150^TH BIRTHDAY OF JULIAN FALAT

On the occasion of 150th birthday of the artist Polish Post issues in the series of post stamps presenting works of paint art which are now handed down in the National Museum in Warsaw. They are typical for Falat painting themes of Polish landscape, hunting scenes, portraits and also outlines from his voyages over the world. The sense of reality proper to the artist, a direct contact with the nature, the art of observing the nature has allowed him to understand deeply the laws of the nature, of the light and its influence on the colour.

"The artist has a great skill and ease in painting and the most important quality of him is not to abuse of this skill" - so in 1879 Kazimierz Bartoszewicz was describing in the periodical "Klosy" / Spike of Corns/ the painting of Julian Falat. With each stroke of the brush he paints the reality. Mr. Falat shows with the same mastership the inside of a forest as the green meadows full of sun."

The painting Of Julian Falat has fixed our way of comprehension of the Polish landscape and especially the winter one and the hunting scenes. In the time of the more and more perfect multimedia visual techniques, susceptibility and unequalled virtuosity of Falat's works arouse the admiration of the succeeding generations.

On the issued post stamps are presented the following works of the artist:

• - face value 1. 20 PLN - "Self-portait with the pallet",
• - face value 1. 80 PLN - "Spearsmen",
• - face value 2. 10 PLN - "Winter landscape with the river and the bird"
• - face value 2. 60 PLN - "On the ship - merchants on Ceylon island".

On the day of introduction of the stamp into circulation will be available in sale two FDC, on which will be presented the works of Julian Falat: "A portrait of a woman" and "Switez". At the Post Office Krakow 1 will be in use a special cancellation.

XIX NATIONAL PHILATELIC EXHIBITION 'KATOWICE 2003'

The National Philatelic Exhibition "Katowice 2003" is organized on the 110 anniversary of the philatelic movement in Poland and the 445 anniversary of Polish Post. At the exhibition will be presented over 300 items. Visitors will be able to see competition exhibits in the Cultural Center of Silesia while non-competition exhibits: official and honour class will be presented in the building of the Silesia Assembly.

The introduced into circulation stamp in the form of a block, commemorating this event presents elements of the contemporary and historical architecture of Katowice. Starting from the left side of the block have been situated the following structures:

• - Bishop Cathedral under the invocation of Christ the King - erased in the years 1927 - 1957 of Silesian dolomite. It is one of the most monumental sacral constructions in Poland
• - The Monument of the Silesian Insurgents - unveiled on the 1 of September 1967. It is considered as the symbol of the city. Its three monumental wings are the symbol of the three Silesian uprisings. The author of the project of the monument is prof. Gustaw Zemla
• - The Silesian Library - the oldest Polish books collection in Upper Silesia. Created on the turns of the years 1922 and 1923 as the Library of the Silesian Assembly. Now it is the most modern library in Poland and one of the best equipped institution of this type in Europe
• - The steelwork Hohenlohe in Welnowiec, according to the lithography of E.W. Knippel from mid- XIX century,

On the day of introduction of the block into circulation will be available an FDC in which will be presented the Katowice Sport-hall called "Spodek" - the Saucer and the Silesian Museum. At the Post Office Katowice 1 will be in use a special cancellation presenting the arms of the town Katowice.