Post Horn Stamps from Poland

This page is dedicated to my collection of post horn stamps from Poland. It is the latest in my posts featuring post horns. You can check out more information about post horn stamps from around the world on my hub page for the topic. It features stamps from many different countries and links to specific collections and topics.

Post horns are small brass brass instruments that were used as signals for mail carriers. They blew these horns to announce the arrival and departure of mail riders and coaches. Eventually, the instruments became symbolic of the entire mail system. The instruments today appear on all kinds of postal items: uniforms, post boxes, logos, etc. They also appear on postage stamps. Indeed, lots and lots of postage stamps. That link can also take you to other articles about my stamp collection including issues from various countries.

The Stamps

Poland has a tremendously interesting postal history dating back to 1558. In part due to its location, the country has seen countless wars and often been subjected to outside control. All of this turmoil is reflected in its postal history. You can learn more here.

The very first stamps of Poland are from 1860. At the time, Poland was a part of the Russian Empire. From 1858, Russian stamps were in use throughout Poland. Then, in 1860, the Congress of Poland made their own stamp, closely following the design of Russian stamps. The most significant difference is a Polish inscription below the coat of arms: ZA LÓT. As with the Russian design, there are two tiny post horns that cross below the double-headed eagle.

I DO NOT have an example of the 1860 stamp. They can be rather expensive and there are a lot of forgeries out there. I hope to find one in the future and add it to my collection. However, Poland has commemorated that design on many later stamp designs, including an issue from 2020 that I include below.

Russian Stamps

Amazingly, while Russia had not approved these stamps, they allowed them to be used. At least, they could be mailed within Poland and on letters to Russia. However, Russia soon made Poland use their official stamps, completely phazing out the Polish design by 1865.

From then on, Russian stamps were in use for the Polish mail. I have some of the Russian stamps of the period, but most germane for this post is one on a cover from Poland. The stamp features the Russian design so similar to the above Polish stamp, with two crossed post horns below the double eagle.

The New Kingdom of Poland

Following Russian occupation and World War One, a new Kingdom of Poland began its rule on Nov. 11, 1918. The new postal service began issuing stamps. Among the early designs is a series of featuring a large shield with the denomination of the stamp held by an eagle. Perhaps in an homage to the earlier Russian designs, these stamps also feature two post horns. However, on these stamps the horns are quite large and easily discernible as musical instruments.

Notice that there are two sizes for the stamps, a smaller size and a larger size (the above shows them at scale). The black ink stamps are for denominations using Polish marks. In 1924, the same design appears in brown ink with denominations using the Polish groszy.

Danzig

When the new Kingdom of Poland was formed, Danzig (now Gdansk) became a semi-autonomous state. This new area was created to protect the mostly German citizens of the area. Although mostly free, Poland held some rights in the region. However, Danzig was able to issue its own postage stamps. The following airmail stamp, with its overprint, is from 1923 and features a post horn with two airplanes flying in its coil.

Communist Poland

The next stamps in my collection come from just after World War II when Russia was in control. These stamps feature very large depictions of a post horn with beautiful rope tassels. They are part of a postage due series that began in 1945.

Below are two from 1961 with more abstract post horns.

Later stamps are more modern. The stamp below features a post rider blowing a post horn. Furthermore, a jet whizzes by with a post horn on its tail. This is a celebration of World Post Day in 1986, commemorating the long history of the Polish post. I rather love post rider stamps and you can see many more from my collection here.

The next two slightly later stamps also celebrate World Post Days. These se-tenant stamps honor postal ministers, while also depicting post horns in their designs. Notice that the post horn designs are from the 1940s postage due series, complete with the tassels. My 1988 stamp features T. Arciszewski (1877-1955) and the 1989 stamp honors Emil Kalinski (1890-1973).

The Republic of Poland

In 1989, the communist government of Poland fell. The country is now a part of the European Union. My final Polish post horn stamp celebrates the World Stamp Day of 1997.