Presentation of the stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the comic book "Kajko i Kokosz"
The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of one of the most famous Polish comic book series – "Kajko i Kokosz." To mark the occasion, Poczta Polska has prepared a unique philatelic publication. The stamp, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the appearance of the first comic strip from the "Kajko i Kokosz" series in "Wieczorz Wybrzeża" in 1972, was officially unveiled on May 27th of this year at the conference center of the Gdańsk International Fair "Amber Expo."
Janusz Christa's comics, especially the iconic "Kajko i Kokosz" series, have become a permanent fixture in Polish literature and a part of our cultural heritage. The titular characters have undoubtedly become pop culture icons. Significantly, this has also been reflected in school reading lists, including one of Christa's albums, and the author himself was awarded the Gloria Artis Medal for Merit to Culture.
This special anniversary inspired the design and introduction of a stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the comic book "Kajko and Kokosz" on the eve of Children's Day. The stamp will be issued in a single-page format. The field of the stamp features the characters Kajko and Kokosz, along with the dragon Miluś, while the other two feature Jaga, Łamignat, Lubawa, and Mirmił. The stamp will be available in two formats – perforated and imperforate, both of which will be numbered. The imperforate stamp was produced in a limited edition of 6,000 in a special commercial folder. A first-day-of-use envelope featuring the cover of the fourth-grade school textbook "Flying School" will also be available for sale on May 31st.
The ceremony to present philatelic items featuring the titular characters from Janusz Christa's albums took place at the Gdańsk International Fair "Amber Expo." The stamp was jointly unveiled by Paulina Christa, president of the Janusz Christa Kreska Foundation, and Wiesław Włodek, vice president of Poczta Polska.
" Who didn't read the adventures of Kajko and Kokosz in the 1970s and 1980s? Who doesn't remember the dragon Miluś, Łamignat, Corporal, and finally, the Bloody Hegemon? On the anniversary of the first publication of their adventures, Poczta Polska decided to introduce this comic book to the children and grandchildren of fans of Janusz Christa's series. We have issued a numbered stamp in a block based on the original materials prepared for the historical comic book. The FDC envelope, meanwhile, features the cover of "Flying School," which has been on the list of required reading for 4th graders since 2016. A special commercial folder contains a second edition of the imperforate stamps, also numbered and issued in an edition of 6,000. I believe that these true collector's items will make a wonderful Children's Day gift, not only for our youngest customers, " says Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska.
It's worth noting that in Western European countries, such as France and Belgium, comics are a highly respected branch of culture. Numerous philatelic publications dedicated to characters and titles are issued to celebrate the work of these cartoonists. A good example is last year's 60th anniversary of Asterix, which also received its own stamp.
" Issuing a postage stamp is a personal success for me. Importantly, from the very beginning, the idea was supported by legions of comic book fans and the philatelic community in Poland. Thank you for that, and I know my grandfather would be proud of us all once again, " says Paulina Christa, president of the Janusz Christa Kreska Foundation, heir and granddaughter of Janusz Christa. " I'm very happy that the Janusz Christa universe is growing so much. In the last two years, we've created an animated series, a musical, collected editions of the Kajko and Kokosz comic book, and now a postage stamp. My heart is soaring! " remarks Paulina Christa, president of the Kreska Foundation.
The Polish Post commemorates topics related not only to important historical events and distinguished figures, but also to literature on stamps. It's worth noting that comic book characters immortalized in philatelic prints enjoy considerable popularity, especially among younger philatelists. The upcoming anniversary of "Kajko i Kokosz," a cult Polish fairy tale, also provides a great opportunity to promote Polish culture worldwide through postage stamps.
About the stamp:
Design author: Joanna Fleszar-Haspert, Radosław Gieremek
Number of stamps: 1 stamp in a block
Value: PLN 8.00
Circulation of the perforated version: 90,000 pcs
Circulation of the non-perforated version: 6,000 pcs
Printing technique: offset
Stamp format: 31.25 x 43 mm
Block format: 90 x 70 mm
Paper: fluorescent
Date of introduction into circulation: May 31, 2022