World Post and Postage Stamp Day
October 9th is World Post Day and Postage Stamp Day, marking the anniversary of the signing of the Berne Treaty in 1874, which established the Universal Postal Union. To mark the occasion, Poczta Polska is launching a commemorative philatelic issue dedicated to the history of post and philately.
The history of the modern postage stamp began in 1840, when the world's first postage stamp, the famous Penny Black, was introduced in Great Britain. Twenty years later, in 1860, the first Polish postage stamp, now known to collectors as "Poland No. 1," appeared in Poland. Since then, stamps have been an integral part of the development of postal services, documenting historical events, commemorating outstanding figures, and showcasing the cultural achievements of successive generations.
The "Postage Stamp Day" issue reminds us of the place that the stamp holds in the history of communication – being not only a confirmation of payment for postage, but also a carrier of history, culture and the memory of important events, and a valuable collector's item, collected by millions of philatelists around the world.
The project by Agnieszka Sancewicz was based on materials provided by the Museum of Post and Telecommunications in Wrocław and refers to various stages of the development of postal services and methods of transporting and processing correspondence.
The stamp, issued in a block format, is designed using four historical engravings: "Postal Courier on a Hard-Way Road," "Letter Post," "Interior and Staff of a French Mail Car," and "Postallion." The composition is complemented by historical items related to postal operations, including a postal horn, a postman's delivery bag, a gold city postman's badge, and a silver stamp case created to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America. Individual elements tell the story of the development of the postal service, depicting both the means of transport used to transport correspondence and the objects that were part of the daily work of postal workers.
An integral part of the issue is the First Day Cover (FDC), adorned with a historical engraving depicting postmen receiving, sorting, and processing letters and parcels. The commemorative date stamp features the hand of a philatelist holding the stamp with tweezers, reflecting the tradition of collecting and preserving philatelic values.
"Post Stamp Day" Issue
author of the design: Agnieszka Sancewicz
number of stamps: 1 stamp in a block
value: PLN 14.50
circulation: 68,000 blocks, including 4,000 non-perforated blocks
printing technique: offset
stamp format: 43 × 31.25 mm
block format: 100 × 75 mm
paper: fluorescent
date of introduction into circulation: October 9, 2026