Christmas in Finland

Christmas stamps feature drawings

This year, the Christmas stamps feature drawings by painter and illustrator Martta Wendelin (1893-1986). The stamp with the 0.45 € denomination corresponding to the special rate for Christmas cards features a small boy writing a letter to Santa. The picture is a detail of a drawing first published as a New Year card in 1936, gravure printed by Otava. The other stamp, denominated at 0.65 €, features a decorated branch of a Christmas tree. The drawing was originally made for a postcard published in 1941. The original works of art were adapted for the stamps by Ms Päivi Vainionpää.

Illustrator Martta Wendelin

Martta Wendelin was one of the most influential Finnish illustrators. Through several decades, her drawings, idealising the Finnish rural landscape and harmonious family life, offered a model for the good life and a set of values including modesty, industriousness and love for her home country.
Among others, Martta Wendelin illustrated children's books, textbooks, magazine covers and book covers. She designed posters and drew some one thousand postcards that today have become popular collector's items. She also worked in oil and pastel. The Martta Wendelin Society has catalogued some 400 original paintings of hers.

Stamp booklet comprising five stamps

In 1993, marking the centennial of Martta Wendelin's birth, Finland Post issued a stamp booklet comprising five stamps illustrated with her art. In 1990-1993 Finland post annually issued three pieces of postal stationery illustrated with her art.
Stamp issue: Finland, 29 October 2004

More information

Postage Stamps 2004
Stamps of Finland
Children's right in focus
Finland 2005 stamp issues
Bronze Age
Gulf of Finland 2004 Stamps