On 23 July, Åland Post issues this summer’s maritime stamps The Tall Ships Races. Due to the Covid-restrictions in Finland, the city of Mariehamn took the decision on 28 May 2021 to withdraw from The Tall Ships Races as a host port. However, a national maritime festival Sail Åland will be arranged in Mariehamn from 22 to 25 July. The two stamp issues celebrate sailing ship traditions and invite you into the fellowship of the festival. Åland artist Juha Pykä­läinen was delighted to receive the commission and created the two pieces of classic postage stamp artwork with a feeling of joy and delight.

Stamp artist Juha Pykäläinen had many fine memories from the 1988 festival when Mariehamn last hosted the race as official host port for the ocean race The Tall Ships Races. He took inspiration from them for this year’s stamps: “I remember sitting in a tiny boat at sea, painting as much as I possible could during the race. When asked to illustrate this year’s The Tall Ships Races, I was delighted, as I recognized the feeling of joy and delight and I knew that I wished to convey those emotions in the new stamps. I decided on traditional oil paintings because, in my experience, it’s a good technique to create that genuine and vivid impression.”

Juha took adventure, fellowship and friendship as starting point for the stamp illustration whereas a port area teeming with visiting sailing ships is the motif for the miniature sheet, which includes museum ship Pommern, reminiscent of the proud Åland sailing ship traditions.

 

Name of issue: The Tall Ships Races 2021

Date of issue : 23 July 2021                                                                                         
Artist : Juha Pykäläinen
Design : Sofia Valtersson /Strax                              
Editions: 80 000 & 30 000
Denominations: Världen (€2.20) & €5.00
Price FDC : €3.20 & €6.00
Stamp size  : 26 x 40 mm
Sheet size : 2 x 16 Stamps
Miniature sheet size :80 x 120 mm
Paper : 110 g/m²
Perforation: 13 per 2 cm
Process : 4-colour offset  + silver foilage (miniature sheet)
Printer : Cartor Security Printing

The Tall Ships Races is a race for windjammers and large sailboats. The mission of the Races is to, above all, encourage young people to learn to sail and, at the same time, embrace international friendships. Consequently, at least 50% of the crews must be young people aged 15 to 25. A national maritime festival Sail Åland will be arranged from 22 to 25 July 2021 with food, drinks, souvenir sales, and entertainment. 

Order the stamp, miniature sheet, first day cover, maximum card, and postcard at webshop.alandpost.com, by letter to Åland Post Stamps, PO box 1100, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, by e-mail to stamps@alandpost.com or by telephone: +358 (0)18 636 641.