About This Stamp
On October 26, 1960, the Post Office Department issued two stamps in the Postmaster General's Reception Room in the Post Office Building, Washington, D.C. The stamps commemorated Gustaf Mannerheim (1867–1951), "Liberator of Finland." Ceremonies were also held in Helsinki, Finland, at the U.S. Embassy. Mannerheim, a WW II military and political leader, sought his nation's survival in the face of German demands and Soviet threats. A measure of his success is that Finland did not fall behind the "Iron Curtain" after the war. Mannerheim served as president of Finland from 1944 to 1946.
As with the preceding seven pairs in the Champion of Liberty series, the 4-cent stamp paid the domestic letter rate and the 8-cent stamp paid the international letter surface rate.
The 4-cent Mannerheim stamp, perforated 10 1/2 x 11, was printed on the rotary Cottrell press from 280-subject engraved plates. Each 280-subject sheet was cut into four panes of 70 stamps for distribution to post offices. Four plates were used: 26755, 26756, 26757, and 26758.
Charles R. Chickering and William K. Schrage of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing modeled the stamp from two photographs of a statue of Mannerheim in Helsinki. Richard M. Bower engraved the portrait, torch, and spray of the leaves. Arthur W. Dintaman engraved the ribbon. George A. Payne engraved the lettering and numerals.