2002.03.01    Poland New Definitive Series - Polish Cities
Polish Post is bringing on 1st March a new issue of current stamps called: "Polish cities". The first issue of the new series presented:

2 zloty - the Cathedral of Gniezno and the coffin with the relics of St. Adalberg. 

With the city of Gniezno are linked the early stages of the Polish state and the outset of Christianity in Poland. For the introduction of Christianity in Poland is admitted year 966 in which year prince Mieszko and his court have been babtized in the city of Gniezno. Gniezno remained the city of Poland up to the year 1038.

2.10 zloty - The Cathedral of Wawel and "Lajkonik" /rider riding a hobby-horse./. W 

first reference about Kraków was made by Ibrahim ibn Jacob, a Jewish voyager from Tortosa. In 1038 the Polish King Kasimir the Renovator moved the capital of the state to this town after the destruction of Gniezno by invadors. "Lajkonik" is one of the most typical figure of Cracow. It is with Mariacka Tower, the Wawel Hill and the Barbican one of the well known plastic motive of Kraków. Each year there is being held a Cracovian festivity, The Cracov Days, commemorating the repulse of the invading Tartars in the 13th century. The hero of this festivity is riding a hobby-horse in Tartar disguise/ by the project of the painter and writer Stanislav Wyspia?ski from 1904/ through the streets of the city.

3.20 zloty - The King Palace in Warsaw and the "Syrenka" - the Mermaid - the arms of the city. 

The first reference of the city originates from the year 1313 and from the year 1400 we have the oldest document sealed with the Mermaid. Warsaw became the capital of Poland in 1596. The king Zygmunt III Waza took this decision after the big fire of the castle of Wawel in Cracov. The oldest seal of Warsaw presents the emblem as a winged monster with a man's body, legs of a bull and lion's tail armed with a sword and a shield. Only in the latter part of the XVIII century with the classicistic influances the emblem took the shape of a neat, half naked figure of a woman. In this shape the emblem has been ratified in 1938.
 

Date of Issue 1st March, 2002
Face value PLN 2.00, PLN 2.10, PLN 3.20
Designer Andrzej Gosik
Size of the stamp 25.5 x 31.25 mm
Paper fluorescent
Printing technology roto engraving
Issue many millions, repeatable
Sales sheet 100 stamps

 

Original information and image from Poland Post