The Polish Post commemorated the anniversary of the Smolensk disaster. Władysław Stasiak is the subject of its latest postage stamp.
In tribute to the victims of the Smolensk disaster, Poczta Polska issued a commemorative postage stamp in the "Pamiętamy 10.04.2010" issue. The stamp depicts the late Władysław Stasiak, Head of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland. The official commemorated on the stamp was one of the 96 victims of the Tu-154 government aircraft crash.
The main element of the stamp design is a photographic portrait of Władysław Stasiak, presented against a background of the national colors. The color scheme emphasizes the commemorated official's commitment to strengthening Polish statehood. The issue is accompanied by a First Day Cover (FDC), bearing the patriotic motto of the tragically deceased Chief of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland: "Poland is worth working for." The design is complemented by a special date stamp featuring a facsimile of Władysław Stasiak's signature. The presented set of philatelic items is a tribute to the achievements of the Chief of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland and a reminder of one of the greatest tragedies in the history of the Third Polish Republic.
"The Smolensk disaster is one of the most tragic events in our country's recent history. Each of us remembers that day. The sudden deaths of so many outstanding individuals, great and distinguished patriots, left a huge void. One way to commemorate the victims of the Smolensk disaster is through the issuance of stamps and envelopes issued by Poczta Polska. Thanks to our philatelic activities, we can pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives for the good of our country and promote their legacy," emphasizes Krzysztof Falkowski, President of Poczta Polska.
Władysław Stasiak's badges and distinctions testify to his great achievements
For his achievements, Władysław Stasiak has been honored with numerous international distinctions, including the National Order of Merit (France, 2007), the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Portugal, 2009), and the Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit (Hungary, 2009). In his homeland, he was posthumously awarded the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta. He was also awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Wrocław, the title of Honorary Citizen of Lower Silesia (posthumously, 2010), the Meritorious for Warsaw distinction (posthumously, 2010), and the GROM Honorary Badge (2007). Władysław Stasiak was also a recipient of the Lech Kaczyński Award from the President of the Republic of Poland.
This year's stamp is the third one honoring the victims of the Smolensk disaster.
The last postage stamp from the "Pamiętamy 10.04.2010" issue, depicting the late President Lech Kaczyński, was released in 2020. The stamp was accompanied by a First Day Cover (FDC) containing a quote from his speech, which he delivered in August 2008 in Tbilisi. The stamps were issued in conjunction with the Georgian Post to commemorate President Lech Kaczyński's contributions to the country's independence and sovereignty. In 2017, a publication from this issue was also introduced, featuring a portrait of the presidential couple who perished in the Smolensk catastrophe. The space within the stamp's cover was supplemented with the names of all the other victims of the tragic accident.
The ceremony was held under the Honorary Patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland @AndrzejDuda.
About the stamp:
Designer: Roch Stefaniak
Number of stamps: 1
Value: PLN 3.90
Circulation: 120,000 pcs.
Printing technique: offset
Stamp format: 43 x 31.25 mm
Paper: fluorescent
Sales sheet: 6 stamps (3×2)
Date of circulation: April 13, 2023