On 4 February, Åland Post releases a new series of franking labels featuring four of the most common trees on Åland: pine, spruce, birch and oak. Åland stamp debutant Marie Laaksonen has illustrated the motifs in watercolour.
“The Åland woods are more than a resource – they provide timber and vitality to our cultural landscape, support biodiversity and the climate, and offer tranquil environments for outdoor recreation and well-being. This issue draws inspiration from the visual style of classic classroom biology charts. The trees hold an existential significance, serving as a link between eras,” says Johanna Finne, Head of Design at Åland Post Stamps.
The inspiration behind the tree motifs
Illustrator Marie Laaksonen describes her first assignment for Åland Post:
“The assignment was both exciting and challenging. I went on many walks in the woods, wanting to create a story in which the motifs formed a whole. I decided that our four seasons could be a central part of the project with each tree symbolizing a season. I was also inspired by the Tree of Knowledge symbolism, how a seed is sown, grows, takes shape, and branches. I therefore chose to work in watercolour, which gave me the feeling and tone I was striving for to convey the changing of the seasons, the depth of the symbolism and the story as a whole.”
The most common tree species on Åland
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) is the dominant tree species in Åland. Thriving on almost any type of soil, the straight mast-like trunks can grow up to 30 m tall.
European spruce (Picea abies) makes up about 14% of the forest. It thrives in shady places but is also fragile, its shallow root system making it more vulnerable to windfall and drought.
White birch (Betula pubescens) is one of the most common deciduous trees on Åland. It is recognizable by its white, smooth bark and oval, soft, single-toothed leaves.
Pedunculate oak (Quercus robur) is a hardwood tree that can live up to 1,000 years. On Åland, wild-growing oaks with a girth of over 170 cm are protected. The oak is also an important ecosystem, housing over 900 different species, from insects to lichens.
Facts about the issue
Name Trees
Date of issue 4 February 2026
Artist Marie Laaksonen
Design Marie Laaksonen & Johanna Finne
Denomination of series 4 × Inrikes (€15.20)
Price FDC €16,20
Size 56 × 25 mm
Paper 40 g self-adhesive paper
Process 4-colour offset
Printer Royal Joh. Enschedé
Order series of franking labels featuring trees
This issue consists of four self-adhesive franking labels completed by a first day cover and a maximum card. Please note that the franking labels are only sold as a strip of all four motifs in the webshop.
Order franking label series, first day cover and maximum card in the webshop.
