Date of Issue - 30 October 2008
The 50th anniversary of the "Kabaret Starszych Panów" comedy series
Two Aging Gentlemen!
Although the Kabaret Starszych Panów comedy show was established at a time when television wasn't common in Polish homes, the unique nature of the series certainly made it an unforgettable one and though some of the recorded material was lost irretrievably. It was so popular that its 50th anniversary of the creation of this outstanding work of musical and literary wit was commemorated on Polish stamps issued on 30 october 2008 . Its founders: Jeremi Przybora (1915 - 2004) and Jerzy Wasowski (1913 - 1984) met in 1939 in a radio studio, where Przybora worked as a presenter and Wasowski was responsible for sound engineering. After the war they joined forces and started the "Eterek" radio theatre (1948-1958). Przybora was primarily a poet, a writer of song lyrics and a radio director. On the other hand, although Jerzy Wasowski originally wanted to become a physicist, he turned out to be an outstanding composer. He wrote music with great ease even though he didn't really treat it as a serious occupation.
Both artists shared a unique sense of humour and a great talent for acting. When in 1958 Jeremi Przybora was forced to comply with an agreement he had with the television, he wrote the first episode of the Kabaret Starszych Panów comedy show. Merely 16 episodes were made by 1966. Although in the beginnings of the project the "ageing gentlemen" - Gentleman A and Gentleman B - were both just a little over forty, their opening song went "Though our hair is turning grey, and our health is withering away - we are still young at heart!" The gentlemen used to appear on stage in smart evening clothes, which didn't match the Polish reality of the communist regime. The plot of each of the episodes was intertwined with songs, whose lyrics used to be perverse, absurd, and charmingly frivolous but sometimes also lyrical.An array of best Polish actors, whom the creators knew from the theatre and radio, appeared from time to time on this unique show. Laborious efforts produced outstanding and expressive performances. As Wojciech Młynarski once said, Kabaret Starszych Panów was "a wonder of mass culture of the 1960s; an exclusive, elevated programme requiring sophistication and using a pastiche of styles and genres, but at the same time reaching not only the intellectuals, but simply everyone."
Couresy - Polish Post
M.C.C. and Cricket Association of Bengal put a joint stamp on history
In association with the Cricket Association of Bengal the M.C.C. will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of England’s first Test match in India on January 5th 2009. It will issue 1000 commemorative envelopes bearing a unique stamp and postmark. Each specially designed envelope features the scorecard and match day images from 1934. Inside will be a replica of the scorecard for the four-day match that took place in January 1934 between England led by Douglas Jardine and India led by CK Nayadu.
To be issued on 5th January 2009
The M.C.C. is the world’s oldest cricket club and “Keeper of the Laws”. Its base at Lord’s Cricket Ground, St John’s Wood, London being revered worldwide as “The home of cricket”. The Cricket Association of Bengal has its base at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, home to India’s oldest cricket club. Also the venue where the greatest number of Test matches in India has been played. Jardine and Nayadu feature on the limited edition stamp that will be cancelled with an MCC postmark on 5th January, the day the match started. Each cover will be individually numbered in a presentation pack as a limited edition of just 1000. Issue price will be £10 plus post and packing. It is being offered to MCC members first through an advance mailing this week and demand in both England and India for the issue is expected to be very high. The cover can only be ordered through Chapman and Mitchell Covers at Bletchley Park Post Office, Bletchley Park, Milton Keynes, MK3 6EB, Tel: 01908 272690/631797. Or from the MCC section of the website at www.bletchleycovers.com
- Terry Mitchell
A Journey to Indian Stamps - FDCs of Se-tenant stamps
From Collection of Shrikant Parikh
Indian Coast Guard - 12 August 2008
Stamps in four different positions