International stamp 5 pcs - Legends and myths

Posti presents two goddesses on its international stamps, who are mentioned in the Kalevala poems, among others. On the cut-out stamps, Päivätär and Kuutar spin gold and silver thread from the glow of the sun and moon, from which gold and silver clothes are woven.

The illustrator chosen to design the stamps, Emmi-Riikka Vartiainen, is herself interested in mysticism. “This work involves a lot of my own dream images related to the illustrations, so bringing them to life felt exciting on a personal level. I went through the whole spectrum of emotions as I searched for information about the characters and the images they evoked.”

Vartiainen began her work by familiarizing herself with Finnish mythology, folk tales and poems to gain a broader understanding of the field's legends and mythical characters. "Since the subject was nature maidens, I also spent a lot of time in nature contemplating these maidens. I sketched the figures on paper, sometimes on a hill or a rock. Eventually, the essence, beauty and grandeur of the figures began to become clear and it felt like I was already living in the story. In the studio, the expression of the illustrations fell into place during the coloring stage."

“I drew Päivätär and Kuutar as young maidens who are timeless nature goddesses of the celestial bodies, beyond everyday concepts and laws. They are metaphors for the beauty of nature and the power of the sun and moon. I wanted to capture that same mystical power in the illustrations of the characters.”

Tales and myths international stamps are sold in sheets of 5. Publication date 27.4.2022.

An international postage stamp is valid for Priority letters and cards weighing up to 20 grams from Finland to foreign countries (cannot be mailed from Åland).