Sailing 5.8.1999

The sport of Sailing. Thank you Ella.

Sailing Ship 5.8.1999

A sailing ship portrayed on this Aland stamp.

Thank you Ella.

Swallow Ship Figurehead 29.10.1999

The block of four stamps on the FDC depict a Swallow Ship Figurehead.

Thank you Merja.

Hlödver the Tall 28.7.2000

There are many tall stories about the Vikings from the Scandinavian Islands. One is about Hlödver the Tall from Saltvik. According to Snorre Sturlusson’s Nordiska Kungasagor, Hlödver was a tall Ålander who was handpicked by Viking King Olav Tryggvason to form part of the crew on Ormen Långe. Tryggvason grew up in Estonia and had seen much of the Scandinavian Islands on his travels between his foster home and his real home in Trondheim. According to Sturlusson, Hlödver could not say no when Tryggvason asked him to accompany him as a helmsman on Ormen Långe, after all, it was the biggest and most beautiful ship that had been built. In AD 1000, Ormen Långe sailed to Poland with a number of other ships to collect Queen Tyra’s inheritance. Along the route Olav Skötkonung and his allies lay in wait, and Olav Tryggvason fell in battle side by side with Hlödver the Tall from Saltvik at the naval battle at Svolder. The end of the Viking Age is generally considered to be when the people converted from pagan beliefs to Christianity, sometime around AD 1100.

Åland has many traces of the Vikings. In Saltvik was a great Viking market held on 28th-29th July 2000 with Viking "Hlödver the Tall" as a protector. Whether it was Saltvik of Åland is not quite clear, but it is possible. Saltvik has apparently been a Viking port and trading center. The pretty stamps on the cover and the cover itself were issued on 28.7.2000. This nice FDC was given to me by Pia.

Aland 1.8.1998 - Sea Scouting 1.8.1998

On 1 August, 1998 the Åland Post issued a stamp with a Sea Scouting design. The stamp focuses on Satahanka IX, an international sea scout camp held in Åland that August. The stamp, the first day cover and the special postmark were all designed by the Ålandian artist Allan Palmer.

The stamp depicts objects associated with Sea Scouting such as various knots and a compass. The number of active Scouts in Finland is a little more than 88,000. Co-operation, respect and mutual understanding across the borders have always been keywords to the Scouts. The Finnish Boy Scouts and Girl Guides joined forces in the early seventies and have had mutual activities ever since. The name of the main Scout association in Finland is Finlands Scouter r.f. The Guides and Scouts of Finland.

Outdoor activities such as camping, excursions and hikes are important elements of Scouting. Sea Scouts devote most of their time to activities related to the sea such as sailing, navigation and sea rescue. During the days 1-8 August 1998, a large Sea Scout camp was arranged in the historical environment of the ruins of the Bomarsund fortress in Åland. The Satahanka IX is the ninth international Sea Scout camp arranged by the Guides and Scouts of Finland, and it is also the largest Scouts event of the year. The first Satahanka camp was organized in Pargas as early as 1955. A total of 1,500 Scouts, of which approximately 300 from abroad, were expected to participate in this event. Some of the activities on the programme were sailing, archaeology and adventures on foot and bicycle and at sea. The participants also learned more about the seafaring traditions and the history of the province of Åland. Thank you Pia for this FDC.

MS Isabella 8.5.1998

The Stamp on the FDC was issued on 8th May 1998 for “Norden 98” exhibition, commemotating the ferry “Isabel”. MS Isabella is a cruise ferry owned and operated by the Finland-based Viking Line. She was built in 1989 by Brodogradilište Split in Split,Yugoslavia for SF Line, one of the partners in the Viking Line consortium. Since September 2008 she serves on the Turku–Mariehamn/Långnäs–Stockholm route. In January 2010 Viking Line's future CEO Mikael Backman stated the company are negotiating with several different shipyards about the possibility of constructing a pair of 60,000 GT ships to replace Isabella and Amorella on the Turku–Stockholm service. The projected delivery dates for the new vessels are in May 2012 and February 2013. Isabella's future in the Viking Line fleet is unknown, should the planned orders for new ships be realised. Pia gave me this FDC.

600 Years of the Kalmar Union 30.5.1997

This Åland picture postcard and the stamp on it were issued on 30.5.1997. Five heads of state - the Danish Queen with Prince Henrik, the Swedish and Norwegian royal couples and the Finnish and Icelandic presidents with their wives, joined 20 000 Swedes and 200 journalists to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Kalmar Union. At one time Kalmar, in the south of Sweden, was the capital of the largest state in Europe. This state was composed of Denmark, Norway and Iceland and Sweden and Finland. And it was all thanks to a strong woman called Margrethe. She became regent of Norway, Sweden and Denmark through extraordinary manipulation amid most unusual circumstances. She came to be widely respected, often admired, but not much loved. Although she was a woman of royal parentage, she was never to rule from a throne simply because she was a woman. And it was ironically only when the present Queen of Denmark, Margrethe decided to be known as Margrethe II that the first Margrethe of the 14th century was elevated to royal status posthumously.
Margrethe embarked on her remarkable, nearly incredible, rise to power at the tender age of six. A treaty between her father King Valdemar Atterdag of Denmark and Magnus Erikson, the King of Sweden, pledged her to Magnus’s 18-year-old son Haakon who had inherited the throne of Norway through his mother, the granddaughter of Haakon V. Margrethe and Haakon did not live together as man and wife until she reached the age of 16. In 1371 Margrethe gave birth to her only son, Oluf. King Valdemar died in 1375 the following year leaving Margrethe as his only surviving child. She was successful in having her son Oluf proclaimed King of Denmark with herself as regent. Five years later, when Haakon died, Oluf was recognized as both king of Norway and of Denmark while Margrethe became regent of Norway also. Soon thereafter, Margrethe was called in by the Swedish nobility to help it topple the hated King Albrekt of Mecklenburg. She was able to establish Oluf as the legitimate claimant to the Swedish throne. Now Margrethe became regent to all three countries.
The sudden death of the 17-year-old Oluf in 1387 undid the stability Margrethe had managed to achieve. But she acted quickly to secure her position as royal guardian. She also quickly adopted the six-year-old son of her niece who was married to the Duke of Pomerania and chose him, Erik, as her successor. After being declared the regent of the Danish and Norwegian kingdoms, she formed common cause with the Swedish nobles and having had the distinct advantage of having consistently demonstrated outstand-ing qualities of royal administration and integrity, she did not have too much problem in being hailed as the rightful ruler of Sweden. Now she commanded all of northern Europe. Margrethe went on to propose a coronation ceremony for Erik. She called a special meeting of the powerful nobles, the clergy and magnates of Sweden and got their consent. In June of 1397, the Archbishops of Lund and Uppsala crowned Erik King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden in the town of Kalmar. Why Kalmar? It is important to remember that the borders looked somewhat different from what they do today and the Swedish provinces of Skåne, Blekinge and Halland belonged to Denmark. Kalmar was actually very close to Denmark being on the southern coast of Sweden.
After Erik’s crowning ceremony, Margrethe proceeded to negotiate a "union document". The document declared that Erik, having been elected King of Denmark, Norway and Sweden had further been elected King of the one consolidated combined Kingdom of Norway-Sweden-Denmark. And it is the 600th anniversary of this Union that was celebrated in 1997. This was a truly Nordic union as Iceland and Finland were also included. Pia gave me this FDC commemorating this important event.

Aland's autonomy - 70 years

The stamp on the FDC shows the League of Nations meeting, where the quarrel between Sweden and Finland concerning Åland was discussed in June 24th, 1921. League of Nations concluded that Åland belongs to Finland, but that the province should be granted autonomy. 

This nice cover was given to me by Pia.

Animals from Aland

This pretty First Day Cover was given to me by Pia. The stamps and the cover were issued on 1.3.1991. Brief descriptions of the animals pictured on the stamps are given below. The description as I said is brief, notwithstanding the fact that normally volumes could be written on each of these animals, but this blog is constrained to keep it short.

The European Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus), Common hedgehog or just Hedgehog in the Anglophone parts of Europe, is a hedgehog species found in northern and Western Europe. It is about 20 to 30 cm in length. Adult mass typically ranges from 600 (after hibernation) to up to 1,200 g (prior to hibernation); occasionally, it may reach as much as 1,600 g. Males tend to be slightly longer and heavier than females.

The red squirrel or Eurasian red squirrel (Sciurus vulgaris) is a species of tree squirrel in the genus Sciurus common throughout Eurasia. The red squirrel is an arboreal, omnivorous rodent. In Great Britain and Ireland, numbers have decreased drastically in recent years, in part because of the introduction of the eastern grey squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) from North America.

The European Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus), also known as the Western Roe Deer or chevreuil, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from the British Isles to the Caucasus. It is distinct from the somewhat larger Siberian Roe Deer.

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.

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.

Frans Peter von Knorring 2.3.1992

Frans Peter von Knorring, (6 October 1792, Kokemäki - 29 March 1875) was a social reformer on the Åland Islands. He studied at Åbo Akademi University, worked as a teacher of religion at the Cadet School in Hamina and as a vicar from on 1834 in Finström. He suggested that a city should be founded on Åland, gave historical overviews and a meritorious work on public education. He is considered as the father of Åland school system. He was the vicar of Finström from 1834 to 1875 and he organized the educational system in Åland. He started an elementary school at Godby in 1853. The school's syllabus included subjects related to farming. A versatile man who published books on many subjects, such as linguistics, geography, pedagogy and economics, he also founded the first newspaper on Åland in 1868. Two statues have been raised in his honour, one in Mariehamn and one at the church of Finström. My friend Pia sent me this FDC.

The Cape Horn congress

The stamp was issued for the XXXVIII Cape Horn Congress which was held in Mariehamn, June 8-11, 1992. Society for the sailors who had rounded the southern tip of South America was founded in 1936 in France. It now has 1400 members, of whom 235 live on Åland. The background image on the stamp is the world map on which the routes of the wheat trade are marked, from England around the Cape of Good Hope to Australia and thence westward back via Cape Horn. This was the only route on which sailing ships even after the Second World War could be used. In the foreground is the four-masted Herzogin Cecilic: she belonged to the maritime counsellor Gustaf Erikson's fleet. The ship was seized in New Zealand in 1941 and was returned to her owners in 1948. The following year she made her last circumnavigation under the Finnish flag. In 1950 she was sold for scrapping, but ended up as a school ship in Hamburg. The ship went down in fierce storm near the Azores on April 4th, 1957. - The stamps upper part shows a pennant and in it the Cape Horn association's emblem and the word Åland.

FOUNDING OF THE AMICALE. In June 1936, a group of French sailing ship Captains who had rounded Cape Horn met at the L’Univers Hotel in Saint Malo, France, accompanied by one of their old professors at the School of Hydrography. It was then that the initiative to create an association for the purpose of keeping in mind the experiences, recollections and traditions of voyaging under sail along oceanic routes was launched. A year later, in June 1937, a group of 35 French deep-sea Captains – most of them from the Brittany region, France – met at the “Aux Ajoncs d’ Or” Hotel at Saint Malo. All were Cape Hornier veterans, happy to meet again and revive their recollections, personal experiences, emotions and unexpected surprises which the sea had challenged them with, on the dangerous Cape Horn route. The Friends of Cape Horn Association was born. The group, presided over by the ‘Grand Mât’ (Main Mast), Captain Louis Allaire, consisted of “Albatrosses” (Captains who had commanded a sailing ship around Cape Horn) and “Mollymawks” (a bird of the same family as the albatross, however smaller), the name given to Officers who had performed these duties on the great sailing ships which defied Cape Horn. This nice FDC was given to me by My Dear Friend Pia.

Joel Pettersson

Joel Pettersson (June 8, 1892 - January 5, 1937) Pettersson was born into poverty in Lemland, Åland. His parents were elderly peasants, Joel's father being well over 50 at the time of Joel's birth. Joel had a younger brother Karl, who died at sea in 1916. Joel was a painter and writer on the Åland Islands, Finland. He remained an obscure figure during his lifetime; most of his works were unpublished for decades after his death. Today, Joel Pettersson is considered to be one of the most important Åland writers.

In 1913, he had the opportunity to study at a drawing school in Turku. He stayed in Turku until 1915, when he decided to abort his studies and return to Åland. He painted for a few years, but he eventually tired of it and did not paint for many years. Upon his return, Pettersson became active in the local youth organisation, for which he wrote plays and monologues. He also wrote prose which he read out loud during organisation meetings. Pettersson was most active as a writer following his return from Turku until 1921. During the 1920s, Pettersson worked mostly on his parents' farm, only sporadically participating in the youth organisation's activities. His parents both died in 1928, leaving Pettersson to care for the farm. He sold all the animals and most of the property. He tried earning a living on his artistry, but was unsuccessful. He then tried raising hens, but this also proved to be an unsuccessful venture. He resumed painting in 1935, and some of his paintings were displayed during an exhibition the following year. His constant economic difficulties and work load took their toll. In 1936, he suffered a nervous breakdown and was committed to Grelsby Asylum, where he remained until his death in early 1937.
Pettersson never married (sensible chap), although he was engaged for a brief period; his fiancée left for America. There is some speculation that Pettersson may have been bisexual. Pia sent me this FDC.

Åland – Hammarland church5.10.1992

Hammarland’s stone church is consecrated to St. Catherine. It was built at the end of the 13th century, and is oblong in shape, the sturdy tower during the following century and the new kordel in 1400. The church is situated on the mail route based on Eckerö and it is located in an area that in ancient times consisted of pagan buildings. On the church's west side is about thirty old burial mounds, among them also barrows. It was destroyed by fire in the beginning of the 15th century. The wall paintings are from 15th century, and the pulpit was placed in 1650. The church has been reconstructed in the 1830s, and the alterpiece was painted by R.W. Ekman in 1869. Pia sent me this lovely cover.

Åland – Lighthouses 8.5.1992

The FDC and stamps picturing the Åland, Lighthouses, were issued on 8th May, 1992 and sent to me by my dear friend Ella.. The lighthouses are of Rannö, Sälskär, Lågskär and Märket.

The border between Finland and Sweden goes through the Märket island. Lågskär is the oldest lighthouse of Åland. It was built in 1840.