Finnish lion and flag

Lion

The modern heraldic lion by Mika Launis won the stamp design competition in 2000. The winner is now the pictorial subject of the 1 euro blue stamp and the 5 euro red stamp.
The 1 euro stamp is postage for 2nd class domestic letters up to 250 grams, and the 5 euro stamp for express letters up to 250 grams to domestic destinations outside the local area.

Finnish coat of Arms

The model for the very first Finnish coat of arms, and later Finnish heraldic lions, was sculptured by Flemish William Boyen in 1591 for the tomb of king Gustav 1 at the Uppsala Cathedral. The heraldic lion has been the basic theme of the Finnish stamps – except for one period – for almost 150 years.

Flag

The Finnish flag is waving in the 1st class non-denominated stamp. Which Päivi Vainionpää has designed from three photographs.
The flag expresses independence and freedom that is also symbolised by the flying Arctic Tern. The blue cross flag was approved as the national flag of Finland in May 1918. It is a rectangular, white cloth divided into four equally high parts by a sea blue cross. In the state flag there is the Finnish coat of arms in the middle of the cross. The shape and the dimensions are defined by law.

Postage stamp booklet

The booklet of eight 1st class non-denominated stamps is priced at 4.80 euro. The value of the non-denominated stamp is equal to the postage for 1st class domestic letters up to 50 grams.
Both issues: Finland, 1 January 2002

More information

Stamps of Finland
Postage Stamps 2002
Finnish trees
National symbols on first Finnish euro-stamps
Finland and euro
Finland: Christmas