Postage stamps and postal history of Finland

The history of the post office in Finland dates back to the 17th century, although Finland gained independence only in 1917.

Swedish time

The then Governor-General of Finland, the Swedish Count Per Brahe the Younger (1602-1680), founded in the 17th century the postal system in Finland. From the beginning, the post office was also open to the general public. First post connections combined from 1638, the two main cities of Stockholm and Åbo (Turku ), were added post links inside Finland. The post was initially by postal runners (Swedish: Postlöpar ) ( on the Åland Islands Post farmers ), transported or with rowing and sailing boats. Here, too, went further with the development of post riders and mail carts.

Finnish post office in the Russian Empire

After the annexation of Finland into the Russian Empire (1809 ) was built in Åbo a post office, which was moved in 1818 to the new capital Helsinki. In the same year appeared a Finnish postal order. The first postage stamps appeared on March 3, 1856. The railway between Helsinki and Tavastehus, opened in 1862, was used for mailing. 1890 lost the Finnish postal service 's independence.

Russian Post

On 1 May 1891, the Russian charges and postage stamps were introduced in Finland. In addition, the Finnish brands initially retained their validity for the clearance of the consignments within the Grand Duchy and for those to foreign countries. For shipments to Russia the postage fee was not allowed to be paid in Finnish postage stamps from 1 January 1892. On August 1, 1900, the Finnish postal stamps were no longer permitted for international mail to be completely eliminated by the end of 1900.

Finnish post

With the Russian October Revolution was the 1917 independent state in Finland. By a decree of July 26, 1918 all previous orders were eliminated. The post office in Helsinki (Swedish: Helsingfors ) divided the country into eight districts, which were placed under an inspector. At post offices there are post offices first class with the downstream post offices 2nd class, which in turn are divided into five classes. The post- compulsory cover letters. Some authorities, civil servants and scientific societies enjoyed fees and free postage. Where exemption from charges, postage, insurance and registration fee includes the postage freedom only the postage says.

On January 1, 1963, the currency has been converted and issued new brands. The output from 1954 brands to be 1/100 of the nominal value remains valid.

Since 1984, the Åland Islands have their own stamps and since 1993 its own postal administration.

With the introduction of the euro on 1 January 2002, all previously issued stamps of Finland and Åland were invalid. Instead of the nominal value in euros only the transport class is specified on most stamps.