This official Ersttagsblatt (41/1993) commemorates the 750th anniversary of the death of St. Hedwig of Silesia through a significant joint postage issue between Germany and Poland. Released on October 14, 1993, this collection represents a collaborative effort between the Deutsche Bundespost and Poczta Polska.
The stamps and the specialized first-day cancellations were designed by the Warsaw artist Andrzej Heidrich. Both the German 100 Pfennig stamp and the Polish 2500 Zł stamp feature a shared motif: a scene depicting "Hedwig's Care for Religious People," reproduced from the Schlackenwerther Codex of 1353.
Historical Legacy of St. Hedwig (1174–1243)
Noble Roots: Born as the daughter of Count Berthold IV of Andechs, she was married at the age of 13 to Duke Henry I of Silesia.
Cultural Influence: She is celebrated for her profound impact on the cultural and religious development of Silesia, acting as a patron of both science and poetry.
Charity and Faith: Known for her extreme piety and asceticism, she famously walked barefoot to distribute alms to the poor and founded the Cistercian monastery in Trebnitz (Trzebnica), the first of its kind for women in Silesia.
Canonization: She passed away on October 14, 1243, and was canonized by Pope Clement IV on March 26, 1267.
A Figure of Reconciliation: In modern history, she is venerated as a symbolic "border figure" and a mediator between the German and Polish nations
