Cancelled block issue "Postage Stamp Day" 

Catalogue number: 282B 
Issue date: 09-10-2026 

The philatelic issue “Postage Stamp Day” pays tribute to the history of postal services, philately and the remarkable role that postage stamps have played in communication for nearly two centuries. Although small in size, a postage stamp has become not only proof of postal payment but also a carrier of history, culture, art and national identity.

The history of Polish philately began on 1 January 1860, when the first Polish postage stamp, known today as “Poland No. 1”, was issued in the Kingdom of Poland. Today it is regarded as one of the most valuable and recognizable objects of Polish philately.

The central element of the souvenir sheet is a stamp depicting a historic horse-drawn mail coach carrying postal correspondence. The composition recalls the era when letters travelled along postal routes by stagecoach, requiring the work of postal couriers, postilions and a well-organized network of postal stations. The scene commemorates one of the most important stages in the development of postal services, when the speed of communication depended on transport efficiency and the dedication of postal workers. It symbolizes the beginnings of the modern communication system that later evolved together with advances in technology and transportation.

The souvenir sheet presents a rich iconographic composition devoted to postal history and philately. The design incorporates historical illustrations from the collections of the Museum of Post and Telecommunications in Wrocław, showing various aspects of postal operations throughout the centuries.

The illustrations include:

🐎 Mail Courier on a Postal Road

📬 Letter Post Service

🚆 Interior and Employees of a French Postal Railway Car

🎺 Postilion

The composition is complemented by historic postal objects:

🎺 Postal Horn

One of the most recognizable symbols of traditional postal services, used by postilions to announce the arrival of mail coaches.

👜 Letter Carrier's Mailbag

A tribute to generations of postal workers delivering correspondence to towns and villages.

🏅 Golden Urban Postman's Badge

A symbol of dedication and service in the postal profession.

💌 Silver Stamp Case

A special collectible item created to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the discovery of America, highlighting the cultural and collecting traditions associated with postage stamps.

Polish Post extends its sincere gratitude to the Museum of Post and Telecommunications in Wrocław for providing the graphic materials used in the preparation of the “Postage Stamp Day” issue. The museum's collections made it possible to create a design presenting the rich history of postal services and philatelic traditions.