STAMP STORY

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30610, 28 November 1964, Page 18

STAMP STORY

When the Russian revolution broke out in 1917, the Finns seized their opportunity and an independent republic was declared. At once new stamps were issued to emphasise the country’s new status. Unfortunately Russia’s new rulers proved as reluctant as the Tsars to remove the Russian garrisons from Finland. Finnish Communists incited riots in an attempt to overthrow the new government

The turning point came at Vasa in January, 1918. The city authorities determined to disarm the local Russian garrison, and did so without bloodshed. On the following day the Russians seized government buildings in the capital of Helsinki, and the leaders of the government escaped to Vasa. Field Marshal Mannerheim took charge of the struggle, ejected the Russians from north Finland, and formed a national army. But the plates from which Finland’s stamps were printed had fallen into enemy hands. New stamps were quickly printed at Vasa. They were broadly similar to the existing issue, but the central panel was of a different shape, and the figures of value enclosed in circles. Supplies were rapidly distributed to the liberated areas in case the others had to be invalidated in a hurry.