This year's (2015) Europa stamp from Åland was issued on 8 May2015 on the theme Old toys. On the stamp we see a spirited, little monkey with a colourful drum, a classic windup toy from the middle of last century.
The toy monkey on the stamp belongs to Ålander Marcus Quarnström. Two similar toy monkeys are also in his possession: one, he used to play with as a child; the other belonged to his mother. The toy monkey featured on the stamp was, however, purchased at the Lions Club annual flea market in Mariehamn and is of unknown origin.
The toy monkey stamp is also the second issue of an Åland series associating to the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. The first issue in the series, the engraved Åland sheep issue, was released prior to the Year of the Sheep in 2015. 2016 is the Year of the Monkey.
Thank you Ella.
