Michel, catalog, Nordic Autonomous Territories 2025/26

Michel Catalogue Nordic Autonomous Territories – Edition 2025/26

Contents:
Åland, Faroe Islands, Greenland (excerpt from the MICHEL Europe series)

Description:
With the MICHEL Nordic Autonomous Territories catalogue, you receive a combined overview of three popular collecting areas in one affordable volume – Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland, officially Kalaallit Nunaat. These are three regions positioned within a fascinating political and cultural field of tension between autonomy and national affiliation. The cataloguing follows the Europe volumes 11: Åland – and 10: Faroe Islands and Greenland. The level of editing and new issue registration corresponds to the Europe editions 2025/2026.

The territories are, on the one hand – as the title of this volume indicates – largely politically autonomous. On the other hand, each of the three regions shows numerous aspects that highlight their close connection or affiliation with Finland or Denmark.

Åland's autonomous status was established during the League of Nations session of 24 June 1921. The Faroe Islands achieved a similar status through the Autonomy Act of 1948 and the Treaty of Fámjin in 2005. Greenland has been self-governing since the introduction of Hjemmestyre (home rule) in 1979, which was replaced by Selvstyre (self-government) in 2009.

This autonomy manifests itself in various ways. On the one hand, it includes politically and legally defined competencies. On the other hand, it is reflected in the official languages of the three territories: Swedish in Åland, which belongs to Finland; Faroese in the Faroe Islands; and Greenlandic (Kalaallisut) in Greenland – Finnish is hardly spoken in Åland, and Danish is used in the Faroe Islands and Greenland primarily as a lingua franca. The autonomous territories are also associate members of the Nordic Council. In addition to language, they possess a wealth of cultural uniqueness, such as the observance of their own holidays.

The fields of tension in which Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland operate are also clearly reflected in their stamp issues. These reveal both a shared and a distinct cultural identity. Examples include Åland issues MiNr. 53 “70 Years of Autonomy” and MiNr. 304 “200 Years of Åland’s Affiliation with Finland.” As collecting areas, Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland thus offer a fascinating insight into their cultural and political identity.

You will always receive the latest available edition. 

The size of the catalog is 155 mm x 230 mm.

The content consists of 252 pages.