1313) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden," Aland , Finland: A EUROPA Postage stamp of 2 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020:

1313) "Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden," Aland , Finland: A EUROPA Postage stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020:

On 08.05.2020, Aland Post is issuing a 2.00 Euro Postage stamp which features the historically important postal route across the Sea of Aland - the Postal Boat Race.

The race is arranged in June in commemoration of the hazardous postal journeys and hardships of the farmer-postmen, as they conveyed the mail between Sweden and Aland for almost 400 years. 

This postal stamp is part of the PostEurop 2020 Europa Stamp series, the theme this year being on "Ancient Postal Routes".

The Postal Boat Race:

The sea route across the Sea of Aland between Roslagen in Sweden and Eckero in Aland has been important at least since Medieval times.

As Sweden emerged into a major power in the 1600s, regular mail services between the Western and Eastern parts of the realm became necessary.

Swedish Queen Kristina's first postal ordinance of 1636 stipulated that landowning resident farmers were obliged to carry the mail with the assistance of farm hands. The first mail run across Aland to Finland departed from Sweden in 1638.

The crossing between Grisslehamn and Eckero was to be known as one of the most dangerous postal routes in the world, particularly during times of treacherous ice and snow conditions - as more than 200 farmer-postmen lost their lives in the journey.

Since 1974, the Postal Boat Race has been arranged in commemoration of the Swedish and Aland peasants, who were obliged to convey mail and passengers across the Sea of Aland in all kinds of weather.

Every two years, the race sets off from Storby, Eckero, and all participating mail boats carry a mail bag. The boat must be true to the period and the crews of four are required to wear contemporary clothes. The goal is to cross the Sea of Aland as quickly as possible and depending on wind and weather conditions, the crossing takes between 3-1/2 and 6.0 hours. The boat and team acquiring the highest total score for clothing, boat and speed wins.

In the 1890s, with the introduction of regular steamboat traffic, the postal route across the Sea of Aland lost its importance and the peasant's "rota" system was phased out entirely in the early 1990s.

Europa Postage Stamps:

Europa Postage Stamps (also known as Europa-CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - unti 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal administrations/Enterprises and bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.

Europa stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.

As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.

Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and co-operation.

In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps.

When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the EUROPA issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPE" leaning towards the right hand side.

Each year, PostEurop's "Stamps & Philately Group" selects the Europa Stamp theme:

1993 - Contemporary Art

1994 - Great Discoveries

1995 - Peace and Freedom

1996 - Famous women

1997 - Tales and Legends

1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations

1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks

2000 - Common Design, Tower of 6 Stars

2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature

2002 - The Circus

2003 - Poster art

2004 - Holidays

2005 - Gastronomy

2006 - Integration through the Eyes of Young People

2007 - Scout Centenary

2008 - Writing Letters

2009 - Astronomy

2010 - Children Books

2011 - Forests - International Year of Forests

2012 - Visit ..... (for instance "Visit Finland")

2013 - Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles

2014 - Musical Instruments - National Musical Instruments

2015 - Old Toys

2016 - Ecology in Europe - "think Green", Common Design

2017 - Castles

2018 - Bridges

2019 - National Birds

2020 - Ancient Postal Routes

2021 - the theme will be "Endangered National Wildlife"

2022 - the theme will be "Stories & Myths"

The EUROPA Stamp issue by Aland Post on the theme - "Ancient Postal Routes - The Postal Boat Race":

A single stamp of 2.0 Euro showing boats participating in the Postal Boat Race, in period boats dressed as medieval farmer-postmen. Each boat has a complement of four crewmen and two/three sails.

The name of the designer - "DAVID LUNDBERG" appears at bottom left and the year of issue - "2020" at bottom right.

At top right is mentioned - "VARLDEN ALAND" and "EUROPA" (indicating that this stamp has been issued under the EUROPA theme of 2020 - "Ancient Postal Routes").

The First Day Cover (FDC) shows at left a period sail-boat with three sails and a crew of four participating in the "Postal Boat Race", braving the inhospitable Sea conditions to deliver mail at the designated station.

At top right is affixed the Postage Stamp of 2.0 Euro, canceled with the special Handstamp/Postmark.

In the centre is mentioned the name of the issuing Post Office "MARIEHAMN - FORSTA DAGEN". The special cancellation Handstamp/Postmark is dated - 08.05.2020".

The Back of the First Day Cover (FDC) bears the name of the issuing postal administration - "ALANDPOST".

    The Two Sheets of 15 Stamps each issued. 


The specifications/details of this Stamp issue are:

Date of issue: 08.05.2020

Denomination of Stamp: Varlden (2.00 Euro)

No. of stamps: 90,000 pieces

Stamp Size: 50.0 mm x 20.0 mm

Sheet Size: 2 x 15 Stamps

Paper: 103.0 grams/ sq. mm

Perforation: 13.0 per 2.0 centimetres

Printing method: 4-colour offset

Printing House: Southern Colour Print

Designer: David Lundberg

Links to posts on "Ancient Postal Routes on this Blog, the theme of PostEurop for 2020:

1) Ancient Postal Routes - Mail Ships, Guernsey. a British Crown Dependency (BCD): A EUROPA set od six stamps brought out by Guernsey Post depicting six Mail Ships that sailed between Guernsey and the United Kingdom: Date of Stamp set issue: 01.04.2020

2) "Ancient Postal Routes, Romanian Principalities XIX Century", Romania: A set of two Postage Stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued by "Romfilatelia" (Romanian Post) depicting Ancient Postal Routes and modes of postal transport: Date of Stamp Set issue: 09.04.2020

 3) "Ancient Postal Routes, Biga", Bosnia & Herzgovina: Two EUROPA stamps of 3.00 Euro each depicting a Wagon and the two faces of a Silver Coin issued on 05.04.2020

4) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020

Links to other Posts on Aland issues:

1) Northern Lights, Aland Islands: A stamp of 1.70 Euro issued by Aland Post on 08.03.2019

2) Wildflowers, Aland Islands: A new Series of Franking Labels issued by Aland Post: Date of issue: 03.02.2020

3) SEPAC 2020, Artwork, Aland Islands: A tribute to Aland Artist Henrik Nylund (1945-1982) by Aland Post in the 2020 Series of SEPAC stamps featuring artwork in National Collections and issued by Small European Administrations: Date of Stamp issue: 05.03.2020

Links:

Some other interesting Posts from Finland & Nordic Countries:

1) Mint of Finland: Provincial Coins issued in 2010 & 2011 depicting cultures/traditions of Nine Historic Provinces which ceased to be Administrative Regions in 1634  

2) Commemorative Coins on Finnish Nature: 2 Euro (Cupro-Nickel) and 10 Euro (Silver) Coin depicting a Crow issued as part of "Finland 100" (Centennial Programme in 2017

3) Currency of Denmark: Krone and Ore (Part I): Historical Development of Coinage in Denmark

4) Currency of Denmark: Krone and Ore (Part II): The Evolution of Banknotes in Denmark

 5) "The Golden Age of Finnish Art": A 10 Euro Silver Coin with the afore-mentioned theme as part of the sub-theme for 2017 - "The Age of Iron and Glass" under the overall theme of "Ages of Europe" issued by the Mint of Finland on 20.02.2017: ii) "Europa Coin Programme" ot the "European Silver Star Programme" or the "Eurostar Programme"

6) Norges Bank (Central Bank of Norway): Introduction of the VIII Series of innovative/pixelated Banknotes with the theme "The Sea" in a phased manner from May 2017 to Q4 2020 and gradual withdrawal of the presently circulating Banknotes (VII Series) 

7) Currency and Coinage of Sweden: Kronor and Ore: New Banknote Series and Coins being issued in 2015 and 2016 

8) Currency and Coinage of Iceland: issued by  the Central Bank of Iceland or "Sedlabanki Islands": Kroner & Eyrir 

9) Centenary of the First Constitution of Independent Finland (1919-2019): A 100 Euro Gold Commemorative Coin celebrates the Centenary Anniversary with this abstract design minted by the Mint of Finland at their facilities in Vantaa: Coin Release date: 17.06.2019

10) "Protection of the Baltic Sea", Finland: The theme of this six stamp set issued by "Posti" (Finland Post), Finland, represented by Moomin stories characters: Stamp set issue date: 22.01.2020

11) Northern Lights, Aland Islands: A stamp of 1.70 Euro issued by Aland Post on 08.03.2019

12) Wildflowers, Aland: A new Series of Franking Labels issued by Aland Post: Date of issue: 03.02.2020

13) "Arctic Deserts", Kalaallit Nunaat, ("Land of the People"), Greenland: Special Stamps issued by Greenland Post, the first one on 21.01.2019 and the second Stamp on 28.02.2020

14) SEPAC 2020, Artwork, Aland Islands: A tribute to Aland Artist Henrik Nylund (1945-1982) by Aland Post in the 2020 Series of SEPAC stamps featuring artwork in National Collections and issued by Small European Administrations: Date of Stamp issue: 05.03.2020

15) "Franking Labels" from Greenland: Franking Labels issued by POST Greenland Filatelia since 2009 onwards: A brief analysis

16) Ancient Postal Routes - the Postal Boat Race - between Aland and Sweden", Aland, Finland: A EUROPA Postage Stamp of 2.00 Euro issued by Aland Post: Date of Stamp issue: 08.05.2020