Near Kragerø, at the tip of the Levang peninsula, lies Portør. This ancient outport was first mentioned in the 12th century in the saga of King Sverre. Sailing vessels could shelter there from the storms and quickly get back on course when the weather improved. There is little shelter outside Portør and sailing conditions can be difficult. Portør was once an important pilot port. Today, it is one of Kragerø’s most popular spots.
Reine lies on the Lofoten island of Moskenesøya. The area is known for its picturesque mountains, much like an alpine landscape. Down through the years these mountains have also challenged many a mountaineer. Otto Sinding’s famous painting of Reine shows the fishing village in a winter setting against the beautiful mountains.
The mining town of Røros straddles the Hitter River just before it runs into the Glomma. Its unique architecture has made Røros a place of international interest and led to its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The town has also been immortalised in the novels of Johan Falkberget. Røros was established in 1646 after the opening of Røros Copper Works in 1644. The old buildings in Røros are the town’s greatest attraction. Some of the protected houses in Røros are as much as 250 years old. The most notable building is the church, erected in 1784.
Fredrikstad is situated by the mouth of the River Glomma. It is split by the river into an east and a west side, which are connected by an elevated bridge. The town was founded in 1567, originally on the east side. In 1753 a suburb was established on the west side and the bulk of the population moved over there. To the noise of the steam sawmill, Fredrikstad had by then developed into a “plank town”. The place of most interest in Fredrikstad is the Old Town, a garrison town with small, regular Renaissance quarters, cobbled streets and Empire buildings behind the moats and bastions of Fredrikstad’s 17th century fortress. The Old Town is the only preserved fortress town in Scandinavia.
Another two of this year’s tourist stamps are devoted to active leisure time. Voss is arranging its annual Extreme Sports Week for the tenth time this year. Norway Post thinks this is worth a stamp and on it we can see two extreme sports enthusiasts in free fall over Vossevangen. The other stamp also shows sport at a high altitude, but this time on the ground and of a far more moderate kind. The cyclists on the stamp are at Finse at 1222 metres above sea level, Finse is on the Bergen Line and the highestrailway station in Norway.
Number: NK 1645-1650, FH 144-146
Subject: Trio Ludens over Voss, Old Navvy Road, Røros, Fredrikstad Old Town, Portør, Reine in Lofoten
Design: Madeleine Mortensen
Value: NOK 7.00 (A-priority domestic) x 2 NOK 9.00 (A-priority Europe) x 2 NOK 11.00 (A-priority worldwide)
x 2
Issue: A-priority domestic: 1.5 million booklets, other values 500,000 booklets each Booklets containing
10 self-adhesive stamps
Printing: Photogravure by Royal Joh. Enschedé, Netherlands
Sales prices:
First day cover NOK 57.00
Presentation pack NOK 59.00
Collector’s set: NOK 121.00
Collector’s sheet: NOK 74.00