On 23 October, Åland Post releases this year’s two Christmas stamps on the theme “knitted”, illustrated by stamp debutante Anna Pers Bräcke from Sweden. The stamp motifs are full of soft, cozy and home-knitted Christmas presents.
“Sending Christmas cards is a cherished tradition for many. With inspiration from the hand-knitted socks, mittens and sweaters of the winter season, this year's Christmas stamps convey the warm and cozy Christmas feeling you experience when you wrap yourself in a lovely Christmas sweater in the darkness of December,” says Johanna Finne, design manager at Åland Post Stamps.
Knitting is a textile craft tradition dating back to the 14th century. From being a necessity in peasant society, knitting is now a popular hobby.
In the past, those who knitted learned from each other. On Åland, the handicraft section of the Åland Martha district works to preserve the traditional skills by collecting pattern samples and swatches from the past. Åland craftsmen of today also offer a wide range of knitted products, often in their own designs. In connection with the centennial of Åland autonomy in 2022, a competition to design an “Åland sweater” was also arranged. All of the above served as inspiration for illustrator Anna Pers Bräcke, who is debuting as a stamp artist with this year’s Christmas stamps. She describes the assignment:
“The “knitted” theme and the small format were fun challenges! The theme conjured up images of knitted socks, mittens, and sweaters, and I thought about how I could implement these in the tiny worlds I like to create. I enjoy playing with compositions and proportions, and my illustrations are often playful and colourful. To create a connection to Åland, I’ve included typical colours, patterns, and symbols such as boats.”
Name 2024
Date of issue 23 October 2024
Artist Anna Pers Bräcke
Design Johanna Finne
Editions 100 000 & 40 000
Denominations Julpost (€1.60) & Världen (€3.40)
Price FDC €6
Stamp size 35 x 25.5 mm
Sheet size 2 × 20 stamps
Paper 110 g/m2
Perforation 13 per 2 cm
Process 4-colour offset
Printer Cartor Security Printers
