FDC from Poland

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

Christmas／Noël

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

Baltic Sea Mammals／
Mammifères de la mer Baltique

All mammals inhabiting the Baltic Sea are under protection. There are three species of seals and porpoise - the only whale Baltic. Even in the early twentieth century, they lived in the sea very much, but because they mainly feed on fish, so they were considered pests. Killing were paid for their rewards. This led quickly to the almost total extermination of the Baltic seals and cetaceans. From less than 20 years last attempt to re-population of these animals. Currently, the main threat to them are czyhającym fishing nets, in which the gets caught. Soul is trapped, unable to proceed to draw air. Another threat is the pollution that causes the disease and problems with reproduction. A third important factor in the development of tourism and fisheries. Lack of peace and the noise frightened the animals from their habitat, not giving them a rest, which often leads the animals to exhaustion. Therefore, do not interfere with the rest on the edge of the perceived Foce. It should pass the information on this meeting to Sealand.

Helskie Sealand - a facility of the Institute of Oceanography Marine Station of Gdansk University, founded in 1999 the main task of this center is to rebuild the gray seal colony in the Southern Baltic. Seals, who need care or have been brought up in Sealand, they return to the natural environment, providing valuable information about the species, its migration and health. Sealand also runs educational activities, and popularizing knowledge of the mammals living in the Baltic.

In the summer, when many countrymen rests on the sea or even remembers walking along the beach, the Polish Post has prepared a series of stamps featuring the Baltic population, whose existence is often not remember or do not know. At the four stamps in one coastal scenery are presented: the porpoise, gray seal, seal, and ringed seal vulgaris. Stamps FDC envelope and accompanied by a commemorative stamp used in Post Office Hel first Inauguration of stamps took place in Hel Sealand.

porpoise (phocaena phocaena) - although the porpoise has its own monument in Gdynia, it's not every child knows that living in the Baltic Sea relative of a dolphin. Unfortunately the danger of extinction. Knowledge of it is negligible because of the small number (estimated to be approximately 1,000 individuals). It weighs about 1945-1970 kg with a body length of about 1.5-1.7 m. We meet in the Gulf of Gdansk and Puck.

The stamp shows the porpoise emerged upper part of his body from the nasal aperture, and a characteristic triangular dorsal fin.

gray seal (Halichoerus grypus) - the largest of the Baltic seals, up to 2.5 m. Weight of males may exceed even 300 kg. Small at birth are covered with white fur. Once very numerous, are rare, mainly in the Gulf of Gdansk.

Common seal (Phoca vitulina) - also known as sea dog. Despite its name, it is the least numerous species of Baltic seal. It lives in colonies, very fast swims, dives to a depth of 150 m. The length of body about 1.5 - 2 m, weight about 100-180 kg. Young immediately after birth are "adult" color.

ringed seal (Phoca hispida) - seal. Its name comes from the ring-shaped bright spots on the back. It is the smallest of the Baltic seals 105-170 cm in length and weighing 45-140 kg. Lives, rather alone.

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek／Tytus, Romek et A'Tomek




Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek

It is hard to believe that the comic book about Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek is already 52 years old, and its creator has turned 86 this year. Henryk Jerzy Chmielewski, known as Papcio Chmiel (Papa Chmiel), was born in 1923. He participated in the Warsaw Uprising. In his youth, he served in the Polish Army where he started out on his artistic career as a supervisor of a bulletin. Since 1947 Henryk Chmielewski published cartoons in "Świat Przygód", and then, for many years in "Świat Młodych" magazine. In the recent past Papcio Chmiel published an autobiography whose second volume "Tytus zlustrowany" (Tytus screened) is, as the author himself puts it, "the reminiscences of a wacky gaffer and grey-moustached artist". According to what the author said, past May he created the last episode of the cartoon story entitled: "Tytus, Romek i A'Tomek jako warszawscy powstańcy 1944, z wyobraźni Papcia Chmiela narysowani" (Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek as Warsaw insurgents, drawn from Papa Chmiel's imagination). Papcio Chmiel was invited to decorate the wall of the Warsaw Uprising Museum with a mural. Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek that appeared on the wall were presented as scouts of a field post office.
Henryk Chmielewski is the Knight of the Order of Smile. In 2007 he was honoured with the Glora Artis Medal.

Half a century of Tytus

Tytus de Zoo is an anthropoid ape that is accompanied by tall and thin Romek and short and thickset A'Tomek. Their adventures have entertained and educated several generations of children and youth. The first episode of Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek takes place in cosmos. Next episodes (still black and white) appeared in "Świat Młodych". Since the mid 60's new, book version volumes of adventures of Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek began turning up in bookstores. In total, there were 31 books, such as, among others, "Tytus zostaje harcerzem" ("Tytus becomes a scout") (1966), "Tytus kosmonautą" (Tytus the spaceman) (1968), "Tytus na dzikim zachodzie" (Tytus in the Wild West) (1974), " Wyprawa na Wyspy Nonsensu" ("The expedition to the Nonsense Island") (1977), "Tytus tajnym agentem" ("Tytus the secret agent") (1997), "Tytus się żeni" ("Tytus is getting married") (2000), "Tytus graficiarzem" ("Tytus the graffiti writer") (2002), "Tytus kibicem" ("Tytus the fan") (2008).
New stamp and First Day Cover
Three stamps with the characters from Papcio Chmiel's comic book present them in the form of photographs from police files, which show exact height of a photographed person. As a result, we now know exactly how tall Tytus, Romek and A'Tomek are. At the bottom of each stamp, there is an author's signature. The issue is accompanied by an occasional date stamp taking form of speech bubbles in use in Warsaw 1 Post Office.

Philately

Poczta Polska has been issuing stamps devoted to children's literature and its popular characters for many years. In 1962 it issued a six stamp set with J. M. Szancer's illustration relating to Maria Konopnicka's tale "O krasnoludkach i sierotce Marysi" ("Little Orphan Mary and the Gnomes"). In 1968 there was an issue of set of stamps with the most popular characters from tales, and in 1987 and 2005 Poczta Polska brought out two sets regarding Andersen's fairy tales. In 1993 it issued stamps presented characters appearing in Kornel Makuszyński's stories: Koziołek Matołek (Matołek the Billy-Goat) and Małpka Fiki-Miki (Fiki-Miki Monkey), and in 1996 a set entitled "Brzechwa Dzieciom" ("Brzechwa for children").

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

4th June 1989 - The Twentieth Anniversary of the Memorable Elections／
Le 4 juin 1989 - le Vingtième Anniversaire des Élections Mémorables


4 June 1989.
The Twentieth Anniversary of the Memorable Elections.

4 June 2009 marks the twentieth anniversary of the exceptional elections in our country. It is worth reminding, especially younger generation, how momentous this event was and how enthusiastically it was received by the citizens who, the day after the elections, could not believe what just happened. The Warsavians gathered at Pl. Konstytucji (eng: Constitution Square) where the Headquarters of the Citizen's Committee could be found. The Committee comprised activists of "Solidarność" and opposition. The posters featured photographs of the candidates that got into the Polish parliament. The elections for the Sejm allowed 35% parity for the opposition, and the elections for the Senate were free. What came as a complete surprise was the unprecedented result of the elections for the Senate in which the opposition took 99 seats out of 100 possible.

Before it All Began...

Since the end of the World War II and acceptance of unfavourable conditions of the Yalta Agreement, Polish people could not resign themselves to the imposed regime. Poland became a country which was heavily reliant upon the mighty Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. The reliance demonstrated itself in, among others, allocating all the political and economic executive power to the United Workers' Party (dissolved in January1990) and the presence of the Soviet Army in Poland. At the end of its stay, this huge army occupied 707 km2, and numbered 53 000 of soldiers and 7 500 of civil workers. One of the priorities of the opposition was to make the Soviet soldiers withdraw from our country. The withdrawal began on 8 April 1991 finished at the end of 1993.


Censorship...

This hated institution was ubiquitous. Yet, not everybody was aware of its severity. It formally functioned from 5 July 1946 as the Central Office for Control of the Press, Publication and Entertainment (Central Office for Control of the Publication and Entertainment since 1981). The activity of the censorship varied, and did not only consist in interfering in texts of articles, books or speeches but also songs and any sort of, even the smallest, prints such as, for example, labels. All the radio and television broadcasts, and after 1981 also radio sermons preached during holy masses were censored. Foreign radio stations such as Free Europe or Voice of America were found legally invalid by the state and jammed. The censorship also involved telephone tapping, which was a particularly prevalent phenomenon during the martial law. The abolition of censorship took place in 1989 causing Polish people to regain freedom of speech.

Strikes and Establishment of Solidarność

Oppressive activities towards the citizens, economic negligence and violation of workers' rights resulted in numerous protests over the years. One of the most famous strikes was that of Gdańsk shipyard workers in 1980. The workers (including those from Gdynia and Szczecin) who fought for their rights and free and independent unions that were supposed to represent them allied with other strike committees creating the Independent and Self-Governing Trade Union "Solidarność". Their requirements and expectations were included in 21 postulates posted up on the shipyard's gates. The strike instigated a wave of workers' strikes across the whole Poland, which was supported by intelligentsia and youth. The strikes finished up with the August Agreements. Next step to be taken was the official registration of NSZZ "Solidarność" by the District Court in Warsaw on 10 November 1980. Soon "Solidarność" came to have 10 million of members becoming a force the authorities had to reckon with. The sessions of the Round Table that took place between 6 February and 5 April 1989 resulted in re-registration of the proscribed during the martial law "Solidarność" and restricted elections for the Sejm and free elections for the Senate. That was the first step towards democratization of the country, which was followed by the abolition of censorship and the withdrawal of the Soviet soldiers. The next steps to be seen were the entry to NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004)

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

Polish contemporary sculpture - Władysław Hasior／
La sculpture contemporaine polonaise - Władysław Hasior



Władysław Hasior (1928-1999)
The artist was born in the town of Nowy Sącz. He graduated from the Liceum Technik Plastycznych art school in Zakopane where he was educated under the tuition of professor Antoni Kenar. Between 1952 and 1958 he studied at the faculty of sculpture at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw, receiving professional guidance in the atelier of professor Marian Wnuk. Having finished his studies, he embarked on numerous journeys and took part in many exhibitions, which was made possible owing to, among others, a scholarship of the French Ministry of Culture. Up to 1968 he taught in his former secondary school in Zakopane, and in the early 70s he worked in Wrocław, lecturing at the Higher School of Fine Arts and creating stage design for the Polish Theatre there.

Hasior was an active participant of the artistic life of Zakopane, paying particular attention to the activities of his gallery, which was established in 1985 as a branch of the Tatra Museum. That museum was also the beneficiary of Hasior's last will, and received his works after the artist's death. Many of Hasior's other creations are kept by state museums in various Polish towns and cities and in national galleries worldwide, including Stockholm, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Milan, Montevideo and Sao Paulo, not to mention those in the hands of the private collectors.

The work

Władysław Hasior was an outstandingly original artist who never copied any trends. In his work he utilised various kinds of material, including some finished objects (such as dolls, pitchforks, mirrors) and fragments of others. That was because he claimed that the traditional sculptor's medium is not capable of conveying the message he wanted to send. He used to say "I'm using materials which have some meaning. Each and every object has its sense, and if you put them together, you get an aphorism. [...] I believe the artist's work consists in provocation, both in the intellectual and the creative aspect."
In his outdoor creations the artist utilised fire, water, wind, sound and glass. One of his original creative inventions was using holes made in the ground in order to cast cement figures. Critics saw the influences of Dadaism, surrealism and pop art in Hasior's work. He was also inspired by folk arts, and was a careful observer of everyday reality, in particular that of the countryside. The artist liked to watch and document the cheap aesthetics of something he called "county arts"(sztuka powiatowa), which he then referred to in his work. He also reached into the mythology and conjured up memories of the war, invariably presenting the subjects in an unconventional manner and attaching new meaning to trite symbols, mixing macabre and cruelty with grotesque, irony and jest. His exhibitions were full of controversy, but at the same time prompted the viewers to reflection.

Banners

Hasior's assemblages, inspired by religious procession banners, started to appear in the mid 1960s. Although they were constructed with the use of fabric, plastic objects, wood, metal or glass, the artist called them "paintings." They are very large, reaching between 1,5 and 4 metres in height and around 1 metre in width, and they are a mixture of both solemn symbols and the everyday aspects of life, which is seen from their titles such as: The Banner of St. Pensioner (Sztandar Św. Emeryta), The Banner of the Bird Spider (Sztandar Ptasznika), The Banner of Mona Lisa (Sztandar Mony Lisy), The Banner of Poland (Sztandar Polski), The Banner of the Black Angel (Sztandar Czarnego Anioła), The Flinging Blaze Banner (Sztandar Blaskomiotny), The Banner of Ecstasy (Sztandar Ekstazy). The artist used those banners in his outdoor performances such as the procession called The Feast of the Blooming Apple Tree (Święto Kwitnącej Jabłoni) in Łąck.

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

EUROPA2009－The International Year of Astronomy／
EUROPA2009－L'Année internationale d'Astronomie


EUROPE 2009. The International Year of Astronomy

It is fairly common to regard astronomy as a pre-science, since the contemplations of the nature and behaviour of celestial bodies gave rise to some of the oldest theories on the structure of our world. In this cosmologic shape, astronomy was the father of philosophy (in particular the Greek one), which, in turn, allowed more specific branches of knowledge to develop.
The year 2009 was proclaimed the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations, an idea that came from the International Astronomy Union (IAU) which this way wanted to commemorate certain important anniversaries. To begin with, it was 400 years ago that Galileo first used a telescope to gaze at the sky. The invention was a breakthrough and the discoveries it allowed are now the foundations of astronomy. Also in 2009, 40 years will have passed since the first man set foot on the Moon, and 90 years since the IAU was established.
"Discover your Universe", the motto of the International Year of Astronomy, makes us realise that a passion for astronomy is not restricted to scientists, but is shared by many ordinary people who watch the sky for pleasure. The infinite Universe is now within reach of any curious eye, and its mysteries stand ready to by explored using only a telescope and a computer. For the convenience of the hobbyists, this year's celebrations will include various committees for the organisation of educational schemes, shows, exhibitions and the like.

Astronomy in Poland

It's probably not common knowledge that the star of Nicolas Copernicus was not the first one to shine in the history of Polish astronomy. In 15th century the Jagiellonian University of Krakow, despite its relatively short tradition, earned itself the title of the best centre of studies in astronomy throughout Europe owing to the research of such scholars as Marcin Bylica and Wojciech z Brudzewa. Even though the academic level of the university deteriorated in the years to come, it became known all over Europe again thanks to the achievements of two researchers born in the city of Gdańsk - Jan Heweliusz and Stanisław Lubienicki, especially with the results of their observations of the Moon and the comets. Although the loss of independence marked a significant break in the development of sciences in Poland, the community of astronomers revived shortly after World War I ended with a new tool - the outstandingly effective and widely used theory of the cracovians, developed by another Polish scholar, Tadeusz Banachiewicz. More recently, that is in the second half of 20th century, the work of Bohdan Paczyński, who discovered the gamma radiation and worked out its theory, gained worldwide renown. That was only matched by the recent discovery made by Aleksander Wolszczan, a Polish astronomer who spotted the first planet outside our Solar System, revolving around a dying neutron star.

FDC from Poland／FDC de la Pologne

I love you／Je t'amie



"In order to commemorate St. Valentine's Day, Poczta Polska presents for the fifteenth time a special postage stamp which features the symbol of good fortune and luck - a four leaf clover. Its leaves are presented as hearts, one of which - the unique, pink one, is there just for you! The FDC, apart from the clover, also features a citation from George Sand (1804-1876), a French writer of the Romanticism period who was desperately in love with Chopin (1810-1849): "There is only one kind of true fortune in life - it is to love, and to be loved back." The FDC also features an occasional date stamp, in use in Chełmno 1 Post Office. On account of the issue, numerous Valentine's Day events take place in the town of Chełmno, and Poczta Polska actively participates in them through organising, among others, a philatelic exhibition featuring all the stamps in the "I love you" series, published since 1992."-Poland Post