Honoring the 100th anniversary of Białystok's restoration to independent Poland

The Polish Post Office has honored the 100th anniversary of the Polish military's takeover of Białystok with a stamp. The 5 złoty stamp entered circulation on February 19th of this year. It is another stamp in the "Polish Cities" philatelic series.

Poland regained its independence on November 11, 1918, but the German occupation of Białystok ended only three months later – on February 19, 1919. On that day, the last train carrying German troops left the city for East Prussia, and Polish soldiers entering Białystok appeared on the streets.

The Polish Post honors the most important Polish heroes and events in our history through its philatelic issues, but also commemorates places and cities. The recently issued stamp, part of a series presenting Polish cities, depicts the Gryf – the coat of arms of the Branicki family – against the backdrop of the Branicki Palace in Białystok. The building is considered one of the most beautiful examples of Baroque architecture in our part of Europe. The patronage of Hetman Jan Klemens Branicki led to the Białystok palace being dubbed the "Polish Versailles" in the 18th century. Currently, the Branicki Palace houses the Medical University.

Białystok is considered the pearl of the north. It boasts a rich history, and due to its location near Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia, it has become a place of coexistence for people of different cultures, religions, and nationalities. This fact has shaped Białystok's unique character.

In addition to the stamp, Poczta Polska issued a First Day of Circulation (FDC) envelope featuring a panorama of Białystok. So far, the "Polish Cities" series has included stamps dedicated to Żywiec, Sieradz, Szczecin, Przemyśl, Warsaw, Katowice, Lublin, Toruń, and Nowy Sącz, among others.

About the stamp:

Designer: Andrzej Gosik
Number of stamps: 1
Value: PLN 5
Circulation: 10,000,000
Printing technique: rotogravure
Stamp format: 31.25 x 25.5 mm
Paper: fluorescent
Sales sheet: 100 stamps
Date of introduction into circulation: February 19, 2019

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