On 25 August, Åland Post releases a stamp featuring the shipping archives left by Åland shipowner Gustaf Erikson (1872–1947). In 2023, the archives was included in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The stamp bears the UNESCO logo and is illustrated by artist Juta Policja. “Gustaf Erikson ran the world’s largest shipping company from Åland, placing our islands on the world map. The fact that his shipping archives has now been recognized by UNESCO is a confirmation of Åland’s role in maritime history. We also wish to honour this proud event on an Åland stamp”, says Johanna Finne, design manager at Åland Post Stamps.

The archives comprises the period from 1913, when shipmaster Erikson went ashore and bought his first ship, the Tjerimai, until 1947. During his 35 years as a shipowner, he owned some 70 ships, almost 40 of which were sailing vessels. The majority of the archives, just over 13 shelf metres, is at the Åland Provincial Archives and includes logbooks, accounting documents, photos, telegrams and letters from officers, many with the shipowner’s marginal notes.

The stamp motif is created by Latvian artist Juta Policja, who has lived on Åland for ten years. This is her first stamp assignment.

“I felt both proud and nervous about the assignment. The sea and related themes are close to my heart, but to summarize, in a small space, the life of a legendary person and his contribution to the world’s maritime history was a challenge. I wished to highlight the most important elements in the stamp: the person Erikson, his first ship the Tjerimai, and the impressive archives. On the first day cover and maximum card, I complemented the story with more symbolic elements such as a lighthouse, an albatross, and a figurehead,” Juta explains.

• Name of issue: Gustaf Erikson Shipping Company archives
• Date of issue: 25 August 2025
• Artist: Juta Policja
• Design: Johanna Finne
• Edition: 30 000
• Denomination: Världen (€4.10)
• Price FDC: €5.10
• Stamp size: 40 × 30 mm
• Sheet size: 184 ×264 mm
• Stamps/sheet 2 × 12 stamps
• Paper: 110 g/m2
• Perforation: 13 per 2 cm
• Process: 4-colour offset
• Printer: Cartor Security Printers

Order the stamp, first day cover, and maximum card in the webshop at alandstamps.com.