Man's best friend has been honored on postage stamps
The most popular dog breeds are featured on postage stamps in the "Dogs" issue. Poczta Polska has launched a new philatelic series dedicated to our four-legged pets.
Visual artist Andrzej Gosik, a lover of animals, considered man's best friend, has created six multicolored stamps depicting watercolors of the most popular dog breeds: the Bernese Mountain Dog, the Golden Retriever, the Scottish Setter, the French Bulldog, the West Highland White Terrier, and the Miniature Long-Haired Dachshund. Along the top edge of each stamp are the name of the issue, "Dogs," the face value: 3.60 złoty, and the inscription: POLSKA.
Dogs have accompanied humans for thousands of years, and for centuries they have lived with us under the same roof. There is no doubt that dogs are loyal, intelligent, and loving. Furthermore, living with a dog has many health benefits for humans – studies show that dog owners enjoy better health, are more agile, and recover faster from illness. Most importantly, they are unique animals, and each breed has its own unique characteristics. By issuing stamps featuring dogs, Poczta Polska wants to emphasize and appreciate the role of these exceptional animals in human life.
" Polish philately currently offers its customers a wide variety of themes. The "Dogs" issue, which also marks the beginning of a new series, is a prime example. This year, we're showcasing the dog breeds currently most popular in Poland. Our stamps, among other things, entertain and educate. We hope that our releases will help develop the sensitivity of young children, teach respect for living creatures, and demonstrate the joy of selfless canine love. We've included a unique feature of this issue on the cover of the stamp. It features two dog noses surrounding the issue's logo, which is composed of distinctive swirls, thus referencing a dog's most important sense. I believe this issue will be a hit not only with philatelists but also with our youngest customers, " says Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska.
On the day the stamps entered circulation, three First Day of Delivery (FDC) envelopes were also released, featuring a commemorative date stamp depicting a dog's paw print. The envelopes, in keeping with the graphic and color scheme of the entire issue, perfectly complement it.
An additional attraction of this series is that, in addition to the standard perforated stamps (135,000 pieces of each), Poczta Polska has introduced non-perforated stamps (6,000 pieces of each), a rarity for collectors. Both the perforated and non-perforated stamps are contained in a special folder that accompanies the issue. The folder is available at philatelic shops and selected outlets.
Poczta Polska has issued several series to date, the most famous of which is the one from 2006, when the World Dog Show was held in Poland for the first time. To commemorate this event, Poczta Polska issued a series of five stamps featuring Polish dog breeds.
About stamps:
Designer: Andrzej Gosik
Number of stamps: 6 in a block
Value: PLN 3.60 each
Perforated edition: 135,000 pieces of each stamp
Non-perforated edition: 6,000 pieces of each stamp
Printing technique: offset + stochastic raster
Stamp format: 31.25 x 43 mm
Block format: 121 x 125 mm
Paper: fluorescent