On 3 February 2025, Åland Post releases a new series of franking labels on the theme Treasures of the sea, capturing life below the surface. “The sea and the water are omnipresent on Åland. With the new franking labels, we wish to highlight the diversity and beauty hidden beneath the surface. With his watercolour art, artist Bo Lundwall has lovingly and masterfully illustrated bladderwrack, blue mussel, three-spined stickleback, and jellyfish,” says Johanna Finne, design manager at Åland Post Stamps.

Swedish illustrator of animals and nature Bo Lundwall describes his work with the species as both challenging and rewarding.

“All four species were new to me, and it was a particular challenge to portray them in their underwater habitat. I received valuable help to study jellyfish, mussels, and sticklebacks at the Tjärnö Marine Laboratory outside Strömstad and the Baltic Sea Science Center at Skansen in Stockholm. Observing the species in their environment and talking to the biologists about their characteristics is always rewarding,” Bo says.

Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus) is the largest algae of the Baltic Sea, and it stands upright in the water thanks to its air bladders. Bladderwrack belts are sometimes referred to as the “forest of the Baltic Sea”, offering shelter and food to many other species.

The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) also plays a significant role in the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea, and their presence is a good indicator of the health of the marine environment. The blue mussel has a triangular shell, the colour of which shifts from dark blue to black. The mussels that live in the Baltic Sea are a cross between two marine species and grow to only 1–4 cm long due to the low salinity.

The jelly fish (Aurelia aurita) is a native species of the Baltic Sea, a pale pink, translucent jellyfish that is almost 100% water. The thin, threadlike tentacles lining the bell margin are equipped with stinging cells (nematocysts) that help the jellyfish capture zooplankton. The circular gonads seen through the top of the bell are reproductive glands.

The franking label featuring three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) shows a female and a male in the red mating costume that he acquires during the June breeding season. The male stickleback builds a nest on the seabed and takes care of the eggs until they hatch. This small fish grows to 4–10 cm in length and can be recognized by its three sharp spines on its back in front of the dorsal fin.

Åland Post Stamps sells the self-adhesive labels in strips of four labels in the webshop at www.alandstamps.com. The labels may also be purchased over the counter at the post offices in Mariehamn and Sviby at values decided by the customer.

• Name                                               Treasures of the sea
• Date of issue                                  3 February 2025
• Artist                                                 Bo Lundwall
• Design                                             Johanna Finne
• Denomination of series                 4 × €3.40
• Price FDC                                       14,60 €
• Size                                                  56 × 25 mm
• Paper                                               40 gms thermal paper
• Process                                           4-colour offset
• Printer                                              Cartor Security Printers

Order the franking labels, first day cover and maximum card in the webshop at alandstamps.com, by post to Åland Post Stamps, P.O. box 1100, AX-22111 Mariehamn, Åland, Finland, e-mail stamps@alandpost.com or telephone: +358 18636639.