Finnish definitive stamps
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
19th - 20th century
Issuing entity
Grand Duchy and Republic of FinlandFinnish definitive stamps encompass postal issues produced for use in Finland, beginning in 1856 during its status as an autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire.
Throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, definitive postal issues tracked the administrative and political changes of the region. Following the establishment of a domestic currency in 1865, stamp denominations shifted to penni and markka, eventually leading to issues produced independently by Finland beginning on October 1, 1917.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Following the war of 1808–1809, Finland was annexed from Sweden to the Russian Empire under the Peace Treaty of Hamina on September 17, 1809. Established as an autonomous Grand Duchy, Finland retained its basic laws and the administration of its civil affairs, issuing its first stamps in 1856 and adopting the penni and markka in 1865. Following the accession of Tsar Alexander III in 1881, measures were enacted to abolish Finnish administrative privileges, resulting in the Russification of the Finnish Post. Finland later released its first own stamps on October 1, 1917, two months before declaring national independence.
Identification
- Recognition pointers (from background sources)
- Look for the earliest 1856 issues (soikiomerkit), which feature distinctive oval designs, unperforated edges, and denominations in 5 or 10 kopecks. Serpentine roulettes on early issues serve as a recognised identification point. Inspect the currency units to distinguish between pre-1865 kopeck emissions and later issues denominated in penni and markka.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Roulette, watermark and printing listings require transcription from a printed reference.