The Polish Post Office celebrated the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Polish Security Printing Works with a stamp featuring Paderewski

To mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Polish Security Printing Works, Poczta Polska issued a commemorative stamp featuring the image of Ignacy Jan Paderewski. The Council of Ministers, led by Paderewski, established the State Graphic Works, the predecessor of PWPW, on January 25, 1919. The anniversary of PWPW's founding is also an opportunity to celebrate nearly 100 years of cooperation between the Printing Works and Poczta Polska.

The stamp was designed by Agnieszka Próchniak, and the engraving was done by Przemysław Krajewski. The commemorative stamp in the block was produced in a limited edition of 130,000 pieces. It has a value of PLN 14.50 and has been available for sale since January 25th of this year. In addition to Paderewski's portrait, the stamp also features an image of the Polish Security Printing Works, which was built in 1929 near Warsaw's Old Town.

The figure of Ignacy Jan Paderewski is depicted using a steel engraving technique. The stamp block also features a relief element with a bold offset line, sections printed with special OVI® ink, an offset guilloche, a multi-tonal image with variable ink layer thickness, an angular effect in the steel engraving, and a background made of a special raster. Additional features of the stamp include positive and negative microtexts, created with variable letter heights in both the offset and steel engraving. These, however, are only revealed under a magnifying glass. Each block also includes typographic numbering.

The Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW) is one of the most important Polish institutions. Its history is linked to Poland's regaining of independence. The Polish government intended the production of banknotes and documents to strengthen the country's independence. This policy was also intended to be a crucial element of Poland's rebuilt identity. The first 100-mark banknote featuring the image of Tadeusz Kościuszko was released in 1920. On January 25, 1999, Ignacy Jan Paderewski was chosen as the company's patron.

About the stamp:

stamp design author: Agnieszka Próchniak
engraving author: Przemysław Krajewski
number of stamps: 1 in a block
value: PLN 14.50
circulation: 130,000 pcs
printing techniques: offset + steel engraving
stamp format: 79 x 51 mm
block format: 150 x 75 mm
paper: fluorescent
date of introduction into circulation: January 25, 2019

This and other publications of Poczta Polska can be purchased at Poczta Polska branches and online store: www.filatelistyka.poczta-polska.pl .