Poland: Olkusz

 

The most recent issue in Poland's "historic organs" series shows the instrument in st Andrew's Basilica in Olkusz. This stamp was issued in the latter half of 2019. It is in a similar format to other stamps in the series.  The instrument was built by Jan Hummel and his apprentice Jerzy Notrowski in the early 1600's. By 1972 the organ was not playable, and a long series of improvement projects was begun. This Polish organ site gives great details about the instrument, including specifications and photographs. the level of research that has gone into the reconstruction of the instrument is laudable. I must thank my friend Mark Jameson who has generously shared with me copies of the stamps, various FDC's, and some of the large folios the Polish post office has prepared related to the stamps in this series.

Poland: St John, Torun

 

Poland continued its "historical organs" series with two stamps in 2019. The first to be issued was for Torun Cathedral. Similar to others in the series, there is a single large format stamp in a mini-sheet. The cathedral church of St John the Baptist and John the Evangelist contains two instruments. The smaller of the two is shown on the stamp. It's believed that an instrument was in place by 1497. A new instrument was installed in 1688. Work was done on this instrument over many years though it remains mostly as it was installed. This site provides good details, the stoplist as it has evolved over the years, and several helpful pictures. The stamp was issued 21 June 2019.

Poland: Historica organs, Pelplin

In 2017 Poland issued a second mini-sheet in its "historic organs" series, this time celebrating the instrument at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin in Pelplin. This instrument was complete in the late 1600's; the case and some of the facade pipes are from that instrument. The instrument was rebuilt in 2003 by the Mollin firm in Odry (SSW of Gdansk). The artwork for the mini-sheet is interesting: the selvage is the walls of the cathedral and part of the ceiling, as though looking up from the floor. The stamp takes the place of the central portion of the ceiling. A nice "substitution" effect.

Poland: Historic organs of Poland, Jedrzedow

In 2015 Poland began a series of stamps featuring historic organs. The first is the instrument in the Cistercian Abbey in Jedrzedow. I have not been able to find much detail on the "why" of the stamp issue. One suspects it has to do with renovations completed on the instrument perhaps, or an anniversary related to its construction. The instrument was build in the mid-1700's by Józefa Sitarskiego. The mini-sheet has two differently-denominated stamps. I have both the color version of the mini-sheet, and the black/white version, as well as a first-day cover. Sometimes FDCs issued by postal authorities will included information about the issue on the back or within, but that is not the case here. This site gives a good summary of the instrument. This site gives nice images of the stamps. The Polish philatelic shop has details on securing copies of the stamps.

This site deals with a recording of the organ, but also includes a nice image of the console. The stopknobs are compelling because they seem to be metal, as opposed to the more common wood. The site also dates the instrument originally from 1633, with a rebuild by Sitarski (Sitarskiego) "a hundred years later."