"Stamp Day" Turku

This maxi card was issued on 9.10.2013 at Turku, Finland to commemorate Philately Day or “Stamp Day”as the locals in Turku call it. The stamp is a personalised one by the Post Offices in Turku. The sailing vessel featured on this card is the famous SS Soumen Joutsen, better and more affectionately known as the “Swan of Finland”. Thank you Pia for this nice card.

The Finnish Training Ship Suomen Joutsen is featured on this stamp on the FDC commemorating the Tall Ship Race in 1972. Suomen Joutsen (Swan of Finland in English) (former names are Laënnec, Oldenburg) is a three-mast, steel hull, full rigged ship. She was built in 1902 in St. Nazaire, France to serve in the trade between Atlantic and Pacific ports. In 1930 she was bought by the Government of Finland to serve as Finnish Navy training ship. Before World War II she made eight long ocean voyages. From 1956 she was a stationary Seamen's School for the Finnish Merchant Navy. Since 1991, she has been a museum ship owned by City of Turku, Finland.