1952 Airmail Stamps

In 1952 Poland issued a set of four Airmail stamps. Czeslaw Slania was responsible for engraving two of these stamps. As all Slania buffs know, he was known occasionally to strategically place the names of important people in his life in his stamps. A close look at one of the stamps in this set reveals not one but two names!

The theme of the four 1952 Airmail stamps was an aircraft flying over various locations in Poland. On lookong at the stamps I got to wondering what type or types of aircraft were depicted on the stamps. A search of the Heindorff site told me that the planes were Ilyushins. So I looked up Ilyushins to discover that there were many, many different types of plane made by this company. Ilyushin is a Russian based aircraft manfacturer that opened in 1933. They make Fighters, Bombers, Transport Planes, Passenger Planes and others. So which type is depicted on the Slania engraved stamps? Well, first let's take a look at the stamps...

***

An Ilyushin flying over Polish freighters

An Ilyushin flying over Warsaw

To me both stamps depict the same type of plane. If you look closely you'll see that both planes have windows along the fuselage, which suggests the possibility of a transport or passenger plane. I spent some time looking at images of both types of plane manufactured by Ilyushin. My initial conclusion was that the plane was a IL-14, but a follower has let me know that Polish catalogues list it as an IL-12. After looking it up, I have to agree! The IL-12 was a twin-engine commercial and military personnel and cargo transport aircraft that was developed in the mid 1940's. Here is an image of an Ilyushin IL-12...

***

What about those mysterious hidden words? On which of the two stamps can they be found? And just what are these words? 

Well, the hidden words are in the 1,40zt Ilyushin over Warsaw stamp. But where? Take another look at the stamp. Can you see them? If you can't see them focus on the trees on the left of the stamp. Here is a close-up to  help...

The word written across the top of the trees is "Majewska" in reference to Slania's sister's surname. The other name, written vertically down the left margin, is 'Lilka". This name refers to a family member in the Majewska family. I personally love these little messages left by Slania. They add an extra element of fun to the stamps!

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!