On Wednesday, March 11, three new stamp publications consisting of seven stamps perfect for springtime will be released.
The traditional Easter chicks have the starring role in this year's Easter stamps. The stamps illustrated by Matti Pikkujämsä also feature willow catkins and Easter eggs.
The colors Pikkujämsä chose for the stamps reflect Easter traditions as well. "I have always admired Easter colors, which are like a ray of sunlight amidst the gray and soggy Finnish springtime."
Last May, Matti Pikkujämsä was chosen as the 2019 Illustrator of the Year. According to the Finnish Illustration Association, Pikkujämsä is a phenomenal talent and an extremely skilled illustrator who lives and breathes illustration.
Chirp Chirp will be issued as a 10-stamp sheet containing two different domestic no-value indicator stamp designs.
Migratory birds signal the coming of spring
The return of migratory birds is a sure sign of spring. The Birds from a Spring Poem stamps were designed by Oona Himanen, who was inspired by an old Finnish poem about the return of migratory birds and the advance of spring. "I hope the stamps evoke a similar happy and cheerful nostalgia as the poem."
Himanen wanted to keep the stamps and stamp sheet simple. "The illustrations feature the birds mentioned in the poem: the skylark, the chaffinch, the white wagtail and the swallow. The colors of the stamps reflect the advance of spring."
The Finnish poem itself, roughly translated as "One month till summer from the skylark, half a month from the chaffinch, a little more from the white wagtail, not a day from the swallow," has been printed on the back of the stamp sheet.
The Birds from a Spring Poem miniature sheet contains four different domestic no-value indicator stamp designs.
The heart is the home of emotions
The heart has been known as the universal symbol of love since the Middle Ages. Based on the subject, Klaus Welp designed a simple and sentimental stamp featuring two hearts beating next to each other. All text on the stamp has been gilded.
"In this confusing time colored by hate speech, we need more kind acts, gestures and words. That's why I wanted to design a simple, happy stamp that expresses positive emotions. Two hearts that belong together is a lovely thought," explains Klaus Welp.
The Two Hearts stamp sheet contains 10 domestic no-value indicator stamps.
First day event at Helsinki Main Post Office on March 11, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
The first day event will be held at the Helsinki Main Post Office (Elielinaukio 2) on Wednesday, March 11 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. New stamps, first day covers and other stamp products will be on sale at the event, and visitors can get first day postmarks on their items. The stamp artists will be present to sign their works from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
All stamps available for sale are featured in Posti's online shop at: www.posti.fi/ostoksille