J. Korczak, a Polish Artist, on Stamps
Janusz Korczak never knew the exact year was born - July 22, 1878, or 1879 - because his father, Jozef Goldszmit, a prominent lawyer in Warsaw, delayed registering his birth. And no one survived to tell us the story of the last hours of Janusz Korczak and of the children he protected, after their train left the Warsaw Ghetto on August 6, 1942.
Israel and Poland both claim Korczak as their own. The Poles consider Korczak a martyr who, had he been born a Catholic, would have been canonized by now. The Israelis revere Korczak as one of the Thirty-six Just Men whose pure souls, according to ancient Jewish tradition, make possible the world's salvation. The Polish stamps shown on this page were issued by Poland on Nov. 12, 1962; they reproduce illustrations from the "King Matt The First" book. Please point to the stamps with the mouse index for more information. The German stamp was issued in 1978.
Short extracts were taken from the excellent book: The Life and Death of Janusz Korczak, by Betty Jean Lifton, St. Martin´s Griffin -New York - ISBN: 0-312-15560-3. On the Web: click here
The scans of Polish stamps courtesy of Mary Kay Collins, graphic artist, PASIC member. On the Web: click here
The German First Day sheet courtesy of Peter Dolman.