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>> NOTES ON THE POLISH POST OFFICE IN GDANSK

Current History Magazine of New York in April and July, 1925, reports on the bitter dispute concerning the establishment of a Polish Postal Service in the Free City:

In January the Danzigers protest against the placing of Polish mail boxes throughout the city. The boxes, apparently, are not removed, pending settlement by the League of Nations at Geneva. The High Commissioner of the League of Nations administering. Danzig rules that Poland may not have her own mall boxes in Danzig, except for mail from Poland to foreign countries and one other previously allotted (referring likely to the sorting office set up in 1920).

The Polish Government naturally refuses to accept the ruling and lodges complaints.

An advisory opinion is handed down in May by the Permanent Court of International Justice favorable to Poland on all points n its desire to establish a postal service in Danzig.

So, from 1925 the Polish Post Office functions with a postal service open for public mailing. The first, from 1920-1925 isn’t open for public use. Polish Post Office No.3 (for public use from 1925) becomes Polish Poet Office No.1 on Oct. 29, 1925. Much Polish Post Office mail is semi-official from the management of the Polish state railway in Gdansk.

Thirty-six stamps are in use during the period 1925-1939, but many dangerous forgeries exist in the overprints and postmarks.

The Polish Post Office accepts only local and Polish mail. Mail to Poland may be franked by either the Polish Post Office stamps (and unoverprinted Polish stamps) or by the Free City stamps, each having its own collecting boxes and using its own postmarks. Gdansk mail for points outside Poland or locally, must be franked by either Free City stamps or Free City meter payment.

During the period 1920-1939, Polish P.O. devices are in Polish, while those in the Free City are in German.

Mixed franking of unoverprinted Polish stamps, regular, commemorative and airmail issues, with the “Port Gdansk” issues, although not common, is normal usage. Polish postal cards also exist cancelled in Gdansk. “Port Gdansk” stamps can be used in Poland proper, but are usually not as desirable as those used in Gdansk. Special postmarks, air flight cachets, imprinted stationery for the Polish Post Office exist and suppement regular stamp issues.

During 1938 or 1939 a beautifully designed label of the Polish School Federation is sold over the counter at the Polish P.Office in the Free City. It bears the city’s coat of arms with the Polish

 

Danzig Report  Nr. 25 - Winter - 1979, Page 7.