%0 Journal Article
%T The postage stamp as an iconographic source
%A Essen, Andrzej
%J Central European and Balkan Studies
%V 2017
%R 10.4467/2543733XSSB.17.013.7259
%N Tom XXV
%P 191-206
%K iconographic source, postage stamp, visual contents, social significance
%@ 2451-4993
%D 2017
%U https://ejournals.eu/en/journal/ssb/article/znaczek-pocztowy-jako-zrodlo-ikonograficzne
%X 
	The history of postage stamps was briefly presented in the paper. The focus of the paper, however, was put on the analysis of their visual contents. The main tendencies in the choice of contents presented on postage stamps both at the beginning of their history, i.e. in the 19th century, and in modern times were discussed. Political contents of the stamps, political aspects of their issues, and their social function were studied. The role of postage stamps in historical research as iconographic sources, which can be very important in certain cases, was determined. Political, social, and cultural functions of both issues and visual contents of postage stamps were also mentioned.