Gallery

 

For the inscription of the stamp, three proposals were niade:
1. Port Gda,csk XVI w. (Harbor Danzig 16th century.)
2. Port w Gdarsku (Harbor in Danzig)
3. Polski Port w Gdauisku w XVI w. (Polish harbor in Danzig in the 16th century)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had to decide three matters: (1)The issuing of a commemorative stamp for the Polish post in Danzig, (2) the design that was sent enclosed in the letter and (3) the inscription on the stamp. This in respect to Polish politics concerning the Free City of Danzig,

Two weeks later the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent a reply. The design was very good. The inscription Port Gdaisk w XVI wieku (Harbor of Danzig in the 16th century) was considered the best (although not mentioned by the Ministry of Post). Changing the inscription Poczta Polska to only Polska seemed not to be a good idea: Poland had only postal rights in the Free City of Danzig; the Free City was no part of the Republic of Poland. The Free City could accuse Poland of an attempt of territorial incorporation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs therefore asked to maintain the current inscription Poczta Poiska Port Gdafsk.

On November 8, 1938, the Landesposldirektion der Freien Stadi Danzig wrote to the senate of the Free City an announcement (Illustration 2) for a new series of Polish stamps, that would be issued in Poland on November 11. According to the announcement that was received from the Polish post- and telegraph administration in Warszawa, the new stamps would be issued for commemorating the 20-year existence of the Republic of Poland. The Landespos(direktion pointed the senate especially to the four stamps that would be issued for the Polish post in the Free City of Danzig and the Polish 15-groszy stamp.

According to the announcement, that was written in French, the four stamps for the Polish post in the Free City of Danzig depicted a scene of 16th-century Danzig: Two Polish noblemen who made a grain deal with a merchant from Danzig. In the background was the symbol of Danzig, the Krantor, and some ships that are loaded. The inscription read (beside the usual Poczta Poiska Port Gdan’sk= Polish Post Danzig Harbor) Gdatsk w XVI Wieku = Danzig in the 16th century.

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 80 - October - November - December - 1993, Page 5.