Sverige Post John Bauer Nordic Trolls and Gnomes

SVERIGE POST on 16 February 1982 issued four stamps with Nordic motifs affixed to matching maximum cards  featuring the artwork of illustrator John Bauer (1882–1918) and engraved stamps by Czesław Słania. A special postmark originated from Jönköping, Sweden.

John Bauer's famous folklore and fairy tale illustrations shown here include:

- "Here is a piece of a troll herb which nobody else but me can find" (1912) — Depicting an enormous troll mother sitting near a small child in the forest. 

- "Princess Tuvstarr gazing down into the dark waters of the forest tarn" (1913) — One of Bauer's most iconic works, showing the blonde princess sitting at the edge of a reflective woodland pool. 

- "Leap the Elk and Little Princess Cottongrass" (1913) — Showing the massive moose ("Skutt") standing over the tiny princess resting on the moss. 

 - "En riddare red fram" ("A knight rode forth") (1915) — Featuring a small, shining knight riding a charging horse beneath a starry sky.

These scenes were originally published in the famous Swedish fairy tale anthology Bland tomtar och troll (Among Gnomes and Trolls).