Cover from Poland

On the 16-th of April after 12 days of travalling I got this cover, devoted to the 200 anniversary of bith of a person who really made life of people better - Louis Braille. It's hard to overvalue his contribution for humanity - the possible of communication, of reading for blind people - the important things which he brought to them. I know that a stamp in his honour was issued in many countries, but unfortunately, not in Russia.

*I'm also happy because of the fact that I'm finally able to get the description to Polish sttamps*

200th anniversary of the birthday of Louis Braille

In January 2009 two hundred years had passed since the birth of one of the greatest benefactors of mankind, Louis Braille - father of the system used by blind people to read and write, commonly referred to as the "Braille". Braille's system opened up a whole spectrum of new opportunities for the visually impaired, such as the possibility to independently communicate with the world through, among others, reading press and literature, the possibility to receive education and to find employment. In appreciation of this memorable invention, the European Blind Union (EBU) announced 2009 the year of Louis Braille. The Polish Post is one of numerous European institutions that are participating in these celebrations.

Reading the world with touch

The writing system taught at school, devised by Valentin Haüy - the founder of the institution, was inconvenient (it comprised Latin characters inscribed with convex ribbon lines). Between 1824 and 1840 Louis Braille worked on his own system of writing for the blind. Pursuing this task, he followed the model of the twelve dot system of convex symbols (translated into appropriate sounds) used in the French army to communicate orders in darkness. Braille's writing was simpler - it was based on a six dot convex mark, known as the cell, arranged symmetrically in three rows and two columns. The dots in the left column have been numbered from 1 to 3, and in the right one - from 4 to 6. The cell is constructed in such a way that it might be felt with a single touch of the finger tip. As a result of numerous combinations, Braille's alphabet consists of 63 marks, including also digits, as well as punctuation marks and mathematical, musical and chemical notation. Braille may be used to inscribe anything.

New stamp and First Day Cover (FDC)

In order to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birthday, on 4 January the Polish Post introduced a postage stamp with an adjoining field. The stamp itself features a portrait of Louis Braille, and the field includes his full name inscribed in Braille. A First Day Cover was introduced on the day of the stamp's release, featuring an illustration presenting Braille's alphabet. The FDC is accompanied by an occasional date stamp, in use in Warsaw 1 Post Office.

Dziekuje, Andrzej!