“This year, the Christmas stamps have been illustrated by the legendary Mauri Kunnas, who is known for his charming children’s books that have been enjoyed by several generations,” says Tommi Kantola, Design Manager at Posti, who is responsible for the selection of the artists and for providing guidance on the artistic work for the stamps.
This year, the Christmas stamps feature busy Christmas gingerbreads singing in a Christmas choir led by Santa Claus. The gingerbreads on the stamps are cheerful characters with their own personalities.
Mauri Kunnas’ daughter Jenna Kunnas, who also works as an illustrator, is responsible for the graphic design of the stamps. "The color scheme of the stamps is clear and reflects a modern Christmas spirit. The blue and red colors clearly distinguish the stamps from each other. The perforations of the stamps nicely reflect the shape of the gingerbreads," says Jenna.
Christmas has been a familiar topic for Mauri Kunnas since his book Santa Claus and His Elves, which was published in 1981. Since then, Kunnas has published several Christmas-themed books, and he is also known for Santa Claus and the Magic Drum, an animated movie for the whole family. Over the years, Kunnas has published dozens of children’s books, with print runs exceeding 10 million worldwide.
The work of Mauri Kunnas has been seen on Christmas stamps twice before, in 1996 and 2006. Before that, the Doghill kids were featured on stamps in 1994 and 1995. Kunnas has designed a total of 19 stamps, including the new Christmas stamps.
