Finland 2000 Christmas

• Label : Post of Finland („Postimerkkikeskus“); 2000; commemorative stamps of the issue „Christmas 2000“;
  

Stamp datas:

• Michel No. 1544BA (obverse) + 1545BAI (reverse); Yvert & Tellier: 1509+1510; Scott: 1144+1145; AFA: 1533+1534
• Color : multicolored
• Watermark : none
• Nominal value : 2.50 – 3.50 (FMK)
• Postage validity : 03 November 2000 – 31 December 2011
• Designed by :

- Katriina Viljama-Rissanen (* 1944) (stamps)

- firm „Eero Lalu, Grafistudio Helsinki“ (est. 1980) (postcard)

- Leo Nieminen (photographer)

• Printed by : „NV Grafische Inrichting Johann Enschede en Zonen“, Haarlem (Netherlands)
• Print process : Photogravure on normal paper
• Perforation :

- Rouletted (punched hole-perforation)

- Michel: No. 1545BA type I: R 14¼

- Michel: No. 1545BA type II: R 14½ : 13½

- die-cut, designs composite with surround

• Print run :

- 2.50 (FMK) : 55,000,000

- 3.50 (FMK) : 12,000,000

• Stamp size :

- horizontal format (printed area as distance between the inner tangents of the perforation lines) : 33.0 x 23.0 mm

- vertical format (printed area as distance between the inner tangents of the perforation lines) : 23.0 x 33.0 mm

- height 34½ mm x width 24½ mm (2.50 FMK), or

- height 24½ mm x width 34½ mm (3.50 FMK)

• Gum : self-adhesive

Commemorative stamps of the issue „Christmas 2000“;
(issue of 2 stamos)

Mint stamps

Michel No. 1544BA, mint

Michel No. 1445BA, mint

Postmarked stamps

Michel No. 1544BA, postmerked

Michel No. 1545BA, postmerked

First Day Cover (FDC)

FDC to this issue

Covers, cards, and philatelic souvenirs

Souvenir postcard as Christmas greeting card 2000 of the Finnish Post, postmarked in Helsinki, 03-11-2000/Napapiiri (near polar circle), 04-12-2000

Obverse to this card, postmarked at "Helsinki", 03-11-2000

Reverse to this card, postmarked at "Napapiiri", 04-12-2000

To the stamp motives:
- 2.50 (FMK) : "Three Wise Men and Star“ (Tiernapojat carol singers, dressed as the King of the Blackamoors, Herod, the Knight, and The Bearer (the kings Kaspar, David, and Melchior))
- 3.50 (FMK) : Northern bullfinch sitting on wreath (German bird name : „Gimpel“, „Pyrrhula pyrrhula pyrrhula“) sitting on a Christmas wreath (made of straw) on a door