Finland postage stamps year 1875 – 1920

Finland postage stamps issued between 1875 and 1920 cover significant historical and political changes during the Russian Grand Duchy period and early independence.

Early Stamps (Up to 1889)

• Stamps prior to 1875 were issued without the country name.
• From 1875 to 1885, stamps featured Finland’s coat of arms and included the country names in Finnish (Suomi) and Swedish (Finland).
• These issues maintained a national identity even under Russian rule but did not include Russian inscriptions.

Russification Period (1889 to early 1900s)

• Starting in 1889, the stamps featured the same coat of arms but added the country name in Cyrillic (Финляндия) due to Russian influence.
• From 1891, stamps were issued in Russian currency (kopecks and rubles) and had designs closely resembling contemporary Russian stamps.
• The postal system increasingly came under Russian administration from 1890 onward.
• Between 1899 and 1908, Russian stamps were introduced and gradually replaced Finnish stamps for international and domestic mail.
• Russian stamps without the country name circulated in Finland until 1918.

Early Independence and Domestic Issues (1917-1920)

• Finland declared independence in 1917.
• From 1917 onwards, stamps featured the Finnish coat of arms with the lion, symbolizing the new republic.
• Definitive series reflecting Finnish national identity were issued between 1917 and 1920, with various designs continuing the coat of arms theme.
• The definitive series issued in 1918 was used domestically until 1920.

Notable Characteristics

• Early stamps used serpentine roulette perforation.
• Currency changed from Finnish currency to Russian currency and back to Finnish marks by 1901 and 1911 issues.
• Stamps from this era reflect Finland’s transition from an autonomous grand duchy under Russia through Russification, to an independent republic.

This overview summarizes Finland’s postage stamps and postal history from 1875 to 1920 across periods of autonomy, Russian domination, and early independence, highlighting key design elements and currency changes.