Åland Post releases this year’s Sepac stamp on an architecture theme on 9 May. Åland artist Kjell Ekström has illustrated the Åland Lyceum, one of the best-known landmarks of Mariehamn and a beautiful example of early 20th century schoolhouse architecture.
"A school holds the memories of many people and is more than just a building. Schools are important buildings in the local community, often built with robust materials and carefully designed details of high quality. The Åland Lyceum is such a palace of learning from the beginning of the 20th century, which now sits not only on a hill in Mariehamn, but also on its own stamp,” says Johanna Finne, Design Manager at Åland Post Stamps.
An architectural gem in Mariehamn
The school building was erected in 1903 as the first larger stone building in Mariehamn. Architecturally, the Åland Lyceum represents Swedish manor house style with tall, wide windows and small panes. From the outset, the building had bright yellow plasterwork, white mouldings, and red roof. The decorative main entrance at the foot of the tower is framed by a soapstone portal adorned with the town’s coat of arms and water lily motifs, a tribute to the Art Nouveau ideals of the time.
The building was designed by Finnish architects Johan Jakob “Jac” Ahrenberg (1847–1914) and Sebastian Gripenberg (1850–1925). Ahrenberg was an eclectic architect who drew inspiration from various eras and traditions, while Gripenberg preferred the simplicity of the Neo-Renaissance. Excerpts from the original school drawings can be seen on the gutter of the stamp sheet.
The student cap – a living symbol
Today, Åland Lyceum is a preparatory upper secondary school with around 430 students and over 100 students graduating each year. Student caps appear in the corner of the stamp sheet. Going back to the 19th century, the cap tradition used to be associated with university students. Now, students wear the cap to celebrate the completion of upper secondary school
Add the Sepac stamp to your collection
The stamp is part of the Sepac stamp series issued by the small European postal administrations. Sepac (Small European Postal Administrations' Cooperation) has 12 members who annually issue stamps on a common theme highlighting unique motifs from their regions. The theme this year is architecture.
Don’t miss the chance to add this year’s Åland Sepac stamp to your collection. Read more about the Sepac stamps at www.sepacstamps.eu.
Facts about the issue
Name: Sepac – architecture, Åland lyceum
Date of issue: 9 May 2025
Artist: Kjell Ekström
Design: Johanna Finne & Rebecka Lundén
Edition: 30 000
Denomination: €4.20
Price FDC: €5.20
Stamp size: 40 ×30 mm
Sheet size: 185 x 264 mm
Stamps/sheet: 2 × 12 stamps
Paper: 110 g/m2
Perforation: 13 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Order the stamp and first day cover in the webshop.
