This article features a beautiful stamp depicting an historic organ from the Cathedral Basilica in Pelpin, Poland. The stamp is from a multi-year series of stamps made between 2017 and 2019 honoring great organs in Poland. All of these stamps are jaw-droppingly gorgeous. For example, check out another article about the stamp of the organ in the Dome of Torun. I have a beautiful souvenir sheet that places the organ within a very colorful background showing the stunning ceiling of the cathedral that houses the organ.
Organ stamps are pretty common. Indeed, these instruments are large and expensive and as such are typically the pride of a local congregation, city, region, or even country. In addition, organs can be in use for hundreds of years, making them symbols of a local place. You can learn more about organ stamps here. Also, check out articles about organ stamps from France, Germany, the Philippines, and Mexico, among others.
Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption in Pelpin
The church that houses the beautiful organ on this stamp is the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption (of the Blessed Virgina Mary) or Pelplin Abbey. It is a former Cistercian abbey, in Pelpin, south of Gdańsk. The abbey began in 1258 in Pogutken, but in 1276 relocated to Pelpin. The monastic community was dissolved in 1823 and since then it has been the cathedral church of the Catholic diocese of Pelpin.
The stunning church is one of the largest in Poland. Building of the brick church began in 1289 with its completion in 1323. Later, an additional expansion took place in the sixteenth century. The building is an impressive example of Northern German Brick architecture. Since 2016, a major renovation of the cathedral has been occurring. Learn more about this project.
The church has a spectacular main altar with a reliquary housing relics from forty martyrs. In addition, there are several dozen baroque side altars. The decoration of the church includes medieval wooden sculptures and important baroque paintings.
The Organ
The wonderful baroque organ on the stamp is in the southern arm of the cathedral’s transept. The organ is from 1679 and by Jan Jerzy Wolff, an organ builder from Gdańsk. In addition, the instrument has a magnificent, multi-story case by an unknown artist made between 1677 and 1680. The case has large sculptures, including an ascending Christ crowning the organ. Surrounding him are other dancing angels, carvings of clouds and vegetation (acanthus leaves and garlands). The entire piece is a resplendant work of over-the-top baroque aesthetics.
The organ has a mechanical tracker mechanism with three keyboards and a pedalboard and forty-two stops. A restoration of the entire organ by Józef and Zdzisław Mollin took place in 2003. Restoration of the spectacular case in front of the instrument is ongoing.
In the 19th century, a much larger organ was built in the front of the cathedral as the baroque organ was not powerful enough to fill the large building with sound.
The Stamp
I think the stamp, and the souvenir sheet, are stunning. The value of the stamp is 11 Polish zloty and is became available on September 16, 2017. The stamp itself looks like a very fine line drawing of the organ. It is in color, but limited and appears almost black and white. This could be controversial, as the stamp does not convey the overwhelming gilt case. The design for the stamp is by Marzanna Dabrowska and the engraver is Przemyslaw Krajeweski.
