Aland:Tiger Cat

On 20 October 2021 Åland Post issued 2021's Miniature Sheet containing one stamp in its stamp series featuring Chinese zodiac signs with an Åland twist.

Issue Description
The Tiger Cat Stamp Issue is the eight in Åland's series on Chinese Zodiac Signs.

Other stamps in the series are: Åland Sheep (2014), Europa - Old Toys (2015), Roosters (2016), China Dogs (2017), Pigs (2018), Mice (2019) and Oxen (2020).

Issue Details
Domestic cats illustrate Åland Post’s interpretation of the Year of the Tiger in Chinese astrology. The motif shows some tiger cats enjoying a cozy day on a traditional Åland porch.

The original porch can be found in the Västernäs district of southern Mariehamn.

The rich filigree of the windows is characteristic of Åland porches that became popular in the 1800s. The house at Västergård's dates back to 1786, and the porch was added in the late 1800s. In the late 1980s it was operated as a summer café and the porch was frequently used for birthdays, crayfish parties and weddings.

Miniature Sheet
The composition of the Miniature Sheet features both indoors and outdoors and shows a sunroom with playing cats. The tranquil Åland scenery appears in the windows and the summer light shines in through the half-open door. In the sheet, a cat peeks in, hoping to join the playing lords of the house, the "tigers".

On the wall hangs a Chinese poem about tigers, that roughly translates into "terrifying and proud, power and strength".

First Day Cover
The First Day Cancel depicts a kitten.

Maximum Card
The Maximum Card features a kitten playing with a ball of yarn that also appears on the special cancel.

Postage from Åland to any destination in the world is included in the price of the card.