On 18 March, Åland Post presents the fourth issue in the Open edition stamp series, in which an artist is given free rein to create an Åland stamp. Visual artist Lin Simons captures the Åland late summer with a shimmering emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa).
“The Open edition series offers new perspectives on the image of Åland. Lin Simon’s art is characterized by a strong connection to nature, colour and rich detail. Her summery motif from the cottage in Åland combines the vibrant effects of watercolour with the intricacy of collage technique, resulting in an expression that is both sensorial and playful”, says Johanna Finne, Head of Design at Åland Post Stamps.
The Summer shimmer stamp shows one of our most common species of dragonflies, the emerald damselfly (Lestes sponsa) on a blade of grass against a stylized background of rolling grass, the sea and an evening sun partially hidden behind clouds. The motif is based on a recurring experience at her summer cottage in northern Åland.
“In the summer, the yellow-brown grass grows on the slope in front of our cottage, and dragonflies are swarming about in the air. I wanted to combine these two impressions: the shimmering dragonflies and the swaying grass in evening light,” Lin explains.
Lin likes to experiment with the collage technique, which she has used for the stamp in combination with watercolour.
“I’ve worked with the collage technique for many years. I create motifs from small pieces of coloured paper that I cut out of various interior design magazines and the like. The pieces of paper are hardly ever completely solid in colour, but shimmer with different patterns and shades of colour – this way the surfaces come alive,” Lin explains.
Alongside her own artistic work, Lin is an art teacher responsible for course planning at the Adult Education Centre in Mariehamn.
Name of issue: Summer shimmer
Date of issue: 18 March 2026
Artist: Lin Simons
Design: Johanna Finne
Edition: 30 000
Denomination: Lokalpost (€3.50)
Price FDC: €4.50
Stamp size: 30 × 40 mm
Sheet size: 264 × 185 mm
Stamps/sheet: 2 × 12 stamps
Paper: 110 g/m²
Perforation: 12 per 2 cm
Process: 4-colour offset & glitter varnish
Printer: Gutenberg AG
About Open edition
The Open edition stamp series gives selected artists free rein to create a personal stamp motif from Åland. Since its inception in 2023, a stamp has been released every year. First up was art photographer Christoffer Relander’s preserved childhood memory Bark boat in a jar, followed by visual artist Carolina Sundelin’s archipelago greenery stamp On the islet. Illustrator Amanda Chanfreau’s imaginative Magical island stamp was released in March 2025.
Order the stamp and first day cover in the webshop