The ATMs in Aland

Åland

1984-2005 (Only Spanish version at the moment)

2006-2008. Old garden plants series

In 2006 Posten Åland announced a new triennial series of Frama postage labels. On this occasion the ATMs featured different old garden plants that can be found in the archipelago.

The designs are by the Swedish artist Inga-Karin Eriksson and the printing of the labels is again by Post Danmark in gummed fluorescent paper, 105 g/m² and printed in 5-colour offset. The ATM size is 40.00 x 30.34 mm.

The first issue is dedicated to the lilac (Syringa vulgaris L.), with an evocative and delicate image of a garden next to the sea.

On the date of issue, January 2nd 2006, the set was composed of the values 0.50-0.55-0.60 & 0.80 EUR. With the change of postal tariffs on March 1st 2006, the values were uprated to 0.55-0.65-0.75 & 0.85 EUR.

Posten Åland prepared nice first day covers and collector sheets adorned with different designs related to the issue.
In the image, the first day cover includes the 4-values set and commemorative postmark.

Size: 175 x 115 mm.

The 2007 design, issued by the only Frama vending machine installed in the Mariehamn main post office from March 1st, is dedicated to the most common of cottage peonies in older Åland gardens, the Paeonia officinalis rubra plena.

Another careful design in which the marine reference reappears, with the image of two sailing boats in the background.

The set on the date of issue was composed of the 4 basic values 0.55-0.70-0.75 & 0.85 EUR, corresponding to the postal tariffs for 2nd class Åland, 1st class Europe, 2nd class rest of the world and 1st class rest of the world, respectively.
As a result of the unexpected advance in the change of the postage rates on February 1st, many of the sets and first day covers, prepared in advance of the date of issue and sent to subscribers, included the non-updated value 0.65 EUR instead of 0.70 EUR.

First day cover with the 4-values set, including the wrong value 0.65 EUR, and commemorative postmark.

Size: 175 x 115 mm.

The last issue of the triennial series dedicated to old garden plants depicts the full burnet rose, - another fine design from the Swedish artist Inga-Karin Eriksson.

The new theme was first issued on March 27th 2008, a very appropriated date, with spring just around the corner.

As with previous issues, the rolls of labels have been manufactured by Post Danmark on gummed fluorescent paper. The approximate size of the ATMs is 40.00 x 30.34 mm.

The full burnet rose, known also as Rosa pimpinellifolia, rosa spinosissima, Pimpernel rose, White rose of Finland, Midsummer rose, ... depending on the country, is a variety of a very common wild rose blooming in spring and the beginning of the summer. It can be found not only in the Nordic countries but also in the rest of Europe.
The burnet rose is a small shrub with white flowers, as seen in the maximum card.

With the annual change of postal rates, on February 1st 2008, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of 4 basic values, 0.60-0.70-0.75 & 0.90 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for economic and high-priority national mail (including Finland), and high-priority to Nordic countries and the rest of the world, respectively.

Detail of the first day cover, with the ATM and commemorative postmark.

2009-2011. Spar buoys series

Beginning in 2009, Åland Post launched a new 3-years series of Frama issues, this time focusing on spar buoys or navigation marks. All designs are from local artist Allan Palmer. It is a very appropriate subject for this beautiful archipelago of the Baltic Sea.

The first design of the series, issued on February 2nd 2009, is dedicated to the old Russian buoyage system, which was used in Åland from 1895 until the 1980s.

The rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by Post Danmark. Once it has been issued by the Frama distributor, the approximate size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

With the annual change of postal rates, on January 2nd 2009, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of 4 basic values, 0.65-0.75-0.80-0.90 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for economic and high-priority national mail (including Finland), high-priority to Nordic countries, and the rest of the world, respectively.

The spar buoys are floating navigation marks for helping with sea navigation, both marking out the entrance fairways and hazardous areas, or just the fairways by themselves. The ATM issue and the illustration on the first day cover shows the Russian maritime buoyage system. The spar buoys had also different types of baskets on the top to improve visibility in poor weather conditions.

First day cover franked with the basic set of 4 values plus the commemorative postmarks.

The second issue of the 3-year series, dedicated to navigational markers, depicts the Maritime buoyage System A. The designer of the ATM and first day cover is Allan Palmer.
The new thematic was available, from March 1st 2010, at the only Frama vending machine installed in the Mariehamn main post office.

As with previous issues, the rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by Post Danmark. The approximate size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

With the annual change of postal rates, on February 2nd 2010, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of the basic values, 0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90 EUR, corresponding to the high-priority mail tariffs for the 4 zones established in the Åland Post tariff system; Domestic, Finland, Nordic countries, and the rest of the world, respectively.

The maritime buoyage System A is used in Europe, Africa, Oceania and some Asian countries. According to this system, a boat putting into port from a buoyed channel, should left green buoys and marks on its right hand (starboard), and red on the left hand (port). The buoys usually are topped with geometric figures, a cylinder in the port hand buoys and a cone in the starboard hand, which is the motif for the first day cancellation. Besides the lateral buoys, also cardinal buoys are used, painted in horizontal yellow and back stripes.

First day cover franked with the basic set of 4 values plus the commemorative postmarks.

The third and last issue of the 3-year series dedicated to spar buoys depicts some cardinal buoys in winter, as seen on the sea ice.
Like the two previous issues, the designer of the ATM and first day cover is Allan Palmer.

The new design could be obtained, from February 1st 2011, from the Frama distributor installed in the main post office of Mariehamn, the capital of the archipelago.
The rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by Post Danmark. The size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

The set released by the philatelic service is composed of the basic values, 0.75-0.80-0.85-0.90 EUR, corresponding to the high-priority mail tariffs for the domestic, Finland, Nordic countries, and the rest of the world, respectively.

During the winter, ice makes for very difficult shipping in the Nordic countries. The Frama and the first day cover depicts different cardinal buoys or navigational markers, painted in yellow and black horizontal stripes, that maybe seen on the ice. The postmark on the first day of issue also reproduces one of these cardinal marks, indicating the west direction
First day cover franked with the basic set of 4 values plus the commemorative postmarks

Coinciding with the last issue of the series, the philatelic service launched a presentation pack including the 3 mint ATMs as well as a postcard with the three stamps with their respective first day postmark.

2012-2014. Old wooden decoys series

Beginning in 2012, Åland Post launched a new set of Frama issues. All the new designs are from the artist Juha Pykäläinen, and show different old wooden duck decoys.
The ATMs can be obtained from the two Frama distributors in service in the archipelago - one of them installed, for public use, in the Mariehamn main post office (right picture, photo by Jens Roser), and the other in the post-mailing-centre in Sviby, which is used mainly by the philatelic service.

The first design of the series, issued on February 1st 2012, shows decoys used when hunting for eider duck (Somateria mollissima) - with the female bird in the upper part of the design and the male beneath it.
These dummies were carved from wood and painted, and simulate the different bird species.

For the first time, the rolls of labels were manufactured, on gummed paper, by the Canadian company The Lowe-Martin Group. Once issued by the Frama distributor, the approximate size of the ATM is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

Following the annual change of postal rates, on January 2nd 2012, the set released by the philatelic service is composed of 4 basic values, 0.75-0.80-0.95-1.00 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for (1) priority national mail, (2) economic to Finland and Nordic countries, (3) priority to Finland, Nordic countries and Europe (up to 20 g), and (4) priority to the rest of the world, respectively.

The illustration on the first day cover, also by Juha Pykäläinen, is a duck hunting blind made of stones, near the coast. The decoys are anchored in the water, close to the blind, to lure the same species of birds within the shooting range of the hunter.
The special first day postmark is designed like an eider decoy as seen from above.

The new printing house, the Lowe-Martin Group, initially manufactured the rolls of labels with the fluorescent coating, as ordered by Åland Post. However, the quality was not as it should have been, so they produced a reprinting. By error, the new rolls were manufactured on non-fluorescent paper.
All ATMs issued by the philatelic service during the first few weeks after release, and until mid-March 2012, were printed on the original fluorescent paper. From that date, the ATMs were issued with the new rolls of non-fluorescent paper. The right picture shows the reaction to ultraviolet light of the two ATM types issued on both types of paper, normal and fluorescent.

In 2013, the second design, of the 3-year series, featuring old style wooden duck decoys, as used by hunters to encourage birds to land near to their duck blinds, depicts the long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis).
The new issue could be obtained, from February 19th 2013, from the two Frama distributors in service.

As with the 2012 design, the rolls of labels have been manufactured, on gummed paper, by The Lowe-Martin Group.

The design is by Juha Pykäläinen, and shows the female bird in the upper part of the design and the male beneath. Juha is also the designer of the illustration, used for the postcard, to make maximum cards (right image), and the first day cover.
	One detail of the design has also been copied onto the back of the postcard, as the illustration of the postage paid mark.

The set, released by the philatelic service, is based on the current postal rates as from January 2nd 2013. The values are 0.65-0.80-1.00 & 1.10 EUR, corresponding to the rates for economic and priority national mail (up to 50 g), priority to Finland, Nordic countries and Europe (up to 20 g), and priority to the rest of the world, respectively.


Åland Post prepared two first day postmarks. One of them is a special release, and was only used on the maximum cards.

The third and last issue of the 3-year series featuring old wooden duck decoys, as used by hunters to encourage birds to land nearby, depicts two decoys of the Velvet Scoter(Melanitta fusca).
The new issue could be obtained, from February 7th 2014, from the Frama distributors in service.

The rolls of labels were manufactured, on gummed and fluorescent paper, by the Canadian company The Lowe-Martin Group.
The design is by Juha Pykäläinen, and shows a couple of Velvet Scoter, a common sea duck species in the archipelago. The artist is also the designer of the postcard, used to produce the maximum card (right), the first day cover (below), and the presentation pack (bottom image).

The set, released by the philatelic service, is based on the current postal rates as from January 2nd 2014 (see list of postage rates below). The values are 0.80-0.90-0.95 & 1.10 EUR, corresponding to the rates for economic and priority national mail, and economic and priority mail to other countries, based on the first weight step, respectively.


First day cover with the 4-values set, and detail of the commemorative postmark

As a summary of the triennial series, the philatelic service released a presentation pack containing the three ATMs, in mint condition, and a postcard with the three stamps with their respective first day postmark.

2015-2017. Beach finds series

In 2015 Åland Post started a new triennial series of designs for Frama distributors. The series, depicted in three photographic compositions by Tiina Tahvanainen, will be devoted to showing various objects found on the beaches in the archipelago.

The first design of the series was available starting on February 2nd 2015. The composition includes feathers and mollusk shells.

	The rolls of labels were manufactured, on gummed fluorescent paper, by the Canadian company The Lowe-Martin Group. Once issued by the Frama distributor, the approximate size of the stamp is 39-40 x 30-31 mm. On the date of issue, there is only one Frama public vending machine in Åland, located in the outside wall of the Mariehamn main post office.
	Photo: K. Kortelainen, february 2015

Following the annual change of postal rates, on January 2nd 2015 (see table below), the set released by the philatelic service is composed of four basic values, 0.80-0.95-1.20-1.30 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for priority national, economic and priority international mail, in the first weight step and, because the tariffs coincide, the last value corresponds to the priority national mail up to 100 gr.


The first day cover is illustrated with a photograph of shells and other objects found on beaches. Above, detail of the first day postmark, depicting a seashell.

In 2016, the second design, of the 3-year series, featuring objects found on the beaches in the archipelago, depicts an old glass bottle with a message. Nothing particularly unusual, bearing in mind that Åland comprises more than 6500 islands. The photograph is by Tiina Tahvanainen.

This issue could be obtained, from February 2nd 2016, in the only Frama vending machine in service, located in the Mariehamn main post office.

The rolls of labels were manufactured, on gummed fluorescent paper, by the Canadian company The Lowe-Martin Group. Once issued by the Frama distributor, the approximate size of the stamp is 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

Following the annual change of postal rates, on January 2nd 2016 (see table below), the set released by the philatelic service is composed of four basic values, 0.85-1.00-1.20-1.30 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for economic domestic mail, and economic and priority international mail, in the first weight step. Because the tariffs coincide, the 1.20 EUR value corresponds to the economic mail to Finland, in the second weight step, up to 100 g.


The first day cover is illustrated with a photograph of stones and bits of wood found on beaches. Above, detail of the first day postmark, depicting alder catkins.

In 2017, the third and final design, of the unusual triennial series featuring objects found on the beaches, depicts an old fishnet with cork floats. As with the previous issues, the photo is by Tiina Tahvanainen, a local freelance photographer.

This issue could be obtained, from February 2nd 2017 in the only Frama vending machine in service, located in the Mariehamn main post office.

The rolls of labels were manufactured, on gummed fluorescent paper, by the Canadian company The Lowe-Martin Group. The issued stamp from the Frama vending machine, is approximately 39-40 x 30-31 mm.

As per the current postal rates on the date of issue (see table below), the set released by the philatelic service is composed of four basic values, 0.90-1.00-1.10-1.40 EUR, corresponding to the tariffs for economy and priority domestic and international mail, in the first weight step. Because the tariffs coincide, the 1.00 EUR value corresponds to the local economy mail rate in the second weight step, up to 100 g.


The first day cover is illustrated with a photograph of different beach finds. Above, detail of the first day postmark, depicting bladderwrack.

2018. The end of Frama issues

In 2018, Åland Post installed new high-performance printers in its two main post offices, for use in the printing of a new type of variable value stamp. At the same time, they decided to remove the only Frama vending machine for public use that was still in service in the archipelago, ... and most likely - with no up to date news on the machine installed in Reykjavik, Iceland- also in the world.

Indeed, since October 1984, Mariehamn's main office had a Frama vending machine for the issue of variable value stamps. The first machine, with a fixed cliche (stereotype) and using rolls of gummed paper with a neutral background, was replaced, in 1996, by a new model, with only digit wheels for printing the face value on rolls of labels with color/pictorial designs. A new machine modified to take the Euro, came into service as of January 2002. With a very moderate issuing policy, over some 35 years, Åland Post has released about 30 different ATM designs (see previous articles).

In the new Mariehamn post office, the Frama machine was installed in the entrance porch, in a an area open 24hrs.


	Now ageing somewhat, the machine still worked perfectly although, with the change in postal requirements in recent years, its use was minimal. Quite possibly this was the main reason for its withdrawal on the cold morning of March 13th 2018.


While outside the post office two Åland Post workers removed the last Frama machine, unaware of the postal and collecting significance of this act, inside, visitors were already purchasing the new variable value stamp series illustrated with images of orchids (next article).

And one last curiosity, the counter showing the face value amount of the stamps issued by the machine, was 22836.15 EUR. If it had not been reinitialised at any time since its installation in 2002, this amount would mean that the machine would have issued stamps with an average value of just over EUR 100 per month.

The philatelic service had two additional Frama machines for internal use only, which will also be removed with the end of these issues.

2018, the new variable value stamps. The 'Orchids' series

The basic postal tariffs in Åland (2006-2018)

	Åland		Finland		Nordic countries		Rest of the world
	Economy	Priority	Economy	Priority	Economy	Priority	Economy	Priority
	Standard letters up to 50 g.				Standard letters up to 20 g.
1.03.2006	0,55	0,65	0,55	0,65	0,55	0,65	0,75	0,85
1.02.2007	0,55	0,70	0,60	0,70	0,60	0,70	0,75	0,85
1.02.2008	0,60	0,70	0,60	0,70	0,60	0,75	0,80	0,90
2.01.2009	0,65	0,75	0,65	0,75	0,70	0,80	0,80	0,90
1.02.2010	0,65	0,75	0,70	0,80	0,75	0,85	0,80	0,90
1.06.2011	0,65	0,75	0,75	0,85	0,80	0,90	0,85	0,95
2.01.2012	0,60	0,75	0,80	0,95	0,80	0,95	0,90	1,00
2.01.2013	0,65	0,80	0,85	1,00	0,85	1,00	0,95	1,10
2.01.2014	0,80	0,90	0,95	1,10	0,95	1,10	0,95	1,10
2.01.2015	0,80	0,95	0,95	1,20	0,95	1,20	0,95	1,20
2.01.2016	0,85	1,00	1,00	1,30	1,00	1,30	1,00	1,30
1.01.2017	0,90	1,10	1,10	1,40	1,10	1,40	1,10	1,40
1.01.2018	1,10	1,30	1,50		1,30	1,50	1,30	1,50