Discover president Sauli Niinistö’s Åland stamp p. 4
No. 2 · 2026
Explore winter-themed stamps from Åland p. 8
Microalgae are invisible to the naked eye, yet without them, life in the Baltic Sea and on Earth would look very different. On 21 September, Åland Post highlights these microscopic organisms in a stamp issue. The photographer is hydrobiologist Tore Lindholm.
As the most important marine primary producers, microalgae form the foundation of the food chain.
“Microalgae are found everywhere: in seas and lakes, on coastal rocks, stones, sand, and on aquatic plants. Free-floating algae are called phytoplankton, and they produce nearly half of the Earth’s oxygen. They exhibit remarkable diversity in shapes and colours. Their movements are also fascinating: ultra-fast jumps, rotating or gliding. The Baltic Sea hosts several thousand species, and even more are found in freshwater environments,” says Tore Lindholm, who has studied algae in the Baltic Sea since the 1970s.
“My interest in algae developed gradually during my introductory biology courses at Åbo Akademi University, but it took off when I worked as an intern and assistant at Husö Biological Station in Åland in 1971 and 1972. In my master’s thesis, I studied several water areas around Åland, and the results sparked ideas for further research,” Tore explains.
Over the years, he has conducted many field studies in Åland waters. The stamp issue presents some of the species he has encountered. The stamp features Chaetoceros wighamii, photographed in
material found in the inlet of Inre Verkviken, Saltvik. This yellow-brown diatom forms chains of cells and long bristles which reduce sinking and grazing of zooplankton.
The stamp sheet includes more microalgae, such as the diatoms Melosira with thread-like chains and Diatoma tenuis with zig-zag-shaped colonies. The “cat-hair algae” Nodularia spumigena is a cyanobacterium. The dinoflagellates Peridiniella catenata swims using two flagella, one looks like a whip-like tail, while Kryptoperidinium foliaceum has two nuclei, its own and a diatom nucleus living inside it. Mesodinium rubrum is a single-celled marine ciliate renowned for forming red tides. It derives the colour from ingested cryptophyte algae which also gives it photosynthetic capacity.
Most of the photos were taken using an inverted microscope with phase-contrast optics. This enhances contours and reveals many fine details. “To study microalgae, we often use an inverted microscope. The algae are placed in a glass cuvette, where they can swim freely. Once they settle on the bottom glass, they are observed from below. Algae are perishable, and collected samples should ideally be examined within a few hours,” Tore explains.
Date of issue: 21 September 2026
Photographer: Tore Lindholm
Design: Johanna Finne
Edition: 30 000
Denomination: Världen
Stamp size: 40 × 30 mm
Sheet size: 185 × 264 mm
Stamps/sheet: 2 × 12
Paper: 110 g/m²
Perforation: 12 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Gutenberg AG
The microscope is the instrument that enables us to study microscopic organisms. Their diversity is showcased on the first day cover and in the gutter of the stamp sheet. A stylised close-up of a microalga under a microscope is depicted on the first day cancel
Dr Tore Lindholm is a retired lecturer in plant biology and a docent in hydrobiology and water conservation at Åbo Akademi University. In 2024, he received the Baltic Sea Foundation’s Åland Prize for his research.
When Åland Post invited former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö to take part in the stamp series My Åland, he chose security as the theme for his personal stamp. Art photographer Christoffer Relander was commissioned to visually interpret the theme. The stamp is issued on 21 September.
Sauli Niinistö served as president from 2012 to 2024. A trained lawyer, he has had a long and distinguished career, including roles as Minister of Finance, Minister of Justice, Deputy Prime Minister and Speaker of Parliament.
During his presidency, he visited Åland on several occasions and showed an active interest in Åland matters. The president has a special role in the Åland autonomy: he ratifies legislation, appoints the Governor –the state’s representative on Åland – opens the parliamentary sessions and is responsible for international relations. He safeguarded Åland’s demilitarised and neutralised status and initiated a legal review confirming that the international agreements remain in force and rest on a solid foundation in international law.
When choosing the theme for his stamp, Niinistö selected security – a thread running throughout his twelve years as president. For him, security is not only about defence capability, but equally about societal resilience, trust and cohesion as the foundation of a safe society.
Art photographer Christoffer Relander was entrusted with the artistic interpretation. Through his poetic visual language, he weaves together multiple layers into a story about the connection between people and place, the passage of time, and how security is passed on between generations. He explains: “I felt honoured by the trust. Quite early on, I had a clear vision of the motif – it should be timeless, with a colour palette inspired by the Renaissance, symbolic elements, and above all a calm atmosphere. My youngest daughter acted as the model, while the hands belong to her older sister. I photographed the archipelago landscape from the Notvik Tower at Bomarsund Fortress. It felt like the right setting – not only because of its beauty, but also because it’s a place the president visited many times during his presidency.”
Bomarsund also carries strong symbolic meaning in Åland’s history and serves as a reminder of the peaceful foundation on which Åland society rests today. The white dove adds another dimension to the motif as a timeless symbol of peace, freedom and hope. Together, the individual elements form a whole in which security is something that is created, nurtured and passed on.
Date of issue: 21 September 2026
Artist: Christoffer Relander
Design: Johanna Finne & Christoffer Relander
Edition: 30 000
Denomination: Inrikes
Stamp size: 30 × 40 mm
Sheet size: 264 × 185 mm
Stamps/sheet: 2 × 12
Paper: 110 g/m²
Perforation: 12 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Gutenberg AG
The view from the Notvik Tower at Bomarsund Fortress features on the first day cover. The first day cancel depicts two hands reaching towards each other, symbolising security, closeness and protection. The president’s signature appears on the stamp. He has also handwritten the Finnish and Swedish words for security, turvallisuus and trygghet, in the gutter of the sheet.
Christoffer Relander is a Finnish art photographer based in Åland. He created his first stamp for Åland Post in 2023 with the issue Bark boat in jar
@chris_relander
On 23 October, the final stamp issue of the year will be released, ideal for your Christmas and winter greetings. Artist Juta Policja has painted three atmospheric oil paintings that celebrate the beauty of winter.
Winter in Åland offers a unique mood. As the snow blankets the landscape, nature settles into stillness. Lakes and bays freeze over, the air becomes crisp, and the starfilled sky shines brightly in the winter dark.
“For me, winter is a magical time. The cold and the white snow make everything feel so clear and refreshing. I feel an urge to spend more time outdoors, enjoying the beauty of nature and winter activities,” says stamp artist Juta Policja.
She reveals that the issue’s theme Winter dreams initially felt unexpected in relation to her artistic style: “When I received the request, I was a little surprised, since I don’t usually see my art as particularly romantic. But after some thought, I realised that the theme is open and multi-layered –something everyone can interpret through their own life experience.”
She found inspiration on her winter walks in the countryside around her home in Sund. There, she often encounters the
animals that feature in the issue: the deer, the fox, and the bullfinch.
The issue also includes a sheet of Christmas seals. For this, Juta chose to highlight more personal and everyday objects associated with winter: a cup of tea to warm you after a winter walk, an apple rich in vitamins, and garlic to help strengthen the body in its fight against viruses. The fourth motif shows a paper snowflake. She shares that cutting out these decorations and hanging them in the window at Christmas time is an important annual family tradition for her.
Juta is a classically trained artist, whose work is characterised by rich textures and a harmonious colour palette. She is also well known for her icon painting, which is also reflected in these stamps.
“I painted the stamp motifs in oil. For the skies and backgrounds, I used gold leaf, which gives the images an almost icon-like feel and a warm tone reminiscent of a sunset. For the first day cover, I used pastels,” she explains.
486, 487 & 488
Date of issue: 23 October 2026
Artist: Juta Policja
Design: Fredrika Sarling
Editions: 50 000, 15 000 & 13 000
Denominations: Julpost, Världen & Europa
Stamp sizes: 25 × 36,7 mm, 33 × 28 mm
Sheet sizes: 279 ×207,5 mm & 87 × 97 mm
Stamps/sheet : 2 × 20 & 1 × 6 stamps
Paper: gummed 110 g/m² & self-adhesive 120 g/m²
Perforation: 12 per 2 cm
Process: 5-colour offset
Printer: Gutenberg AG
An evening-lit winter landscape extends across the first day cover. A sprig of rowan berries stands out in the foreground, while the first day cancel captures a shooting star.
Juta Policja is a Latvian artist who has lived in Åland for over ten years. She made her debut as a stamp artist for Åland Post in 2025 with the issue The Gustaf Erikson Shipping Company Archives @jutapolicja
New! For the first time, Åland Post is issuing a self-adhesive mini-sheet containing six stamps, all featuring the same motif. The stamps bear the “Europa” denomination and can be used to send postcards and letters weighing up to 20 grams from Åland to all Nordic and European countries. Please note that a complete mini-sheet is included in the stamp series subscription.
The issue also includes a maximum card featuring the bullfinch stamp. It is postmarked with a special cancellation depicting a sleeping fox. Postage is included in the price of the card, and rosehips appear in the postage-paid symbol on the address side.
Date of issue: 23 October 2026
Artist: Juta Policja
Design: Fredrika Sarling
Edition: 2 000 sheets
Seal size: 30 × 25,5 mm
Sheet size: 210 × 145 mm
Seals/sheet : 20
Paper: self-adhesive 120 g/m²
Process: 5-colour offset
Printer: Gutenberg AG
Since 1993, Åland Post has issued Christmas seals, with proceeds supporting charitable causes in Åland each year.
The youth programme of the Åland Fire and Rescue Association received €1 500 from the 2025 Christmas seals sale. The donation supports young firefighters from Åland attending the international fire brigade camp in Masku, Finland, this summer.
The recipient of this year’s Christmas seals funds will be selected in the autumn. We welcome suggestions for recipients who contribute positively to Åland society. Please send proposals to stamps@alandpost.com by 31 August 2026.
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Contents
Microalgae (1), My Åland, Sauli Niinistö (1), Winter dreams (2 + self-adhesive mini-sheet), 1 maximum card, Christmas seals, Sepac folder no. 17, year set, FDC year set, special cancellations pack, and year pages 2026
Note! In 2026, we ship three subscription deliveries. The last shipment of the year contains all stamp issues released in the autumn as well as the year packs and year pages. Find all delivery times at alandstamps.com/en/pages/stopptider-och-leveranstider.
Current information can be found at alandstamps.com/en/pages/vara-stamplar, where updated images of the cancels will be posted. To obtain a special cancel on your own pre-franked and selfaddressed covers, please send them to us well in advance of the relevant date. Changes are possible.
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Åland Post Ltd Stamps PO Box 1100 AX-22111 Mariehamn ÅLAND, Finland
Telephone +358 18 636 639 E-mail stamps@alandpost.com
Editors
Gunilla Häggblom, Johanna Finne, Fredrika Sarling
Text: Gunilla Häggblom
Translation: Gunilla Häggblom
Cover: Juta Policja
Layout: Fredrika Sarling
Printer: Grano
Prices and information in this publication are subject to change. Prices exclusive of VAT.