Finnish Sámi Cultural Centre SAJOS gets its own stamp
The Finnish stamp year 2012 will start on January 23 with the release of a set of four publications. The Sámi Cultural Centre SAJOS opened today in Inari, Finland, is celebrated with a miniature sheet. Other January stamps depict the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 project, Helene Schjerfbeck’s 150th anniversary and Valentine’s Day.
A floor plan gives shape to the stamp
The Sámi Culture miniature sheet of four stamps obtained its unusual shape from the floor plan of the Sámi Cultural Centre SAJOS. Opened today in Inari by Juutuanjoki River, SAJOS is a centre of Sámi administration and culture in Finland. It also houses various events, congresses and meetings.
The Sámi Culture sheet has been fully designed by Nordic efforts. The sheet was illustrated by Sámi artist Merja Aletta Ranttila. The layout has been produced by Markku Virtanen from Lapland.
The self-adhesive stamp sheet’s pattern imitates leather, with a troll-drum being depicted in the middle of the stamp. The sheet’s motif illustrates three Sámi Goddesses. “Juksahkka protects hunters and guards boys throughout their lives. Sarahkka protects women and girls from the very beginning and regulates birth. Uksahkka is the Goddess of the home who protects houses and the nests of animals and birds,” Merja Aletta Ranttila says, describing her design.
In addition to Goddesses and the troll-drum, the sheet depicts a witch, reindeer village, reindeer and lean-tos. The self-adhesive stamps are shaped like mountains.
The Sámi Culture miniature sheet contains four first class stamps with an edition of 300,000 copies.
Seven new designers
The Future City stamp booklet, which celebrates Helsinki’s position as the World Design Capital, presents seven new stamp designers who were awarded in the open design competition organized online in spring 2011.
The eight designs awarded in the competition were Future City by Chloe Chapeaublanc, Onnela by Sini Henttonen, Citykani by Katja Hynninen, Kaupungin liike by Daniel Kallström, Asenne by Ville Korhonen, Tulevaisuus rohkeana by Elias Ollila, and Color Power and Mix by Varpu Kangas. All designs entered in the competition can be viewed at the competition site at www.futurecity.fi.
Design agency Kokoro & Moi turned the awarded works into stamps.
Schjerfbeck’s four works in a stamp
The year 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of the birth of artist Helene Schjerfbeck (1862–1946). In honour of the anniversary, a booklet of four self-adhesive stamps depicting her works will be released. The booklet designed by Teresa Moorhouse includes the School Girl II, Green Apples and Champagne Glass, Self Portrait, Black Background and Silk Shoes paintings.
Six symbols for friendship
This year's Valentine's Day stamps were designed by Päivi Unenge, a Finnish illustrator living in Sweden. The miniature booklet called I Heart You! contains six self-adhesive stamps and motifs, including little girls, birds, pets, and, naturally, hearts.
Further information:
Itella Posti Oy
Markku Penttinen, Development Director, tel. +358 20 451 5519
Tommi Kantola, Product Manager, tel. +358 20 451 5531
Petri Pohjolainen, Product Manager, tel. +358 20 451 5572
Email addresses: firstname.lastname@posti.fi.
Itella Communications
Sara Lindström, Communications Manager, tel. +358 50 566 6851, firstname.lastname@itella.com
Itella Posti Oy provides mail services throughout Finland, including the deliveries of letters, publications and direct mail, in addition to parcel and express transport services, NetPosti, as well as Posti shops and outlets. Itella Posti Oy is part of the Itella Mail Communications business group, which reported net sales of MEUR 1,142 and employed 19,300 persons in 2010. Itella Mail Communications is part of Itella Group. www.itella.com.
