New philatelic issue "Polish Madonnas"
Stamps depicting Our Lady of Dzierżoniów and Our Lady of Pszów will go on sale on August 12 this year, along with commemorative date stamps: UP Dzierżoniów 1 and UP Pszów.
The Polish Post has launched a new series of "Polish Madonnas" issues, the aim of which is to present images of the Virgin Mary from various Polish cities. The first stamps feature Our Lady of Dzierżoniów – Our Lady of Mercy – and Our Lady of Pszów.
The fresco of Our Lady of Dzierżoniów, depicting the image of Our Lady with Child, depicted on one of the stamps, is located in St. George's Church in Dzierżoniów. It was created around 1500 (approx. 40 x 50 cm format). The work was discovered during conservation work carried out inside the church in 2008. It forms part of a modest altar that was located in the eastern corner of the southern nave. Preserved documents indicate that the church once had a cult of the image of Mary, called "Salve Regina." The name comes from the first words of the song, which in Polish are translated as "Hail Queen, Mother of Mercy." This is where the modern title for the discovered image of Mary was derived: Mother of Mercy. In 2017, as one of the first frescoes in the world, it was crowned with papal crowns, imposed by Bishop Ignacy Dec from Świdnica and decorated with a votive garment made of amber.
The first day of circulation (FDC) envelope features a photograph of the interior of St. George's Church in Dzierżoniów, and the commemorative date stamp features a graphic of a cloud.
The image of Our Lady Smiling from Pszów, featured on the second Polish Post stamp, dates back to the early 18th century and is a copy of the image of Our Lady of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa. The painting was purchased for the parish church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1722. It was damaged during transportation. After renovation, it was discovered that the image had completely changed its character. The Madonna lost her characteristic facial features, her complexion became lighter, and a delicate smile appeared on her lips. This is where the title "Smiling Lady" comes from. In 2002, Archbishop Damian Zimoń crowned the painting with papal crowns.
The FDC envelope features a photograph of the interior of the Basilica of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Pszów, and the occasional date stamp features a graphic of a cloud.
About the stamps:
designer: Paweł Myszka
number of stamps: 2
value: PLN 4.50 each
circulation: 117,000 pcs of each stamp
printing technique: rotogravure
stamp format: 40.5 x 54 mm
paper: fluorescent
sales sheets: 2 sheets of 9 stamps each
date of introduction into circulation: August 12, 2022
