Finland 1963-74 Definitive issues - Finnish Lion

The next aspect to look for is paper, both Type I and Type II comes on different papers.
Type I was first issued on a ‘normal’ dull paper, without whitener. It is slightly brownish/yellowish in daylight. In UV light it will according to Facit appear ‘dirty brown’, which I think fits very well.

It was next printed on a paper with whitener, giving what is supposed to be an ‘Optical white’ appearance in daylight – and a white-violet glow in UV light.

Finally 3 of the values of Type I can also be found on phosphorous paper, which in UV light will have a very strong yellow glow – and a significant afterglow after the UV light is turned off (in a dark room obviously). I captured the pictures below to indicate the difference in papers. 








Unlike many other paper varieties involving the need to use UV light, the differences on these are very significant and gives little room for interpretation (read: frustration)!


Many catalogs does not give a good overview of which values comes on which papers, so here you have it. (Type I only)





The image above shows how the entire page appears in UV light - quite significant differences! The dull papers at top can hardly be seen by the camera at all.
I hope anyone gets inspired to have a more detailed look at their Finnish lions 

Next up is the different papers used for Type II - which is more complicate - so maybe tomorrow...

Thank you for the kind words spain1850. I agree about Facit, its listings are a bit dense and complicated to comprehend, with all varieties of each stamp listed in a long list, often with only codes to identify them. It would have been easier to read if the series were listed in several batches, for each kind of perforations, papers, wnks etc. Besides of that I find Facit fantastic.

Glad you're enjoying the thread and got tempted to look at Finland again. I find that a very valuable part of this forum, getting inspiration from other members.

Stay Stampy all,
Jon

Time to continue the simplified intro to the Finnish lions

Type II of the Finnish Lions are found on 5 different papers:





1) The 'Optical white' (HaP) paper, which was also used for Type I, was used for most of the denominations. This has some fluorescence effect, but no phosphorous - no afterglow. 
2) A paper with white phosphorescence on front, and white/violet glow on reverse (in UV). This is coded 'HaQ' in Facit and is only found on 4 different stamps
3) A paper with a distinct yellow phosphorescence on front, but without whitener in the pulp which makes the reverse look dirty brown (in UV). This is coded 'BoQ' in Facit and was used for 6 different stamps. The 30p and 40p are less common.
4+5) Finally there are two different papers that are both having yellowish phosphoresence on front and and white/violet glow on reverse (in UV). These are coded 'EQpQ' and 'HapQ' in Facit. The difference between them is by the level of coating/glossiness on the front - and difference in how yellow or white the glow is under UV.
(I didn't attempt to differentiate between them, so I have them together on my album page. One can see some slight differences in the yellow glow on my stamps, in particular the 60p is less yellow, but I don't know if these differences are actually due to different papers or if some of the phosphour simply being washed off)

Additionally there are a few sub-types of Type II, on a variety of papers, ref the bottom line on my page. The illustrations in Facit for these sub-types/varieties are not the best, so if anyone is curious I can share some close up images to better show the differences. 

This definitive series also have the high-values made up by pictorial designs, similar as for the last definitive issue before the currency reform. All the 'old designs' were used again, and a few new designs were added.

The high-values were also printed on different papers, the same papers as already described for the low-values. At first all the 'old designs' from the old-currency issues were printed on a dull paper, then again on a paper with whitener. 





Towards the end of the period, a few of the high-values were also printed on the various phosphorous papers, again the same as used for the low-values. For details of which type of paper for which, please refer to the description below each stamp (click for better resolution). Unfortunately I didn't find them all.






(I opted to include the Bus stamps with the definitives, as these were all 'working horses' issued after the monetary reform, and as such belong together in the timeline.)

I hope this little intro can be useful for some, and that you might look at these workhorses with new eyes   I always find the definitive stamps the most interesting, and the definitives of Finland are no exception. Have fun!

I love that series! Very easy to determine what type you have. The Centennial and Prime Minister/Landscape definitives of Canada are so annoying in amounts of fluorescence of each value...
NF - no florescence
DF - dull florescence
LF - low florescence
F - fluorescent paper
MF - medium florescence
HF - high florescence
HB - hibrite paper
SF - speckled fluorescence

To me, dull, low and fluorescent look to be about the same, as well as medium and high. Hibrite and none is very easy to spot, along with speckled.

This set looks very interesting! Maybe I look for some, although I can live vicariously through your excellent collection, Jon! (blaamand)

Being encouraged by norsten , here's a few close-ups showing some sub-types / varieties I found for the Type II of the Finnish Lion.
I hope I got this right, as I am just a novice myself! If anyone see something not correct, please arrest me