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POCZTA KROLEWSKA


Polish Post Office on the Langer Markt
Several years ago we purvhaed a small. well-illustrated hook. “Sladami Gdan..ckich Zabyrkow” by Hanna Domanski which contained some fabulous line illustrations of all the major Gdansk buildings by Hanna l)omanska. Too had that we don’t read Polish. so we asked Hans Vogels for a translation. This provided a beautiful description of the building. so we can all now enjoy this delightful little book. The photo at the right is recent — made in July of 2000.

At the corner of Diugi Taig and Kusnicrski Street, at number 39. stands a magnificent building. Ills also a very interesting building, because nowadays not many people from Gdaflsk know about its past.

Around 1570, the well-known builder from Dresden. Jan Kramer, who also built the majestic English I-louse Fiçurt’ I - 2000 pholograph of 1h’ and the (keen (late, erected here, in the place of two fw’0h1thpo.off Gothic buildings, an extensive four-floor building with two peaks. The owner was Kaspar GoebeL. a grain trader, tenant and manager of the (3darisk mint, usurer and adventurer. In 1580. he went to prison for shady deals in the mint and for murder during a discussion. Later he left Gdansk. and his fantastic house was used as a royal residence for King Zymunt III Wai’a during his visits to (idansk in 1587, 1593 1594. and 1 59X. This important guest and his court were received there by the next owners of the building, first Henryk Schroeter and after that Gethard and Gerhard lirandes. the family Brandes. friends of the Polish Court, did much for the city of Gdansk. (letherd was councillor, Cierhard mayor. and his son Jan. alderman and advisor (or King Zygmunt III.

In the middle of the 17th century. the old house of Kaspar (loehel became the scat of the Royal Polish post. The Iirst postmaster was the Italian [ranco de Gratta. who received, in 1654. his nomina tion from the hands of king Jan Kazimierz. Seven years later, he became the royal general-postmaster for Royal Prussia. Kurland and Inilant (Baltic area-H.V.). After his death, his son Pawel took over the job and was Lhc owner of the house Diugi Targ (Long Market) number 3. Between 1677 and 16K8. King Jan III Sohicskj and his wife, Marysienka.. visited the house and Prince Alcksandcr was born there. After the death of Pawel in 1712, Wawrzunice Sartorius took over the job. He. too, and probably one of the general-postmasters. Albrecht Zygmunt Stanislawski. changed many things about the house, giving it a baroque style that it has now.

This Stanislawski was appointed by King August III SASA (7) as minister of treasury and Secret minister of the royal cabinet. He spent most of his time in the royal court and was only rarely in Gdansk. He was represented in the city by the post-controller I .(XO. or by his own brother Bogusla. In the time of Aibrechi Zygmunt Stanislawski. a connection by horse was established Between Cdansk and Warszawa. This connection went through Cmiew. Grudiiadt. Chelmno and Torun. In 1765, Albrechi Zygmunt retired and the office of gencral-postma.ster was taken over by

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 110 - January - February - March - 2001, Page 11.