{"product_id":"archive-006-finland-first-stamps","title":"Archive 006 — Finland First Stamps","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinland First Stamps\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhere Finnish philately began.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMarch 1856\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, Finland issued its first postage stamps: the distinctive oval \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e5 kopecks blue\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e10 kopecks red\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e designs bearing the Finnish coat of arms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThese early stamps were remarkable not only for their appearance, but also for the way they were made. They were produced by hand using printing dies and were \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eimperforate\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, meaning each stamp had to be cut from the sheet with scissors. Small embossed “pearls” were also incorporated as security features to help prevent misuse. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.postimuseo.fi\/postimerkin-historiaa-osa1\/\"\u003ePostimuseo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTheir introduction followed a proposal made in 1855 by Finland’s Postmaster General Wulffert. The Senate approved the idea, and the stamps were initially introduced for a two-year trial period. They appeared almost two years before the first postage stamps of the Russian Empire, of which Finland was then a Grand Duchy. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.postimuseo.fi\/nayttely\/ensimmaiset-postimerkit\/\"\u003ePostimuseo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, Finland’s first oval stamps are among the great classics of Finnish philately, with some surviving examples regarded as major rarities. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.postimuseo.fi\/tiedotteet\/uusi-julkaisu-auttaa-filatelisteja-uusinta-ja-jalkipainamien-tunnistamisessa\/\"\u003ePostimuseo\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eArchive 006\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, the beginning of Finnish postal history takes on a new form. Reimagined as a 100-piece miniature puzzle, this historic design becomes an object to assemble, contemplate and collect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinished with a delicate soft-touch surface for a refined, tactile feel.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e100 pieces · 10 × 14 cm · Collectible mini puzzle · STAMP → OBJECT™\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Swiderski Philatelic Art","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58974965236047,"sku":"SPA-ARCH-006","price":22.9,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1042\/7239\/6623\/files\/19.jpg?v=1790866020","url":"https:\/\/swiderskiphilatelicart.com\/products\/archive-006-finland-first-stamps","provider":"Swiderski Philatelic Art","version":"1.0","type":"link"}