A commemorative stamp of the Polish Post on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the Commission of National Education

On October 14, 1773, at the initiative of King Stanisław August Poniatowski, the Partition Sejm established the Commission of National Education. This year, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of this momentous event. To mark the anniversary, the Polish Post, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science, has prepared a special philatelic issue. The stamp will be introduced into circulation on October 14.

The legacy of the National Education Commission

250 years ago, the Commission of National Education was established – the first central secular educational authority in Poland and Europe. The Commission's work was the greatest cultural achievement of the Polish Enlightenment. Successive generations drew on its legacy, particularly during the difficult times of partition. This year's anniversary is an opportunity to recall and commemorate the Commission's legacy.

The Commission of National Education was established under exceptionally difficult circumstances – immediately after the first partition of Poland. It was this institution that thoroughly reformed Polish education, introducing a model of patriotic and civic education and a modern curriculum. Its work became a model for Europe and an inspiration for generations of Poles.

Commemorative stamp on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the National Education Commission

The stamp features the likeness of King Stanisław August Poniatowski, based on a painting by Marcello Bacciarelli, which is in the collection of the Royal Castle in Warsaw. Along the bottom edge is the name of the issue, "250th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Commission of National Education," and the inscription: POLSKA. In the upper left corner is the value, and along the right edge is the inscription: King Stanisław August Poniatowski. The issue is accompanied by a First Day Cover (FDC) and a date stamp.

The issue was also produced in cooperation with the Royal Castle Museum in Warsaw and the Central Archives of Historical Records.

About the stamp:

Designer: Jarosław Ochendzan
Number of stamps: 1
Value: PLN 2
Circulation: 3,000,000
Printing technique: rotogravure
Stamp format: 25.5 x 31.25 mm
Paper: fluorescent
Sales sheet: 100 stamps
Date of circulation: October 14, 2023