The ATMs in Aland

Åland

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

2006-2008. 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.

2009-2011. Spar buoys series

Beginning in 2009, Åland Post launched a new 3-years series of Frama issues, this time focusing on spar buoys or navigation marks. All designs are from local artist Allan Palmer. It is a very appropriate subject for this beautiful archipelago of the Baltic Sea.

The first design of the series, issued on February 2nd 2009, is dedicated to the old Russian buoyage system, which was used in Åland from 1895 until the 1980s.

The rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by Post Danmark. Once it has been issued by the Frama distributor, the approximate size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

With the annual change of postal rates, on January 2nd 2009, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of 4 basic values, 0.65-0.75-0.80-0.90 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for economic and high-priority national mail (including Finland), high-priority to Nordic countries, and the rest of the world, respectively.

The spar buoys are floating navigation marks for helping with sea navigation, both marking out the entrance fairways and hazardous areas, or just the fairways by themselves. The ATM issue and the illustration on the first day cover shows the Russian maritime buoyage system. The spar buoys had also different types of baskets on the top to improve visibility in poor weather conditions.

First day cover franked with the basic set of 4 values plus the commemorative postmarks.

The second issue of the 3-year series, dedicated to navigational markers, depicts the Maritime buoyage System A. The designer of the ATM and first day cover is Allan Palmer.
The new thematic was available, from March 1st 2010, at the only Frama vending machine installed in the Mariehamn main post office.

As with previous issues, the rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by Post Danmark. The approximate size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

With the annual change of postal rates, on February 2nd 2010, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of the basic values, 0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90 EUR, corresponding to the high-priority mail tariffs for the 4 zones established in the Åland Post tariff system; Domestic, Finland, Nordic countries, and the rest of the world, respectively.

The maritime buoyage System A is used in Europe, Africa, Oceania and some Asian countries. According to this system, a boat putting into port from a buoyed channel, should left green buoys and marks on its right hand (starboard), and red on the left hand (port). The buoys usually are topped with geometric figures, a cylinder in the port hand buoys and a cone in the starboard hand, which is the motif for the first day cancellation. Besides the lateral buoys, also cardinal buoys are used, painted in horizontal yellow and back stripes.

First day cover franked with the basic set of 4 values plus the commemorative postmarks.

The third and last issue of the 3-year series dedicated to spar buoys depicts some cardinal buoys in winter, as seen on the sea ice.
Like the two previous issues, the designer of the ATM and first day cover is Allan Palmer.

The new design could be obtained, from February 1st 2011, from the Frama distributor installed in the main post office of Mariehamn, the capital of the archipelago.
The rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by Post Danmark. The size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

The set released by the philatelic service is composed of the basic values, 0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90 EUR, corresponding to the high-priority mail tariffs for the domestic, Finland, Nordic countries, and the rest of the world, respectively.

During the winter, ice makes for very difficult shipping in the Nordic countries. The Frama and the first day cover depicts different cardinal buoys or navigational markers, painted in yellow and black horizontal stripes, that maybe seen on the ice. The postmark on the first day of issue also reproduces one of these cardinal marks, indicating the west direction
First day cover franked with the basic set of 4 values plus the commemorative postmarks

Coinciding with the last issue of the series, the philatelic service launched a presentation pack including the 3 mint ATMs as well as a postcard with the three stamps with their respective first day postmark.