The Koli national landscape voted as the most beautiful stamp of the year

Finns have voted a stamp designed by Stiina Hovi depicting the Koli national landscape at sunset as the most beautiful stamp of 2023. The photo in the stamp was taken by Jani Riekkinen.

The stamp depicting the Archipelago Sea was voted the second most beautiful. It was issued in the same National Landscapes roll of stamps as the Koli stamp. The photo in the Archipelago Sea stamp was taken by Anna Saarinen.

The third place in the vote went to the Valentine’s Day stamp illustrated by Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus featuring swans in soft tones. The stamp’s graphic design was done by Paula Salviander.

Votes for the top stamps were evenly distributed

People could vote for the most beautiful stamp in Finland on the Posti website or by sending a postcard. A total of 20,366 votes were cast in the voting, of which 14% went to the winning stamp. The votes received by the top stamps were distributed fairly evenly. All five Valentine’s Day stamps ranked among the eight most beautiful stamps.

“Stamps depicting landscapes are popular and traditionally rank at the top in votes for the most beautiful stamp. Koli is generally considered to be Finland’s most famous and most depicted iconic landscape, so the stamp’s success is not a surprise,” says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti.

National landscapes are images of the soul of the Finns

According to Stiina Hovi, who designed the winning stamp, the national landscapes of Finland are, in their own way, images directly from the soul of the Finns.

“It’s thrilling to think that our ancestors were already enchanted by the Koli landscape. I’m proud and happy that a stamp depicting a national landscape was voted the most beautiful in Finland. Our magnificent nature deserves full recognition also in this area,” Hovi says.

The most beautiful stamp in Finland 2023 – the vote’s Top 10

1. National Landscapes, Koli, Stiina Hovi, 2,778 votes
2. National Landscapes, Archipelago Sea, Stiina Hovi, 2,431 votes
3. Close Friend, swans, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 2,281 votes
4. Close Friend, cats, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 1,975 votes
5. Close Friend, squirrels, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 1,550 votes
6. Close Friend, a roe deer and a hare, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 1,179 votes
7. Language of Flowers, Kreetta Järvenpää, 800 votes
8. Close Friend, dogs, Hanna-Maria Mainelakeus, 770 votes
9. Language of Flowers, Kreetta Järvenpää, 717 votes
10. National Landscapes, Pallastunturi fells, Stiina Hovi, 693 votes

Source, text and pictures:
Posti Group’s media release 26 February 2024