Poland is a proud nation. Given that it might be strange to see other European capitals on their stamps. The European Union was laying out big money to integrate Poland, and that buys something. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Between 2005 and 2010 there were 27 stamps issued showing landmarks in the capitals of European Union members. All of the landmarks predate the formation of the union but display EU style stars to claim them. The way this type of stamp petered out might make you wonder though. Integration as yet to mean common stamps, except for a few specials. Will integration ever get that far, or will stamp issuance or the EU itself end?
Todays stamp is issue A1323, a 3 Zloty stamp issued by Poland on October 24th, 2008. Five of the stamps were issued that year and this one displays the Charles Bridge in Prague, Czechia. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 60 cents used.
Poland was very interested in European integration from the earliest days of the post communist government. Poland formally requested admittance into the European Union in 1993. The process of integration was quite complicated as laws had to be changed to conform to EU dictates. The EU sent 37 task forces to work with the Poles on what would be required in each of the areas. There were frequent changes in Polish governments but all shared the desire to integrate. Naturally the enthusiasm for it though was more on the left. At the beginning of May 2004, Poland, seven other eastern European nations, Cyprus, and Malta joined the EU.
It was originally planned that Poland was to replace the Zloty with the Euro beginning in 2009 but this has been indefinitely delayed. The opening up of borders saw over 600,000 Poles move to Great Britain, more than tripling the already large Polish community there. The EU is also spending lavishly in Poland. In 2016, Poland paid in about 3 billion Euros in dues but received over 17 billion Euros in spending from them. The benefits Poland has received keep membership popular in Poland and the Poles have been big advocates for EU expansion into the former Soviet Union, Turkey, and Albania.
There have been of course some areas of disagreement. Poland, like the USA is more skeptical or Russia’s intentions regarding energy supply westward through the old COMECON gas pipelines. See https://the-philatelist.com/2018/09/25/hungary-builds-on-soviet-friendship-to-power-itself/ . This is more popular in Germany because of the relative cleanliness of natural gas and the cheap price Russia offers. Poland is also reticent of taking in refugees from outside the EU though it recently took many from the Ukraine.
The Charles Bridge in Prague was built by Holy Roman Emperor Charles IV starting in 1357. It crosses the Vltava River. Over the years it has been damaged by wars and floods. In the early 20th century buses and trams used the bridge but there was a large reconstruction between 1955 and 1975 that left it a pedestrian bridge with the original decorative statues replaced by replicas. This restoration and a further one in 2008-2010 were done some felt ham handedly. So this year, the bridge is again closed for reconstruction. I can smell additional ham.
Well my drink is empty and you have to give it too the Poles. So far at least, that is what the EU thinks. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting.