Finland – FINLANDIA 88

On 6^th September 1638, Governor General Per Brahe established Postal Services in Finland, which was part of the Kingdom of Sweden at that time. Hence, in 1988 the Finnish Post celebrated its 350^th Anniversary. The World Stamp Exhibition FINLANDIA 88 took place in 1988. Each year from 1985 to 1988 Miniature sheets of stamps were issued and the proceeds were used for organizing the Exhibition. I am displaying here the nice cover with the special miniature sheet, which was issued that first year in 1985. Incidentally, this was indeed the first minisheet ever issued by the Finnish Post. Its value therefore, is quite obvious. 25% of the total value of the minisheet, namely, two marks was used for organizing FINLANDIA 88.

The picture on the minisheet depicts the map of Sweden-Finland from the year 1698. One can see the postal routes of that time. Some routes were only used during the winter months. You can also see the island of Åland. By the end of the 1600’s about 6000 letters were sent from Stockholm to Finland each year. Ella, this is indeed a very memorable First Day Cover. Thank you.

Fashions and Style 6.5.2009

Wow! That’s what I call a real stylish and fashionable FDC. On the mini sheet one can see clothes, shoes and bags designed by Finnish designers, models for Spring 2009. The designers are Minna Parikka (red shoes), Jasmine Santanen (red dress), Sanna Kantola (bag), Julia Lundsten (shoes on the right), Thomas Laitinen and his sister Anna (lilac dress with figures). No further explanations are really needed here. Thank you very much indeed Ella.

Ukraine – 100 yrs of the Electric Tram in Odessa

Stan sent me this lovely card commemorating One Hundred Years of the First Electric Tramcar in Odessa. The four pretty stamps almost depict the evolutionary trend in Railway engines.

Threatened Habitats

Malaysia issued these three pretty stamps and the cover, as a timely reminder of what is happening to our environment, and what we should be doing about it. As the information sheet very rightly mentions that rainforests, wetlands such as rivers and other wildlife habitats are crucial for the survival of thousands of creatures including mammals, birds, aquatic creatures, plants and insects. Thus, habitat conservation for wildlife is one of the most important issues facing the environment today – both in the oceans and on land. It is the responsibility of everyone to keep the habitats such as our forests, oceans and rivers healthy and productive. A very laudable thought indeed. This nice FDC was sent to me by Budin.

Norway 20.8.2010 – 50 Years of Television

The date was 20th August 1960. The start signal was about to go for television in Norway and pulses were running high. There was intense activity up at Broadcasting House where the opening ceremony was to take place and at the Opera House in the centre of Oslo.

All goes well. Director General Kaare Fostervoll introduces the main speaker, Prime Minister Einar Gerhardsen. H.M. King Olav says a few words about the significance of television and officially opens the new medium while voicing the hope that television will help to make lives richer for the Norwegian people. This is followed by a live television show from the Opera House with circus performers, dancers, gymnasts and Nora Brockstedt with the Deep River Boys. The delighted audience stamp their feet! After the grand opening it was back to the daily grind: insufficient technical equipment, short-staffing and thin budgets, but a lot of good television. The mainstay and in fact the most complicated production was Dagsrevyen, the evening news. It was broadcast live and varied between studio reports, telephone recordings, stills, video tapes and films, all sewn together by the news presenter behind a desk and the producer in the wings. Many things could go wrong and frequently did. “Sorry, technical error” became a familiar sight on the screen, but loyal viewers sat glued to their TV sets on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays when Dagsrevyen’s globe logo revolved on the screen to the sound of fanfare and drum beats. A few years later we could watch Dagsrevyen every day, a film on Monday, entertainment on Wednesday, a detective series on Fridays, more entertainment on Saturday and eventually in 1972 (as the last country in Europe) we had colour TV. Before long it was possible to watch TV all day long. Then the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) lost its monopoly. Gradually at first, but the death blow fell in autumn 1992 when TV2 went on the air after winning a licence to operate a nation-wide advertisement-funded television channel. It is clear today that NRK has not been harmed by the competition, but is better and more professional than ever. Digital TV, on three channels! 

This historic cover was sent to me by Sissel.

Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt

The stamp on the card is that of Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt (1757 –1814), who was one of the most colourful characters of Finnish history. A set of stamps “Building a Nation”, commemorating the Year 1809 when Tsar Alexander I was in Poorvoo. This stamp is part of that sheet. Unfortunately, my scanner has not been able to adequately appreciate the bright golden epaulettes of Armfelt, and has shown them as dull green. Please excuse this unintentional techno-slipup. GM Armfelt contributed more than anyone else towards Finnish Independence, with his plan to turn the Grand Duchy of Finland into an autonomous state within the Russian Empire. He was one of the Father’s of Finnish Independence. His fate led him from the battlefields and courts of Europe to a dismal small town in Southern Russia. Armfelt was also one of the best-known Finns of his time, whose achievements were noted in the newspapers of Stockholm and Paris alike. He had an exceptional role as the guest of royalty and princely hosts in Europe. During his lifetime, he met or was personally acquainted with a stunning number of heads of state and other leading personages of the period. He was a handsome guy, and is believed to have been a favourite of many, mainly of the fairer sex ;-)) This nice card was sent to me by Juha.

China – 60th National Day.

The card shows the hoisting of the National Flag during the massive parade, celebrating China’s 60^th National Day. This lovely card and the Tiger stamp on it was sent to me by Kalee.