Jerzy Duda, The torch of learning, "Filatelista" no 4 /966/ of April 2003 p.184-186 and 3rd page of cover with reproductions of stamps.
The author of this article suggested a special graphic symbol for the subject of bibliophilately consisting of a drawing of a "torch of learning" i.e. an olive lamp which in antiquity was used for religious purposes and in more modern times became in many countries in the world a symbol of knowledge, education, both at a basic and at a higher level as well as fighting illiteracy. Most often the torch of learning is shown on stamps together with a book and people learning from a book. The article presents 18 examples of using a torch of learning both on postage stamps and on other philatelist materials in 11 countries in the world for presenting subjects related to education, schools and for highlighting the educational role of books.
The author brought to our memory the suggestive usage of the symbol of the torch of learning in poems and in masterpieces of painting. Allegoric depicting of "learning" as a figure of a woman holding an olive lamp/torch of learning/, which dissipates the darkness of ignorance and at the same time makes it possible for two children cuddled up to the woman to read, became in Poland at the turn of the 20th century a graphic image of the idea "through learning to freedom", and at the same time a symbol of the organisation called the Country School Association.
Jerzy Duda, The oldest books in bibliophilately, "Filatelista" no 10 /972/ of October 2003; p.528-530 . (The first article printed in the magazine under a common series title - Bibliophilately)
The article brings to our memory basic writing materials used in the antiquity i.e. Cyperus Papirus that is papyrus and membrana pergamenea, in other words parchment. 16 illustrations in the articles show postage stamps issued in different countries, depicting papyrus as a plant as well as papyrus sheets. Postage stamps present also the way of producing parchment and parchment sheets. Significant part of the article is devoted to the history of the forms of the first books and writing devices. The reproducing postage stamps describe and show papyrus rolls, codices and other forms such as leporello, as well as the way of folding a book known as butterfly one.
Jerzy Duda, Handwritten books, "Filatelista" no. 1 /975/ of January 2004 r, p.16 - 21. (the second part of the article on the oldest books)
In richly decorated article /23 photographs/ the author undertook the subject of the oldest handwritten books the fragments of which in the form of pages or their parts, initials, miniatures or other decorations and selected details were presented on philatelist materials, especially on postage stamps. There are, among others, miniatures from Ostromir Gospel Book made in the years 1056-1057, Vecenegin Gospel Book from 1096, Duke de Berry's Book of Hours, Book of Hours of Eleanor, the duchess of Toskany and French book of hours from the 15th century; initials from a Gradual from the monastery of St. John of La Valetta; miniatures from Manasse Chronicle and Kepes Chronicle from 1370.
Jerzy Duda, Handwritten books, "Filatelista" no 2 /976/ of February 2004 r. p.82 - 87 (The third part of the article on the oldest books)
The author draws our attention to the achievements concerning handwritten books in Arab countries and in South America. He gives examples of presenting miniatures of the Persian epic poem Shahname by Firdowsi and miniatures from manuscripts from Iran, Turkey and Pakistan on postage stamps and blocks. Examples of the development of books in South America come from Mexico and Peru. This concerns mostly the issues of miniatures from Mexican codices on postage stamps.
A considerable part of the article was devoted by the author to the issue of discovery and production of paper, which opened the way for printing. In the article postage stamps and FDC of different countries depicting traditional production of paper are presented.
Jerzy Duda, Master Gutenberg and his predecessors, "Filatelista" no 3 /977/ of March 2004. p.140 - 145
The article is devoted almost wholly to the inventor of the method of type casting, printing press, printing ink application, i.e. the whole process of printing. In the article also earlier methods than this invented by Gutenberg were mentioned, such as pressing the text and woodcuts with the use of movable types used by the Koreans in the 13th century and in China in the 6th century. In the article numerous illustrations are presented, depicting postage stamps and post cards as well as stamps concerning Gutenberg, issued in numerous countries since 1900, with special attention paid to the years 1997-2000 which preceded the anniversary of Master John's birthday.
Jerzy Duda, Saint George of bibliophilately, "Filatelista" no 4 /978/ of April 2004, p. 185 - 189.
The article written for the World Book and Copyright Day which is celebrated on 23rd April i.e. the day devoted to St. George. The Catalonian habit of presenting a book and a rose to one's friends on this day has been accepted also in Poland. The author reminded about the Polish suggestions of establishing a book's day already in the 20's in the 20th century, about the great names of Polish printers working in Europe and bringing fame to the Polish typography, and also about the Polish Nobel price in literature received in 1924 by Władysław Reymont. Referring to that the author worked on the issue of the participation of the post offices in many countries in promoting books on postage stamps. This regards especially the way of presenting books on postage stamps and other philatelist material, both a book as an object and as a book in allegoric form, also in various contexts and presented next to different objects, buildings and persons. The richly illustrated article / 30 photographs/ shows a wide variety of ideas of post stamp's authors and graphic solution related to this.
Jerzy Duda, The first printers and their works, "Filatelista" no 5 /979/ of May 2004, p. 252 -257.
The author presented a short history of the beginnings of printing in different countries, and brought to our memory a unique masterpiece i.e. "Chronicum mundi" by Hartmann Schedl from 1493 in which the first description and view of Krakow was placed. This view was used by Czesław Słania, an eminent Polish designer and engraver of postage stamps to prepare the most beautiful "philatelist image" of the city.
At the background of the European printing's development the author presents the first famous printers, namely Christoph Plantin and John Moretus, the images of which appeared on postage stamps issued by the Belgian post office already in the 40's of the 20th century. The article mentions also other famous printers. These are Dirk Marten and William Caxton from England. A lot of space was devoted to two printers connected with Poland, namely Iwan Fiodor and Franciszek Skoryna. In lavishly illustrated article /20 photographs/ there are also postage stamps issued in the 90's, showing the first printers from Moldavia, Macedonia, Portugal and Ukraine.
Jerzy Duda, For a book to be created, "Filatelista" no 6 /980/ of June 2004, p. 298 - 301 /part 1/.
The author undertook an attempt to present on postage stamps the history of writing due to which books could be created. Writing, its creation and the birth of the alphabet, gaining the ability to write and read are milestones in the creation of books and its wide distribution. This is also a condition for education and civilisation development. The author begins the history of writing from ... rock drawings, giving examples of numerous interesting postage stamps issued by posts of many countries for presentation of discoveries and research. In illustrative material the caves in Lascaux, Niaux, El Castillo, Badajoz, Vale do Coa and Tassila are shown; they were presented by posts of France, Monaco, Spain, Portugal, Zimbabwe and Algeria.
In the further part of the article, richly illustrated with philatelist material /17 pictures/ the author gives examples of the development of writing up to the "discovery" of alphabet in different continents.
Jerzy Duda, For a book to be created, "Filatelista" no 7 /981/ of July 2004, p. 356 - 358 /part 2/.
In the second part of the article concerning the history of writing on postage stamps the author devoted a lot of space to calligraphy and to monuments of writing shown on stamps. He mentioned also famous researchers deciphering forgotten writings, especially the achievements of J.F. Champolion who was the first one to read the Egyptian writing /hieroglyphs/. At the end of the article the author brought to our memory writing devices, drawing our attention to the fact that birds' feathers /quills/ were used by over 2400 years.
Also this part of the article is richly illustrated / 19 pictures/.
Jerzy Duda, For a book to be created, "Filatelista" no 8 /982/ of August 2004, p. 420 - 421 /part 3/.
In the third part of the article the author presented runic writing as well as Korean alphabet regarded by some scientists as the most perfect phonetic system and Slavonic alphabet - Cyrillic alphabet created by the patron saints of Europe saints Cyril and Methodius. To illustrate the text the author used an interesting FDC envelope issued in 1946 by the post of Korea and, among others, publications of posts of Bulgaria, Macedonia, Syria and the former Soviet Union as well as Denmark.
