FDC:

Are starting the solemn ceremonies of the World Day of Post, one of the most important event in the post calendar. This year celebrations being the culmination of the XXIII Congress of the World Post Association, connected with the celebrations of the Day of the Telecommunication will have a special dimension. They take place at the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the II World War, calling the memory of the heroes of the Polish Post in the Free Town of Gdansk but also in the turning-point year for us, the year of our accession to United Europe.

In this connection the falling on the 9 October the World Day of the Post will be additionally commemorated by Polish Post by the issue of a souvenir post stamp representing a postman. The designer is Maciej Jedrusik artist graphic collaborating since many years with Polish Post.

The postman is a shape specific for the post on the whole world. He uses to be the hero of films and romantic songs about love but first of all the person who in great deal forms the picture of Polish Post. The presented on the stamp postman connects the tradition with modernity the same as Polish Post. In his offer he has services for persons appreciating the charm of the letters and post cards and also these who appraciate the most modern achievements of the technique.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at Post Office Warszawa 1. For our clients we have prepared also a little riddle. We would ask you to put your attention on the graphic side of the FDC to read the concealed there puzzle.

For all sympathizers of motor sports Polish Post has prepared a special issue of four post stamps dedicated to:
- cinder-track racing
- car races
- carting
- motor bike races.

The designed by the artist Jacek Konarzewski post stamps present pictures shot during sport competitions. Their authors are symphatizers of moto bikes sports.: Michał Sikora, Jerzy Rusko, Grzegorz Kozera and Mirosław Rutkowski. The issue of the post stamps converges in time with the "Motor bikes Six Days" - one of the oldest in the world competition ranking World Championship. The patron of the contest is the Motor bikes Federation celebrating this year its 100 anniversary.

On the day of introduction of the stamps into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Kielce 1.

I hope that the foregoing issue will be a pleasant gift for the fans of motor sports.

FDC:

The presented issue of the post stamp has a special significance because it is the result of a co-operation of two post administrations - Polish Post and Slovakian Post. The purpose of a common edition is not only the establishment of closer profetional contacts and exchange of experiences. Nowadays the so universally realized by numerous postal administrations common issues of post stamps attend a better cognizance and mutual understanding of people reprezenting different culture, history, often outlook on life.

The prezented to you post stamp in a symbolic way reflects the contacts between Poland and Slovakia. The shown on the stamp river Dunajec since centuries joins more then devides two societies. It is here on the Dunajec river that most frequently can meet Poles and Slovakians. Perhaps just here lived Janosik the popular hero of Polish and Slovakian legends.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Krakow 1.

I hope that the post stamp of the issue "Raftsmen on the River Dunajec" will be a nice gift for the Poles and Slovakians.

FDC :

The presented post stamp is devoted to the recently deceased outstanding artist and unusual man - Czeslaw Niemen. This incessantly seeking ways of development artist and a great individuality has passed the 17th of January 2004. He engraved himself in the history of Polish culture as an outstanding vocalist, instrumentalist and composer but also poet, columnist and painter. In our memory for ever will remain such compositions as: "Strange is this World", "Do you remember me yet", " By the parrots", "I know you will not return", "Before the spring comes", "To the memmory of Bem's mournful rhapsody"? In his works Czeslaw Niemen was refering more then once to the texts of romantic poets: Cyprian Kamil Norwid, Adam Asnyk and Kazimierz Przerwa - Tetmajer.

The artist was born on the 16th of February in Stare Wsiliszki, territory now of Bellorussia, under the name of Czeslaw Juliusz Wydrzycki. He came to Poland being 19 years old, with his family. He made his debut at the beginning of the years 60th with music groups Niebiesko - Czarni and Akwarele. The real turning point of his career was his performance of the protest song "Strange is this World" in 1967 at the Opole Festiwal.

Through years Czeslaw Niemen was at first places in plebiscites for the best vocalist in the country. He was always an independent, distinct artist. He has created his own distinguishable style.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into post ciculation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1. This post stamp will be withdrawn from post circulation on the 1st of January 2005 and will stop to be an official value mark to pay fee for post services.

I hope that the prepared by Polish Post stamp will fulfil the expectations of the admires of Czeslaw Niemen's talent.

 
FDC:

In the popular publishing cycle "Sanctuaries of Holy Mary" realized by Polish Post since 1993 I have the honour to present you 17 post stamps on which have been presented the following effigies of Holy Mary:

1. Holy Mother of Miedzna from the Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady of Miedzna. On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in use a special cancellation in the Post Office of Miedzna by Wegrowo.
2. Holy Mary of the Saint Family from the Bazilica of Filip Neri and John the Babtizer in Studzianna. The special cancellation will be in use at the Post Office Radom 1.
3. Holy Mary of Sianow from the Church of the Nativity of Our Lady in Sianow. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Sianowo by Kartuzy.
4. Holy Mary of Rywald from the Church of Saint Sebastien and Nativity of Our Lady in Royal Rywald. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Radzyn Chelminski.
5. Holy Mary of Piekary from the Basilica under the invocation of the Name of Our Lady and the Saint Bartholome Apostel in Piekary Slaskie. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Piekary Slaskie 1.
6. Holy Mary Humble of Ruda from the church of the Asumption of Our Lady in Ruda. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Gliwice 1.
7. Holy Mary of Lomza from the Cathedral of the Saint Michel Archangel in Lomza. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Lomza 1.
8. Holy Mary of the Perpetual Assistance from the Convent ss. Barefooted Carmelites in Niedzwiady. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Kalisz 1.
9. Holy Mary of Rychwald from the Church of Saint Nicholas and Our Lady of Scapular in Rychwald. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Gilowice.
10. The Crying Holy Mary from the Archsee of the St. John the Baptizer and St. John the Evangelist in Lublin. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office Lublin 1.
11. Holy Mary of Dzikow from the Convent of the Asumption of Our Lady in Tarnobrzeg. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Tarnobrzeg 1.
12. Holy Mary of Rzeszow from the Church of the Asumption of Our Lady in Rzeszow. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Rzeszow 1.
13. Holy Mary Gracious of Cathedral of St. Stanislaw Bishop and Martyr and Saints Peter and Paul in Lubaczow. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Lubaczow.
14. Holy Mother of Fatima from the church of the Immaculate Heart of Our Lady - the Lady of Fatima in Szczecin. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office Szczecin2.
15. Suffering Holy Mary of Skrzatusz from the church of the Asumption of Our Lady in Skrzatusz. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office Pila 1.
16. Suffering Holy Mary of Obory from the Church of the Visitation of Our Lady in Obory. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office Czestochowa 1.
17. Holy Mary of Jasnagora - Sanctuary of the Queen of Poland at Jasnagora. The special cancellation will be in use at the post office in Czestochowa 1.
I hope that the presented philatelic values will be a precious complement to your collection.

FDC: 

Falling this year the 100th anniversary of the outstanding writer Witold Gombrowicz will be commemorated by Polish Post by issueing a special post stamp. This way Polish Post will be present at the solemn ceremonies of Gombrowicz Year.

Witold Gombrowicz one of the most esteemed in the world Polish writer, author of among other "Ferdydurke", "Pornography", "Transatlantic", "Cosmos" and "The Journal" was born on the 4th of August 1904 in Maloszyce by the town Opatow. The presented post stamp shows the effigy of Witold Gombrowicz and was done by a photo of Gombrowicz on the balcony of the villa "Alexandrine" in Vence, winter 1965 snapped by the artist Bohdan Paczkowski.

The presented issue is also a bow of Polish Post to the wife of the writer Rita Labrosse Gombrowicz who in an interview given to the magazine "Review" no. 26 /132/ from 1 July 2002 said: My dream is the issue of a stamp with his effigy. I can imagine these letters with Gombrowicz on the covers.

The philatelists will certainly pay attention to the attractive issue form - the stamps have been printed in the arrangement tęte - bęche.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1. This stamp will be withdrawn from post circulation since 1 January 2005 and will not be any more a formal value used to acquit the postal services.

I hope that the prepared by Polish Post post stamp will fulfil the expectations of the admirers of the talent of Witold Gombrowicz.

FDC:

The olympic games were always in the center of interest both in the ancient world as well as in the modern one. It is assumed that the date of the first olympic games is the year 776 B.C.. Since then there are scientifically documented records of the winners of respective competitions. We have also evidences that all the life of the man of those days was saturated with the spirit of sport. The antique games survived 12 centuries. They have been cancelled by emperor Teodozjusz the Great in year 393 A.D. And so it was up to 1896 when the idea of the games revived and the first modern olympic games have been organized in Athens. Since this time ensues in a form adapted to modern conditions their splendid revival. It is noticed by the post administrations. Stamps having sport as a subject enjoy a great interest of the philatelists, who the greatest esteem have for olympic stamps.

The first Polish olympic stamps have been issued on the occasion of the XVI games in Melbourne. Among them comes one of the most expensive and most in request Polish stamps so called "inversion" of boxing. We have also olympic stamps honoured for they beauty by international bodies. During the 115 session of IOC Polish Post received the award "Prix Olympia Gold Medal" for a stamp commemorating the games in Salt Lake City. Since 1956 Polish Post has issued almost 140 olympic stamps.

The return of the games to Athens rouses many associations of ideas and thoughts. Have them also the designer of the presented stamps building his conception as an artistic bracket biding together the ancient and the present. Judge yourself what result it gave.

On the day of introductions of the stamps into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1.

FDC:

In the days 28 August till 1 September 2004 will take place in Singapore Philatelic World Championships. At the initiative of the International Philatelic Federation (FIP) was undertaken a trial to introduce in philatelic exhibitions rules similar to world championships in different sport branches. The main purpose of the championship is to increase the level of philatelic competition, to create conditions to stimulate collecting stamps and to change the nature of philatelic exhibitions from completely individual events to collective ones. For the Singapore Post the Championships will be occasion to celebrate 150th anniversary of issue of the first Singapore post stamp.

Polish Post has prepared a special philatelic value commemorating this event - a post stamp in form of a souvenir sheet. The author of the designe the artist Ewa Libere was inspired by Chinese horoscope and classic Chinese literature. An old Buddyst legend tells that Budda summoned before him all the creatures. To the meeting came: the rat, the buffalo, the tiger, the cat, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the cock, the dog and the pig. As a reward Budda offered to each of these twelve animals a successive year.

The current year , which according to the Chinese horoscope has started on the 22 January is the year of the monkey. On the given post stamp in form of a souvenir sheet has been presented the king of the monkeys - Sun Wu - k'ung, the nobel rebel, defender of the poors and oppressed, a personage descending from Chinese classic literature.

On the day of introductio of the souvenir sheet into post circulation will be in sale an FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1.

We would like to draw the attention of all collectors that the stamp under consideration in form of a souvenir sheet will be withdrawn from post circulation since 1 January 2005 and will not be any more a formal value mean used to cover the postal services.

Jacek Malczewski - painter and drawer, initiator and top representant of symbolism in Polish painting of the turn of XIX and XX century. The artist called the poet of painting and the painter of poetry was born on the 15 July 1854 in the city of Radom. Falling this year the 150th anniversary of Jacek Malczewski Polish Post will commemorate by issuing four post stamps, presenting the works of the artist held in the collection of the National Museum in Cracow.

His artistic education Jacek Malczewski started in the Cracow Academy of Fine Arts . He was improving his artistic skill in the Paris Ecole des Beaux - Arts. In the years 1897 - 1900 and 1910 - 1921 he was profesor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Cracow. The artistic inspirations and impulses he was deriving mainly from Polish art, tradition and folklor completing them with originaly interpreted mythological and biblical themes.

The interest in symbolism bore fruits in the creation of Jacek Malczewski giving a distinct style connecting mythical character and realism, distinguishable by an extraordinary range of colours of dissonant compositions. In his paintings full of atmosphere of sadness and meditation return metaforically enclosed patriotic and mistic contents. The real shapes are offen accompany by fauns, water nymphs and angels : Introduction, Melancholy, Poisened Well, Thanatos... Malczewski is also the author of many realistic paintings presenting the destinies of Poles after the January Uprising: Sunday in a coal mine, At the Halting Place, Christmas-Eve of the deportees..., and also interesting portraits and self-portraits.

On the presented to you post stamps have been shown the reproductions of the following works of Jacek Malczewski:

- face value 1.25 PLN - Self-portrait in white dress,
- face value 1.90 PLN - Ellenai,
- face value 2.10 PLN - Tobias with harpy,
- face value 2.60 PLN - The unknown note.
On the day of introduction of the stamps into circulation will be in sale two types of FDC with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Krakow 1. On the respective FDC have been presented the following reproductions of the works of Jacek Malczewski: Spring and Nike of the Legions.

We would like to draw the attention of all collectors and admirers of the creation of Jacek Malczewski that the post stamps under considaration will stay in circulation only to the end of 2004.

FDC:
      

In the expectation for the next visit of the pope John Paul II to Poland we have the privilage to present you post stamps concerning the hitherto pastoral visits of his Holiness to his Homeland. It is worth to emphasize that the mentioned philatelic values come into sight as a result of the already third common issue of Polish Post nad Vatican Post.

Our purpose is to remind not only the dates and places that the Holy Father has visited but also the words that he at that time has directed to us. Our wish is that because of the post stamps came to life personal remembrences of each of us, came back emotion coming from the meetings and words of the Holy Father, that have renewed the visage of this Earth and in difficult moment were the source of hope.

The Pope John Paul II is a recognized on the whole world as a moral authority. Through his teaching and example of his own life the Holy Father shows us that compassion and respect for the other man are the straightest ways to God.

The placed on the post stamps popes' words expressed during the visits in Poland in years 1979 - 2002 are testimony of concern of His Holiness about the futur of his Homeland and its position in the merging Europe and also a valuable source for considerations.

The respective post stamps to which the designes have been created by Vatican Post concern the following visits of the pope John Paul II to Poland:


I visit,from 2 to 10 June 1979
II visit, from 16 to 23 June 1983
III visit, from 8 to 14 June 1987
IV visit, from 1 to 9 June 1991
V visit, from 13 to 16 August 1991
VI visit, from 31 May to 10 June 1997
VII visit, from 5 to 17 June 1999
VII visit, from 16 to 19 August 2002

The philatelists and clients of Polish Post will certainly remark that the overprints on the tablets going with each stamp are done in an attractive and seldom used technique of dry pressing.

On the day of introduction of the stamp into circulation will be in sale FDC covers with special cancellation in use at the Post Office Warszawa 1

FDC:

Lodz is the succeeding town presented on the post stamp in the set "Polish Cities". A small settlement to which the king Wladislaw Jagiello gave in 1423 town civic rights flourished at the beginning of the 19th century. Lodz became then the bigest industrial center in the country and one of the bigger in Europe. The vision of the "land of promise" appeals to the town people of different nationalities, religions and cultures whos coexistence influenced the forming of a specific "tolerence from Lodz". The taking place recently Festival of the Dialogue of the Four Cultures reminds that the industrial power of the city have been co-originated by Poles, Germen, Jews and Russians.

But Lodz it is not only industry. It is also an important center of cultural and scientific life with which have been joined such artists like Julian Tuwim and Artur Rubinstein. The city - called Polish Hollywood - is famous thanks to the State Film, TV and Theatral Academy and also because of the International Festival of Authors of Film Pictures Camerimage.

On the presented post stamp is shown a fragment of the church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost. The church has been erected in the years 1889 - 1891 in Neorenaisanse style according to the design of Otto Gehlig on the scheme of a Greek cross.. The powerfull picturesque mass of the church towered the New Town Market called to-day The Square of Freedom.

On the background is visible the palace of Izrael Poznanski - one of the bigest producers of cotton products in Lodz. The palace is a part of an enormous industrial - residential complex built by the end of the XIX centery along Ogrodowa street. The construction received a very rich Neobaroc decoration. On the front of the building are set the symbols of industry and trade. Nowadays in the palace is the Museum of History of the City Lodz.

The post stamp is printed with a tablet so called priority tablet. On the day of introducing of the stamp into the circulation there will be in sale an FDC on which will be presented a fragment of the building of the cotton mill of Izrael Poznanski. At the Post Office Lodz 1 will be in use a special cancellation modeled upon the seal of Lodz from 1577.