Two stamps, were issued by the Finnish Post Office on May 19, 1955 to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the Christian religion in Finland. It was in the year 1154 that the Bishop Henrik and King Eric of Sweden embarked on a crusade to carry Christianity to Finland. This necessitated armed conquest, and when victory was assured, Eric returned to Sweden and left the Bishop to his holy work. The 25 mark stamp reproduced shows the Bishop and his monks arriving on the Finnish coast, preceded by a bodyguard of soldiers. The occupants of the ship seem to be somewhat out of proportion to the vessel itself, and the position of the single sail suggests that the mast might almost be stepped in the water.
SG540 Sea Breezes 7/55