POLAND 1921 - 1940

Return To Catalogue - Poland overview - Poland 1919-1920

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1921 Large eagle

50 M red and yellow 2000 M blue

  25 M violet and yellow
  50 M red and yellow
  100 M red and brown
  200 M black and red
  300 M green
  400 M brown
  500 M lilac
  1000 M orange
  2000 M blue
  10000 M brown
  20000 M olive
  30000 M red
  50000 M green
  100000 M brown
  200000 M blue
  300000 M violet
  500000 M brown
  1000000 M red
  2000000 M green

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
25 M c c  
50 M c c  
100 M vc vc  
200 M c c  
300 M c c  
400 M c c  
500 M c c  
1000 M c c  
2000 M c c  
10000 M * *  
20000 M c c  
30000 M * c  
50000 M * c  
100000 M * c  
200000 M * c  
300000 M * *  
500000 M *** **  
1000000 M *** ***  
2000000 M R R  
Surcharged

'10 Tysiecy' on 25 m violet and yellow

  10000 (10 TYSIECY) on 25 M violet and yellow

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10000 on 25 M c c  

I have seen some 'SAMORZAD WARSZAWA' overprints. I'm not sure for which purpose this overprint was used.

A forgery exist of the 2000000 M value. A detailed description of this forgery is given in 'Focus on forgeries' of V.E.Tyler. It often has the a Poznan cancel. This forgery can be distinguished by the tongue of the eagle: in the forgery it is short and not attached to the head, in the genuine the tongue is long. The head is badly formed in the forgery (the beak can hardly be distinguished). The feathers of the genuine seem to be closer to the head of the eagle in the genuine stamp. The '000000' looks less regular than in the genuine stamps. A last difference that can can be mentioned is that the 'P' of 'POLSKA' in the forgery touches the frame below it, in the genuine stamp the 'P' doesn't touch the frame.


(forgery left, genuine right, reduced sizes)

 

1923 Copernicus and Conarski

3000 M brown "Konarski" 5000 M red "Copernicus"

  1000 M blue (Copernicus)
  3000 M brown (Conarski)
  5000 M red (Copernicus)

These stamps have perforation 12 1/2.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1000 M c c  
3000 M c c  
5000 M c c  

 

1924 New eagle design, changed currency

  1 g brown
  2 g brown
  3 g orange
  5 g olive
  10 g green
  15 g red
  20 g blue
  25 g brown
  30 g violet
  40 g blue
  50 g lilac

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 g c c  
2 g c c  
3 g c c  
5 g c c  
10 g * vc  
15 g * vc  
20 g * c  
25 g * c  
30 g * c  
40 g * c  
50 g * c  

In 1925 a set of similar stamps was issued, but with inscription 'NASKARB GR 50 GR; the values 1 g light brown, 2 g brown, 3 g orange, 5 g olive, 10 g blue, 15 g red, 20 g blue, 25 g brown, 40 g grey, 30 g violet and 50 g lilac were issued (value: all **). These stamps were sold with an additional 50 g value each for charity:


'NASKARB GR 50 GR' issue

 

1924 President Wojceichowski facing the right

  1 Z red.

 

1925-27 Various designs

  1 g brown (Ostra Brama church)
  2 g green (statue of Sobieski on horse)
  3 g blue (Royal palace with statue)
  5 g green (townhall in Poznan)
  10 g violet (design as 3 g)
  15 g red (castle in Cracow)
  20 g red (sailing ship)
  24 g blue (design as 1 g)
  30 g blue (design as 2 g)
  45 g violet (design as 20 g)

 

1927 Chopin

  40 g blue

 

1927 Marshall Josef Pilsudski facing the right

  20 g red
  25 g light brown (1928)

 

1927 President Moscicki

  20 g red

 

1927 Poet Slowackis

  20 g red

 

1927 Charity stamps, person with candle light, inscription 'NA OSWIATE'

  10 + 5 g lilac and green underprint
  20 + 5 g blue and yellow underprint

 

1927 Congress of military doctors and pharmcists, image of Dr. Kaczkowksi

  10 g green
  25 g red
  430 g blue

 

1928 Images of Pilsudski and Moscickis, also issued for the stamp exhibition in Warsaw in different colours (brown stamps)

  50 g green (Pilsudski)
  50 g brown (***)
  1 Z black (Moscickis)
  1 Z brown (***)

These stamps with overprint 'DOPLATA' are postage due stamps.

A 1 Z blue with '1926. 3. VI. 1936' was issued in 1936.

 

1928 General Bem, inscription '1794 1831 1848 1850'

  25 g red. 

 

1928 Image of Sienkiewicz

  15 g blue (this stamp has the same framework as the small arms design of 1929)

 

1929 Small arms (eagle)

  5 g violet
  10 g green
  25 g brown

These stamps are not to be confused with the small arms of 1932. The 1929 issue has ornaments at the whole length of both sides, while the 1932 issue has special ornaments in all four corners.

A postal forgery should exist of the 25 g value. I have never seen it.

 

1929 Large sized stamp, inscription 'POWZECHNA WYSTAWA KRAJOWA'

  25 g brown

 

1929 Commemoration of the resistance, soldiers

  5 g lilac
  15 g blue
  25 g brown
  30 g red

A postal forgery should exist of the 25 g value, I have never seen it.

 

1930 King John III

  75 g red

 

1932 Washington, Kosciuskos and Pulaskis

  30 g brown

 

1932 Small arms (eagle); modified type

  5 g violet
  10 g green
  15 g red
  20 g grey
  25 g light brown
  30 g red
  60 g blue

These stamps are not to be confused with the small arms of 1929. The 1929 issue has ornaments at the whole lenght of both sides, while the 1932 issue has special ornaments in all four corners.

Surcharged 
  '55 gr.' on 60 g blue (1934) 

These stamps exist overprinted 'Wyst. Filat. 1934 Katowice' for a philatelic exhibition in Katowice: 20 g grey (red overprint), 30 g red.


'Wyst. Filat. 1934 Katowice' on 20 g grey (red overprint)

Overprinted 'Kopiec Marszalka Pilsudskiego' (blue) on 15 g red (1935)

Postal forgeries seem to exist of the 25 g and 30 g values (without watermark, the genuine stamps have watermark 'Posthorn').

 

1933 700 year existance of the city of Torun, inscription '1233 TORUN 1933' and 'RATUSZ'

  60 g blue
  60 g red (**, issued for the philatelic exhibition in Torun)

 

1933 Aeroplane with pilots Zwirko and Wigura

  30 g green 

This stamp was overprinted with 'Challenge 1934' (in red) in 1934.

 

1933 Wood carvings

  80 g brown 

Surcharged (1934): '25 gr. 25 gr.' on 80 g brown.

 

1933 250 years liberation from the Turks

  1.20 Z blue

Surcharged (1934): '1 Zl.' and two bars (all in red) on 1.20 Z blue.

 

1933 Cross with '1918 1933'

  30 g red 

 

1934 Large sized stamp with image of Pilsudski, inscription '1914 1934'

  25 g blue
  30 g brown 

Overprinted 'Kopiec Marszalka Pilsudskiego' (red) on 25 g blue (1935).

 

1935 Mourning stamps due to the death of Pilsudski, Pilsudski facing the left

  5 g, 15 g, 25 g, 45 g, 1 Z (all in black). 

 

1935 Various designs

  5 g blue (rocks)
  10 g green (lake)
  15 g blue (ship)
  20 g violet (mountain)
  25 g blue (Belvedere in Warsaw)
  30 g red (castle of Mir)
  45 g red (castle of Porhorce)
  50 g black (Cracow building)
  55 g blue (library)
  1 Z brown (church)
  3 Z brown (president Moscicki)

Overprinted 'GORDON-BENNETT 30.VIII 1936': 30 g red (overprint in blue), 55 g blue (overprint in red).

 

1936 Moscickis, similar to 1928 design, but with '1926. 3. VI. 1936' added at the bottom

  1 Z blue

 

1937 General

  25 g green
  55 g blue


Overprinted with '40 GR. 40 General Gouvernement' during the German Occupation; two values were issued: 24 g on 25 g and 50 g on 55 g.

 

1938 Man facing the left

  15 g green
  30 g red


Overprinted with '40 GR. 40 General Gouvernement' on 30 g, issued during the German Occupation

 

1938 Large sized stamp with statue of liberty

  1 Z blue

 

1938 Various historical scenes

  5 g orange
  10 g green
  15 g brown
  20 g blue
  25 g lilac
  30 g red
  45 g black
  50 g lilac
  55 g blue
  75 g green
  1 Z orange
  2 Z red
  3 Z blue


Overprinted 'General Gouvernement' during the German Occupation

The following values exist with this overprint:
  2 g on 5 g orange
  4 g on 5 g orange
  6 g on 10 g green
  8 g on 10 g green
  10 g on 10 g green
  12 g on 15 g brown
  16 g on 15 g brown
  24 g on 25 g lilac
  30 g on 30 g red
  50 g on 50 g lilac
  60 g on 55 g blue
  80 g on 75 g green
  1 Z on 1 Z orange
  2 Z on 2 Z red
  3 Z on 3 Z blue 

 

1938

  25 g violet 

 

1938 Inscription 'POMOC ZIMOWA', hands with fire

  5 + 5 g orange
  25 + 10 g violet
  55 + 15 g blue


With overprint 'General Gouvernement' (1940)

 

1938 Philatelic exhibition in Warsaw, postal coach arriving in village

  45 g green
  55 g blue

These stamps were issued in a minisheet of 4 stamps (two 45 g stamps on top and two 55 g stamps below) with text 'Ogolnopolska V Wystawa Filatelistyczna' on top and 'Warsawa 1938' below.

 

1939 Man on mountain

  15 g brown
  25 g violet
  50 g red
  55 g blue 

 

1939 Large sized stamp

  15 g violet 

 


During the German occupation starting in 1939, several stamps of Poland were overprinted 'General Gouverment' with a German eagle (see examples above). Also some stamps of Germany (Hindenburg issue), were overprinted 'Deutsche Post OSTEN' (see Cd#1).

 

1940 Various views with inscrition 'GENERALGOUVERNEMENT'

  6 g brown
  8 g light brown
  8 g grey (1941)
  10 g green
  12 g dark green
  12 g violet (1941)
  20 g dark brown
  24 g red
  30 g violet
  30 g red (1941)
  40 g black
  48 g red-brown (1941)
  50 g blue
  60 g black
  80 g dark violet
  1 Z red
  1 Z green (1941)

Colour changed to black, with red cross overprint and surcharged in red (1940)
  12 g + 8 g black and red
  24 g + 16 g black and red
  50 g + 50 g black and red
  80 g + 80 g black and red

 

1940 Inscription 'GENERALGOUVERNEMENT' at the bottom, seasons

  12 g + 38 g green (girl with ploughing man in background)
  24 g + 26 g red (woman with scarf and houses in background)
  30 g + 20 g violet (man with winter clothing and slegde in background)

As 30 g + 20 g design, but with additional inscription 'WINTERHILFSWERK'
  12 g + 8 g green
  24 g + 16 g red
  30 g + 30 g brown
  50 g + 50 g blue

 

1941 Various views of Cities, larger sizes (horizontal format)

  2 Z blue (inscription 'GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  2 Z green (1943? inscription 'DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  4 Z green (inscription 'GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  4 Z violet (1943? inscription 'DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  6 Z dark brown (1943? inscription 'DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  10 Z red and black (slightly larger size, inscription 'GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  10 Z brown and black (1943?, size as 2 Z, inscription 'DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT')
  10 Z + 10 Z red and black (1944, inscription 'GROSSDEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT',
     I've seen this stamp imperforate)

 

1941 Hitler facing the rigth, inscription 'DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT'

  2 g grey
  6 g light brown
  8 g dark blue
  10 g green
  12 g violet
  16 g orange
  20 g dark olive
  24 g red
  30 g lilac
  40 g blue
  48 g brown
  50 g blue (exists printed in two different printing processes)
  60 g olive-green (exists printed in two different printing processes)
  80 g violet (exists printed in two different printing processes)
  1.00 Z green
  1.20 Z black
  1.60 Z dark blue

These stamps are usually perforated, but I have seen imperforate stamps.

With surcharge indicated (1942)
  30 g + 1 Z red on yellow
  50 g + 1 Z blue on yellow
  1.20 Z + 1 Z brown on yellow

 

1942 Lublin commemoration, inscription 'LUBLIN DEUTSCHE STADT 1342-1942', views of Lublin

  12 g + 8 g lilac
  24 g + 6 g red
  50 g + 50 g blue
  1 Z + 1 Z green

 

1942 Famous persons, inscription 'DEUTSCHES REICH GENERALGOUVERNEMENT'

  12 g + 18 g violet (Veit Stoss, sculpturer)
  24 g + 26 g red (Durer, painter)
  30 g + 30 g lilac (Johann Schuch)
  50 g + 50 g blue (Joseph Eisner)
  1 Z + 1 Z green (Copernicus)

Color changed and overprinted '24. MAI 1943' twice
  1 Z + 1 Z red

 

1943 Hitler facing the right, inscription '20 APRIL 1943' on top

  12 g + 1 Z violet
  24 g + 1 Z red
  84 g + 1 Z green

 

1943 Various cities, center embossed

  12 g + 38 g green (Lublin)
  24 g + 76 g red (Krakau)
  30 g + 70 g violet (Radom)
  50 g + 1 Z blue (Warsaw)
  1 Z + 2 Z black (Lemberg)

 

1944 Hitler facing the left, inscription '20. APRIL' on top and '1944' at the right

  12 g + 1 Z green
  24 g + 1 Z red
  84 g + 1 Z violet

 

1944 Famous persons

  12 g + 18 g green (Konrad Celtis)
  24 g + 26 g red (Andreas Schluter)
  30 g + 30 g lilac (Hans Boner)
  50 g + 50 g blue (August der Starke)
  1 Z + 1 Z brown (Georg Gottlieb Pusch)

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer