Mozart and Viking conclude sailing ship series

On 3 February, Allan Palmer wraps up the popular Sailing ship series with two stamps dedicated to the barquentine Mozart and the 4-masted barque Viking, both of which were among the last vessels to participate in the renowned Grain Race.

THE TALL SHIPS’ ERA came to an inevitable end after World War II, ousted by more efficient motor vessels. Schooner barque Mozart and 4-masted barque Viking represent the last tall ships owned by Åland top shipowners Hugo Lundqvist (18781936) and Gustaf Erikson (1872-1947).

BARQUENTINE MOZART was built in Scotland in 1904 for a German shipping company and was not really well suited for long voyages. Her type of rigging made her slow and difficult to handle. Until the onset of World War I, Mozart carried Chilean and Peruvian nitrate to Europe. The vessel went to France as war compensation and was sold to Lundqvist’s shipping company in 1922. Her last voyage to Australia in 1935 took 110 days and resulted in heavy weather damages to deck and rigging, so, a decision was made to scrap the ship. The stamp shows Mozart homeward-bound in the English Channel with the white cliffs of Dover in the background.

4-MASTED BARQUE VIKING was built in Copenhagen in 1907 as a sail training ship for the Danish merchant fleet. Purchased by Gustaf Erikson in 1929, she made several voyages around the world before the war. In 1946, Viking set out on her last voyages, unloading her last cargo of wheat in London in 1948. Allan Palmer has illustrated the ship on her last and unusually long voyage from Australia, 139 days in severe weather. This particular voyage holds a special place for the artist; his father was third mate on the ship and his mother-to-be one of the passengers onboard. In 1951, the barque was sold to the city of Gothenburg where she still moors.

SAILING SHIPS, MOZART & VIKING

DATE OF ISSUE: 3 February 2020 ARTIST: Allan Palmer

EDITIONS: 2 x 90 000

DENOMINATIONS: )1.30, )1.80 PRICE FDC: )3.90

STAMP SIZE: 40 x 30 mm

SHEET SIZE: 2 x 12 stamps PAPER: 110 g/m² PERFORATION: 13 per 2 cm PRINTING METHOD: 4-colour offset

PRINTING HOUSE: Cartor Security Printing

The front and back of the first day cover portray the two sailing ships under full sail. The first day cancel illustrates a seaman at the helm.

Skonertskeppet Mozart

Fyrmastbarken Viking

The maximum cards show the usual ship’s portraits, and the special cancel illustrates a capstan, i.e. a hand-operated deck winch used to ÅLAND POST FRIMÄRKEN • 5 weigh the anchor and to haul ropes.