‘To me, today’s celebration is a source of great joy and satisfaction. The satisfaction of a person involved in promoting Poland’s national symbols, including the national anthem, both in-country and abroad, among people to whom the motto Amor Patriae nostra lex! Is not words like any other but a part of their identity,’ said Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk.

The stamp issue coincides with several anniversaries falling in 2022: the 275th of the birth and 200th of the death of Józef Wybicki; 225th of the creation of the ‘Song of the Polish Legions in Italy’ and 95th of its establishment as the national anthem, by then known as the Mazurek Dąbrowskiego. On this occasion, Poczta Polska (the Polish Post) commissioned a stamp to commemorate the well-deserving patriot and author of this most important song to the nation.

Józef Wybicki — soldier, writer, lawyer and patriot — had probably never expected his name to gain universal recognition and become associated with one of the three constitutional symbols of an independent and sovereign Republic of Poland, alongside the white eagle and the white-and-red flag. Symbols that are respected and identified with by any Polish community within the country or abroad.

The issue of the ‘Józef Wybicki — Author of Lyrics to Poland’s National Anthem’ stamp is part and parcel of the anniversary celebrations relating to the Mazurek Dąbrowskiego, hosted or co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs within the country and, through diplomatic missions, also abroad. An exhibition titled ‘History of the Polish anthem’ and a documentary film under the same title were on display from Reggio Emilia in Italy, which is where J. Wybicki wrote the lyrics and where the first performance was delivered, through Poznań, where Wybicki is buried in Saint Adalbert’s Church, to France, Canada, Sweden, Australia and China.

‘The Polish Post is an exceptional institution. The company’s fate has been inextricably linked to the existence of national statehood. Upon the rebirth of an independent Polish state, following 123 years of partitioning, the Post staff’s role was to reintegrate the three partitions as one common organism. The Post became a symbol of the unity of the Republic’s territory. A similar role was played by the national anthem. The Mazurek Dąbrowskiego united Poles. In singing this most important song we feel a sense of pride and belonging to the Polish nation. By composing the lyrics to the song that was to become the national anthem, Józef Wybicki made an invaluable contribution to the national identity and unity, for which we pay tribute to him through this exceptional issue,’ emphasized the President of Poczta Polska, Krzysztof Falkowski.

Deputy Minister Szynkowski vel Sęk voiced the conviction that this stamp issue was another but certainly not the last fruit of the collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polish Post in the work of commemoration of well-deserving Poles.

The Polish Post’s stamp issue was a collaborative effort with the Museum of the National Anthem in Będomin — Branch of the National Museum in Gdańsk. All of the materials used originate from the Museum’s collections. 

 

Łukasz Jasina

MFA Press Spokesperson