-
Snowy Windmill
Mailed in 2013 with stamp, faint postmark, and Priority label. There’s no caption to identify the specific windmill. Grade: 1
-
Helsinki, Vantaa Airport
Mailed in 2013 with a long stamp, and postmark. Grade: 1
-
Poliisi – Otto
We’re not sure what to make of this, but it is definitely not a Zazzle template and not an internet card. The dog is saying “Hey, I’m Otto, who are you?”. This card was mailed in 2013 with two stamps–neither one postmarked–and Priority label. In the lower left corner is a box called “Sormenjälki-terveisin” (Fingerprint regards) and, sure enough, a fingerprint is inside. That’s the whole idea, apparently. Grade: 4
-
Söderskär majakka – Lighthouse
An 1862 lighthouse on a card mailed in 2013 with stamp, faint postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Miksi murehtisit nyt?
The translation runs something like: “Why worry now? You can always be unhappy in the future.” This round card was mailed in 2013 with a Moomin stamp, and Moomin Priority label, and postmark. Grade: 1
-
Eletäh sit viel elimäelki
The sender of this card didn’t like it at all, but we love it–purely “local” and a nice change from snow and reindeer. The front caption defeated Google Translate, but the writer says it means “We’re still alive!”, all referring to the Raavuorisoitto festival. Like we said–local. Mailed in 2013 with stamp and Priority. Grade: 1
-
Talviset terveiset! (Winter greetings!)
Mailed in 2013 with bright stamp, and postmark. Grade: 1
-
Moomin – Omenapiirakka
Omenapiirakka means apple pie, so we’re guessing this is the recipe. If it’s not, sorry! Card mailed in 2013 with stamp, postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Winter in Finland
Mailed in 2013 with a remarkable stamp and postmark, also address and Priority labels affixed. Grade: 4
-
Letter with oval stamp of the year 1856
Issued by postimuseo and mailed in 2013 with two stamps, faint partial postmark, and blue Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Kirjamessut
For many cards, we go to Google Translate and let it work its magic. For this one, we’ll let you do that. Mailed in 2013 with stamp (but uncancelled) and Priority label. Grade: 4
-
Opi Luovasti
Variously translated as “Learn with Creativeness,” this ad card was mailed in 2013 with large stamp, postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Train
An extensive Finnish caption is too long to translate, but the sender advises this photo was taken in 1908 in Riihimaki. The contemporary caard howevr was mailed in 2013, with a long “train” stamp and clear Helsinki postmark. Priority label too. Grade: 1
-
Tex Willer
Mailed in 2013 with an irregular “elephants” stamp, very faint postmark, and Priority label affixed. And, for some of you, who is Tex Willer? He’s the main fictional character of the Italian comics series Tex, first published in Italy in 1948. Among the most popular characters of Italian comics, the fan base in Brazil is especially large, but it is very popular also in Finland … The Tex series is an Italian-made interpretation of the American Old West, inspired by classical characters of old American Western movies, and occasionally by American history. Tex is depicted as a tough man with a strong personal sense of justice, who becomes a Texas ranger (even if living in Arizona) and defends Native Americans and any other honest character from bandits, unscrupulous merchants and corrupt politicians and tycoons. (You’re hired, Tex!) Grade: 1
-
Hameenlinna, Prison Museum
Vankilamuseo, the Prison Museum, on this card mailed in 2013 with stamp, postmark, and blue Priority label. Grade: 1
-
WWF. Northern Lights
Nice, clean card published by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) in Finland and mailed from there in 2013 with stamp, faint postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Pirteyttä Päivään
Google translates this from Finnish as “Vitalizes the Day” and while we’re not sure what that has to do with the drawing, the card has its stamp and smudged postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 2
-
Runebergs Fountain
And in this case, though we must believe this is a fountain because the card says so, we also think it might be better to see for ourselves, up close. Mailed with stamp and Priority label, but no postmark. Grade: 4
-
Jyväskylä, Viherlandia
Mailed in 2013 with obscured postmark and stamp and blue Priority label. Grade: 2
-
Suomi, flag
Mailed in 2013 with large stamp, Tampere postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 2
-
Aamupesulla Finnish Spa
Mailed in 2013 with stamp, faint postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Virtain Kaupunginkirjasto (Library)
Mailed in 2013 with “red shoes” stamp, partly obscured postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
I (heart) Helsinki
Mailed in 2013 with uncancelled stamp and Priority label alongside an enormous QR code. Grade: 4 (because of no postmark)
-
Multiple views, with fire
Mailed in 2013 with a “bus” stamp, partial postmark, and Priority label. Grade: 1
-
Lapland, multiple views
Lappi Lapland (same thing?) on this card mailed in 2013 with stamp and postmark. Grade: 1
-
Moomins 47-60211
This nice card in great condition even has a Moomin Priority label and Moomin stamp, unfortunately not postmarked. Grade: 4
-
Tampere Art Museum, Moominvalley Collection
Imagine, a whole collection of the popular Moomin characters. Here’s one card, at least: mailed in 2013, with stamp, Priority, and postmark. A bit of postmark ink transfer on the front. Grade: 2
-
Amanda’s Blue (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 11, issued on 6 April 1990, of Agrodiaetus amandus. If, like many folks, you collect stamps or postcards of butterflies … well, here it is. Grade: 1
-
Aland, First meeting of first Provincial Parliament (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 9, issued on 8 June 1992, of a meeting held in Aland’s High School on 9 June 1922. Grade: 1
-
Aland, sailing optimist dinghies (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 14, issued on 9 August 1995. Grade: 1
-
Aland, folk art – furniture painting (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 27, issued on 1 February 1999. Grade: 1
-
Mopolla Suomeen, Otava 2007
Mailed in 2013 with stamp and Priority label, the nice stamp wasn’t cancelled. Because of that, Grade: 4
-
Aland, Church of Geta, St. George and the Dragon (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 15, issued on 15 September 1999. This is a wooden sculpture. Grade: 1
-
Aland, eagle owls (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 19, issued on 23 March 1996. Grade: 1
-
Saimaa ringed seal (Pusa hispida saimensis) (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 5, issued on 10 April 1986. Grade: 1
-
Saimaa lakeside (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 6, issued on 10 April 1986. Grade: 1
-
Helsinki, Itakeskus, sculpture “Stoa” (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 7, issued on 15 May 1987. This sculpture is the result of a design competition in 1981, and the winner was Hannu Siren. Grade: 1
-
Tampere Main City Library (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 8, issued on 15 May 1987. Quoting the caption, “A design competition for a new city library in Tampere was held in 1978. The architects Raili and Reima Pietela received the first prize for their proposal ‘A Wood Grouse’s Courting Images’. On this basis the new city library was built in 1983 to 1986.” Grade: 1
-
Helsinki, Seurasaari Island, Open-Air Museum (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 12, issued on 4 June 1991. Some smudging on the reverse. Grade: 2
-
Juha Kankkunen, Rally World Champion (Maximum Card)
Unused Maximum Card no. 27, issued on 10 May 1995. Grade: 1