of Finland and its culture using their hands and heads. VINTTI is suited to everyone over the age of seven.

You would have noticed The Bear on the cover.The statue of the bear is in front of the museum. The bear is Finland's national animal.

It is located in central Helsinki. The basic installation of the National Museum is divided into six different parts. The treasury presents the collections of money, medals, awards, silver, and weapons. The Finnish prehistory part is the largest archeological basic installation in Finland. The state part tells of the development of Finnish society and culture from the Middle Ages to the early 20th century. The "land and people" part presents life at the countryside before industrialisation. The 20th century part presents independent Finland and its united and internationalised culture. The museum's entrance hall ceiling has ceiling frescoes about the Kalevala, painted by Akseli Gallén-Kallela, which can be seen without an entrance fee. The frescoes, painted in 1928, are based on the frescoes painted by Gallén-Kallela at the Finnish installation of the Paris World Fair in 1900.
The building of the National Museum was designed by architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen. The appearance of the building mimics Finland's medieval churches and castles. The architecture belongs to national romanticism and the interior mainly to jugend. The museum was built from 1905 to 1910 and opened to the public in 1916. The museum was named the Finnish National Museum after Finland's independence in 1917. After the last fundamental repairing, the museum was opened in 2000. My dear friend Ella sent this cover to me.