On 20 October, the Year of the Dragon is the next motif to appear on Åland Post’s stamp series featuring Chinese zodiac animals. "Ever since the start of the zodiac series in 2014, our focus has been on giving each stamp a unique Åland twist. With the tenth edition this year, we have, together with artist Martin Mörck, paired the horoscope animal with kite-flying on the beach on a summer day in Åland," says Johanna Finne, Marketing Design Manager at Åland Post Stamps.
The homeland of the dragon kite is China, where the art of kite-flying developed almost 1500 years ago. Enjoyed by children and adults alike, this is an activity that is possible anywhere with space to run around. This year’s miniature sheet depicts kite-flying at the sandy beach on Lilla Holmen, which is located by the inlet into the Eastern harbour of Mariehamn. The area has been a popular excursion spot for 150 years and, in summer, the sandy public beach with its bathing jetty and bathing raft attracts both families with children and young people.
This year’s miniature sheet is artist Martin Mörck’s eighth design for Åland Post’s zodiac series.
“Working on the Åland zodiac stamps is a treat for my imagination. Using the image material, I received from Åland Post, I was able to put together a pleasing scene of children running with a kite. I have slipped in several different Chinese characters among the sunbathing families; the changing rooms in the background are marked with the characters for male and female and the flask bears the symbol for coffee,” Martin reveals.
Facts about the issue
Name of issue: Dragon
Date of issue: 20 October 2023
Artist: Martin Mörck
Design: Johanna Finne
Calligraphy: Shen Yiahong
Edition: 28 000
Denomination: €2.00
Price FDC: €3.00
Price maximum card: €3.70
Stamp size: 60 × 0 mm
Miniature sheet size: 170 × 95 mm
Paper: 110 g/m2
Perforation: 13 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset
Printer: Cartor Security Printers
Order the miniature sheet, first day cover and maximum card in the webshop at alandstamps.com, by post to Åland Post Stamps, P.O. box 1100, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, e-mail stamps@alandpost.com or telephone: +358 18 636 639.