Issues of polish stamps II/2005

200th anniversary of the founding of the National Museum in Wilanow

Dear Colectors,

The year 2005 shall witness the 200th anniversary of the founding of the National Museum in Wilanow. Wilanow, the seat of king Jan 3rd Sobieski until the present day charms with the beauty of its picturesque architecture and decorative richness, amazes with the magnificence and freshness of its palace gardens. A magnificent card in Wilanow's history was marked, at the turn of the 18th cent., by a famous art expert, lover and connoisseur - Stanisław Kostka Potocki who, in the year 1805, opened in Wilanow one of the first public museums in Poland. In the Palace interior there were arranged, among others, historic apartments (17-19th cent.), the Gallery of Polish Portrait (16 - 19th cent.), and in the hothouse - an Articraft Gallery. In 1968 the first in the world Poster Museum was founded in the place of the former riding-school.

Polish Post added splendor to the anniversary of the founding of the museum by introducing into circulation four post stamps presenting exhibits from the museum's collections. They present a painting of J.L.David "Stanislaw Kostka Potocki" (1781) and other paintings: "Nautilus Wine-Cup" (17th cent.), "Clock with Jason" (19th cent.), "Flower Girl" (porcelain 18th cent.) On the day of the introduction of the stamps into circulation, there will be available for sale FDC envelopes, cancelled with a special issue stamp, used in Post Office Warszawa 1.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

Polish Cities: Sopot

Dear Colectors,

It has already become a tradition that among philatelic novelties we present the popular „Polish Cities” series, with the next city – Sopot - located in the central part of Pobrzeze Kaszubskie (Kaszuby region sea-cost) at the Gdansk Bay. The first historical notes with the city’s name “Sopot” date from March 1283, when prince Msciwoj 2nd granted reign over the fishing village to Oliwa Cistercians. In the renaissance period Sopot used to be the summer resort of rich townspeople from Gdansk and, therefore, it started to adopt the form of a holiday resort. It was only on 8 October 1901 that the Prussian government granted city rights to Sopot, and as it was a multi-nation city, pursuant to the resolutions of the Versailles Treaty, it fell within the administrative boundaries of the Free City Gdansk. Of large contribution to the city’s development was the activity of a French army doctor - Jean Haffner who, enchanted with the beauty of the seaside region, founded not only the baths, but also the quay and a park. Salt springs and therapeutic mud present in Sopot are used in the spa, where rheumatic illnesses and illnesses of the motor system are treated.
This is why Sopot quickly became a popular health resort visited both by foreign and by Polish tourists. However, Sopot attracts not only with its charm and economic development, but is also becoming the haven of students, intellectuals and artists. It is here that there are, among others, a few faculties and institutes of the Gdansk University, the PAN (Polish Academy of Sciences) Oceanology Department, small-audience hall of the Wybrzeze Theater (seaside theater) and the famous amphitheater, called Opera Lesna (forest opera), where from 1961 are held each year the concerts of the International Song Festival. The post stamp presents a panoramic view of the infinite Baltic Sea waters, the beach and the quay. These are the places of frequent meetings and sea-side walks of Sopot inhabitants, as well as Polish and foreign tourists.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

My favourite reading

Dear Colectors,

We are living in times of diffusing of forms directly calling the eyesight and the sense of hearing, in times when the visit to a library is losing with seeking in internet and reading books with strategic or adventur computer games. Polish Post promoting the reading habit propose to you the return to the world of book through the presentation of a philatelic new issue under the title “My favorite school reading” reminding at the same time the most beautiful books of our childhood. The author of the designe is the artist Agnieszka Sobczynska. On a block of four post stamps have been showed the themes of well known and popular school readings belonging to the so called children literature: The hour of the crimson rose” of M. Kruger, The Little Prince” of A. de Saint-Exupery, “20 000 miles of underwater navigation” of J. Verne,” In the desert and in the forest” of H. Sienkiewicz. We hope that our post stamps as well as reading for children it is an investment for the whole life.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

Polish Cities: Szczecin

Dear Collectors,

amongst other philatelic novelties Polish Post has the honor to present a very popular series 'Polish Cities'. This time the cycle includes the capital city of the West Pomerania Province - Szczecin. The city has a multi-nation and multi-cultural tradition. The beginning of its stormy history dates to the turn of the 17th century, when in the place of today's castle square there already existed a Slav settlement and stronghold. Szczecin received city rights already in 1243, and the Szczecin stronghold became the princes' seat. Its period of magnificence falls to the time of the reign of the princes of the Gryffin dynasty, who played an enormous role in the history of Pomerania. This is perhaps the reason why the Szczecin heraldic arms depicts a crowned red head of a griffin on blue background

At the turn of the 19th century the city experienced a period of particularly rapid economic growth. Capital inflow to Szczecin was noted from all parts of Europe. The port, maritime economy and transit of goods developed like lightning. During World War II the city was destroyed. It was reconstructed by settlers from the whole area of Poland, who started arriving numerously to Szczecin and to the lands of West Pomerania. Although the past image of the city has changed, Szczecin has maintained its own, unique character. It charms with the beauty of antique, secessionist architecture and with the climate of a port city. It is nowadays considered the largest cultural and scientific centre of West Pomerania Province.

Our new post stamp presents view terraces rising about 19 meters over the level of the Odra River, called Chrobry's Banks. They spread in the vicinity of public services buildings of monumental architecture including, among others, the seats of: the Provincial Office, the Maritime College and the National Museum. From Chrobry's Banks one can view a vast panorama of the left bank of the Odra River, its river arms and port channels. The Banks are a splendid place for walks and meetings for Szczecin inhabitants. On the day of introduction of the stamps into post circulation will be in sale two types of FDCwith special cancellation in use at the Post Office Szczecin 1.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

60TH ANNIVERSARY OF ENDING OF THE II WORLD WAR

Dear Colectors,

The falling this year 60th anniversary of ending of II World War Polish, Post will celebrate by the issue of a special post stamp. On this post stamp has been presented an archival picture showing the sculpture of the overthrown Hitler eagle. On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in sale na FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

EUROPE GASTRONOMY

Dear Colectors,

Polish Post as a member of PostEurope, the Association of Europeane Public Post Operators has the honour to present you a next post stamp issued in the framework of the set Europe. The subject of this year issue is the art of good cooking. On the presented stamp you can see a picture of a cheese called “Oscypek” coming from a mountain region of Poland, Podhale. Oscypek is produced from centuries in highlanders’ shepherd’s sheds in the period from May to the turn of September and October, when the sheeps are grazing on the mountain pastures./cooms/. For one cheese weighting about one kilogram it is necessary to have 6 to 7 littres of milk. In profetional language Oscypek belongs to the family of cheeses made of scorched substance specific to Mediterranean countries. Among the cheeses produced by the shepherds from the mountain Karpaty, Oscypek from the region of Podhale is specific for its shape and colour and also for its flavour.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

POLISH CITIES: PRZEMYSL

Dear Colectors,

The consecutive city which we want to present in the set of "Polish Towns" is the city of Przemysl. Picturesque, situated on the riversides of the river San, is considered as one of the most beautiful towns in south-east Poland. This opinion is created by many elements: the beauty of original monuments of architecture, rich history and the ambiancy of a town lying on the borderland of cultures and religions. Przemysl is a town which history and development is due to its geographical position on the borders of three lands: the Valley of Sandomierz, the Plateau of Karpaty, the Foreland of East Karpaty. The oldest mention about the town comes from year 981. Przemysl got the civic rights in the first half of XIV century. The contemporary Przemysl is, in respect of tourism and economy, one of the most attractive cities in the region. It is a perfect base of operation for tourist visiting the mountains Biesczady and for peaple going to Eastern Europe and Balcans. The tourists are charmed by the narrow cobbled streets, by crossing the town river San, by the exuberant vegetation and numerous monuments, among other the complex of the monastery of the Franciscan, Discalced Carmelites and Reformers, the Fortress of Przemysl or the Castel of Kazimierz. The city is dominated by the tower of the Archsee of John the Babtist, which you can also admire on the presented post stamp.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Przemysl 1, on which are presented the arms of the town.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

JOHN PAUL II PONTIFICATE 1978 – 2005

Dear Colectors,

On the 2 of April is gone a Big Man and a Big Pole. Millions of people over the whole world, people of different origin, colour of skin or convictions rendered homage to John Paul II.

Polist Post whishing to render homage to our Great Compatriot has prepared an issue of a special stamp in form of a souvenir sheet. On the stamp has been presented John Paul II on the background of mountains. On the following the stamp FDC is presented the effigy of Christ Compassionate, patterned on the painting being in the Sanctuary of God Compassionate in Lagiewniki. On the day of introduction of the stamp in form of souvenir sheet into post circulation will be in use at the Post Office, Krakow /Cracow/ 55 a special cancellation.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

WORLD PHILATELIC EXHIBITION SYDNEY 2005

Dear Colectors,

In the days 21 to 24 April 2005 will take place in Sydney the World Philatelic Exhibition. It will tale place under the motto Pacific Explorer. Polish Post has commemorated this important for philatelists and post administrations event by issuing a special post stamp in the form of a block. The presented to you post stamp in the form of a block was created in co-operation with the Museum of Asia and Pacific in Warsaw in which collection are interesting objects linked, among other, with Pacific Ocean and Australia. The presented on the stamp the shell is a shell of Lambis trucicata. The shown on the FDC necklase has been done of shells of Cypraeidae and white shells of Ovula ovum. The placed near by bracelet mvoli with the white bracelet Ovula ovume comes from the iIsland Trobianda.

On the day of introduction of the block into post circulation will be in use in the Post Office Warszawa 1 a special cancellation presenting a shape of a hunter patterned after an Aboriginal painting.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

EXTREME SPORTS

Dear Colectors,

The presented 4 stamps show the following types of extremal sports:

- First one: parachute jumpings. Enthusiasts of these sports consider that only the first jump realize you how long lasts one minute. That is precisely the everage time of a parachute jump. The picture on the stamp has been done by a fan of this branche of sport Leszek Potepe.

- Second one: bungee. Jumping with a rubber rope from high objects is one of the most popular extremal sport. The visible on the post stamp picture has been done by Maciej Patrzalka, trainer at the Center for Extremal Sports Gul.

- Third one: rock-climbing. This is a splendid sport for summer time, developing the general efficiency, strength and sense of balance. Rock-climbing entered perfectly the trend of a healthy style of life. The author of the picture which was used at the design of the stamp is Piotr Zyzniewski.

- Fourth one: rafting. Furious pontoon rallies on mountain rivers is a sport which can be practiced also by people not having experience nor special form. The author of the picture is Piotr Sikora, trainer of the Mountain Canoe School and Rafting Retendo.

The post stamps that are being presented to you have been printed in small sheets of 8 stamps each. On the day of introduction of the stamps into post circulation will be in sale two types of FDCwith special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak

JOHN PAUL II 1920 – 2005

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Polish Post through its philatelic issues has attended upon the Holy Father John Paul II from the beginning of his pontificate. On numerous post stamps, post cards with overprinted postage sign and special cancellations, have been recorded events linked with the pastoral service of John Paul II, creating his philatelic chronicle. They show the Pope as a persistent pilgrim bearing the word about God’s Charity, bringing console to the suffering people, statesman breaking political and religious barriers, appealing for peace.

The presented to you post stamp will be introduced into post circulation on the day of our farewell with Holy Father – the 8 of April 2005. The stamp show the effigy of John Paul II, the work of the graphic artist Waldemar Swiezy.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into postal circulation will be in sale an FDC cover with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1.

With compliments
General Director, Polish Post
Tadeusz Bartkowiak