Stamps of Karelia

The appearances and use of the Karelian Seals can be better understood by taking into account the various changes that were caused by the ongoing battles. Most of the stamps available today are in mint series. Karelia stamps were also sold in Helsinki, where the 5 and 10 penni series sold out quickly. There are only a few hundred complete series used, as well as some authentic mail articles (Uhtua to Finland). Very often, the articles (registered letters) carry the lowest denominations of the series (5 p – 1 mark).

A large part of Karelia’s letters were addressed to the Postmaster in Suomussalmi, Ms Aino Calamnius, who forwarded them to the addressees on special covers. No documents related to the end of this practice have been discovered. Some collectors sent stamps, stamp blocks, and even sheets to the UHTUA Post Office for cancellation. These had been bought from the central government of Karelia. During the winter of 1922, a Lapua maker, Mr. Eino Lahdensuo, traveled to Karelia via Kajaani, where he purchased a large quantity of Karelian stamps. Most of it was used as postage.

The moving battle lines deterred postal traffic among the Green Karelians, so this part of the postal activities remained only on paper. No postal items with address and shipping method were found within Karelia. The Karjalla central government regulation regarding postage costs to be paid with Karelian stamps on Finnish post to specific locations in Karelia beyond the receiving post office, was also retained only in theory. There was a specific fee to be paid for the transport of letters in Finand. A normal foreign letter costs 2 points.

For example, the Suomussalmi – Helsinki postal route took 3-4 days. Those who participated in the war used direct mail contacts to Finland, such as those in Hyrynsalmi, Kuhmo, Lieksa and Suomussalmi. There are letters sent authentically by post without Finnish stamps, as well as letters sent to Karelia using only Finnish stamps.