The ATMs in Aland

Åland

1984-2005 (Only Spanish version at the moment) | The last issue | Future issues

Old garden plants series

In 2006 Posten Åland announced a new triennial series of Frama postage labels. On this occasion the ATMs featured different old garden plants that can be found in the archipelago.

The designs are by the Swedish artist Inga-Karin Eriksson and the printing of the labels is again by Post Danmark in gummed fluorescent paper, 105 g/m² and printed in 5-colour offset. The ATM size is 40.00 x 30.34 mm.

The first issue is dedicated to the lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.), with an evocative and delicate image of a garden next to the sea.

On the date of issue, January 2nd 2006, the set was composed of the values 0.50-0.55-0.60 & 0.80 EUR. With the change of postal tariffs on March 1st 2006, the values were uprated to 0.55-0.65-0.75 & 0.85 EUR.

Posten Åland prepared nice first day covers and collector sheets adorned with different designs related to the issue.
In the image, the first day cover includes the 4-values set and commemorative postmark.

Size: 175 x 115 mm.

The 2007 design, issued by the only Frama vending machine installed in the Mariehamn main post office from March 1st, is dedicated to the most common of cottage peonies in older Åland gardens, the Paeonia officinalis rubra plena.

Another careful design in which the marine reference reappears, with the image of two sailing boats in the background.

The set on the date of issue was composed of the 4 basic values 0.55-0.70-0.75 & 0.85 EUR, corresponding to the postal tariffs for 2nd class Åland, 1st class Europe, 2nd class rest of the world and 1st class rest of the world, respectively.
As a result of the unexpected advance in the change of the postage rates on February 1st, many of the sets and first day covers, prepared in advance of the date of issue and sent to subscribers, included the non-updated value 0.65 EUR instead of 0.70 EUR.

First day cover with the 4-values set, including the wrong value 0.65 EUR, and commemorative postmark.

Size: 175 x 115 mm.

The last issue of the triennial series dedicated to old garden plants depicts the full burnet rose, - another fine design from the Swedish artist Inga-Karin Eriksson.

The new theme was first issued on March 27th 2008, a very appropriated date, with spring just around the corner.

As with previous issues, the rolls of labels have been manufactured by Post Danmark on gummed fluorescent paper. The approximate size of the ATMs is 40.00 x 30.34 mm.

The full burnet rose, known also as Rosa pimpinellifolia, rosa spinosissima, Pimpernel rose, White rose of Finland, Midsummer rose, ... depending on the country, is a variety of a very common wild rose blooming in spring and the beginning of the summer. It can be found not only in the Nordic countries but also in the rest of Europe.
The burnet rose is a small shrub with white flowers, as seen in the maximum card.

With the annual change of postal rates, on February 1st 2008, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of 4 basic values, 0.60-0.70-0.75 & 0.90 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for economic and high-priority national mail (including Finland), and high-priority to Nordic countries and the rest of the world, respectively.

Detail of the first day cover, with the ATM and commemorative postmark.

Expected new ATM issues

In 2009, a new triennial series of Frama issues will begin. The 3 new designs expected to be issued in 2009, 2010 and 2011 will be dedicated to the navigation marks and they will include images of sailing boats.
It is a very appropriate subject for this beautiful archipelago of the Baltic Sea.