| The Polish Security Printing Works to print 345 million stamps this year | |
| (04-02-2016) |
Although new technologies have reduced the number of traditionally mailed postcards and letters, statistically, there is an average of nine postage stamps per one Pole affixed on the postal package. Only in 2016 the Polish Security Printing Works (PWPW) will print slightly more than 345 million postage stamps.
PWPW has won the tender announced by Poczta Polska for the printing and delivery of stamps for this institution. This year, Poczta Polska intends to order approximately 287 million general circulation stamps. In addition, PWPW will print 58.6 million collector stamps using various printing techniques. There are plans to issue 76 different stamps commemorating the most important events that took place in 2016 in Poland and addressing other topics related to culture, science or history.
In January, a non-standard, round ball-shaped stamp was put into circulation which was released on the occasion of the European Men's Handball Championship. Also Wroclaw, which became the European Capital of Culture in 2016 has its own stamp. In March a stamp in the form of a block, commemorating the 1050th anniversary of Poland’s Baptism will be put into circulation and in May - stamps commemorating the World Youth Day in Cracow and the 2016 NATO summit in Poland.
The Polish Security Printing Works has been producing postage stamps for nearly 100 years. The first postage stamps were issued as early as 1919. These were one-colour stamps made with the use of printing technique called letterpress, that represented an eagle on a baroque shield.