A stamp commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Silesian Voivodeship Police
2022 marks the centenary of the return of part of Upper Silesia to Poland. Within the newly established, autonomous Silesian Voivodeship, the Silesian Voivodeship Police was established. To mark this occasion, the Polish National Association "Police Family 1939" initiated the issuance of a stamp by Poczta Polska (Polish Post) under the "100th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Silesian Voivodeship Police" issue. This philatelic item, with a circulation of 5 million, entered circulation on June 9th of this year.
" The anniversary of the establishment of the Silesian Voivodeship Police is an excellent opportunity to recall how essential this formation was to the emerging Polish statehood in Upper Silesia. The latest Polish Post stamp combines the past with the present. The stamp's designer, Roch Stefaniak, created a compilation of the historical badge of the Silesian Voivodeship State Police from 1932 with the contemporary service badge of the Polish Police. He also added the colors of the modern Silesian Voivodeship and the voivodeship's historical coat of arms from the 1920s. This combination is intended to demonstrate the historical continuity of the past and present police forces and the tradition of zealous service to the community that stems from them. Our stamp is a symbolic thank you to the officers of the Silesian Voivodeship Police for their steadfastness, honesty, fidelity to ideals, and service to their homeland, " says Wiesław Włodek, Vice President of Poczta Polska.
In addition to the stamp, a First Day of Circulation (FDC) envelope was also released. The design features a photograph from 1925, depicting a ceremonial roll call marking the third anniversary of the establishment of the Silesian Voivodeship Police at the Reserve Headquarters in Katowice. The logo of the "Police Family 1939" Association is located in the lower left corner of the envelope.
The Silesian Voivodeship Police was established by a decree of the Silesian Voivode of 17 June 1922, in connection with the establishment of the autonomous Silesian Voivodeship. It was a structure independent of the State Police established in 1919, operating in the rest of Poland, and had its own chief commander, reporting to the Silesian Voivode.
The philatelic issue "100th anniversary of the establishment of the Silesian Voivodeship Police" is part of a number of promotional and educational initiatives related to the ceremonial celebrations of the anniversary.
About the stamp:
Designer: Roch Stefaniak
Number of stamps: 1 Value: Economy S
Circulation: 5,000,000 pcs.
Printing technique: rotogravure
Stamp format: 25.5 x 31.25 mm
Paper: fluorescent
Sales sheet: 100 stamps
Date of introduction into circulation: June 9, 2022