In 1960 Poland issued a new set of stamps featuring 18 towns of ancient Poland, the stamp designs reproducing old prints. The 95 groschen stamp of this new issue shows the seaport of Puck during the reign of Wladislaw IV (1632-1648) and also part of the first Polish Navy. On his coronation day each Polish king was made to promise to maintain a fleet in the Baltic at his own expense. However, only Wladislaw IV attempted to carry out this promise when he bought a number of ships and established two naval bases near Danzig.
The Swedes, who owned the Baltic provinces, drew large revenues from port tolls at Pillau and other places. Wladislaw proposed to maintain his fleet with money obtained in the same way and while the senate gladly endorsed the proposal the port of Danzig refused to pay. When the new fleet was sent to induce them to alter their view the burghers of Danzig called in the help of the Danes, who outnumbered and destroyed the Polish Fleet. Wladislaw could not even induce his legislature even to punish the people of Danzig for their conduct over the first Polish Fleet. The largest units of this fleet were the ships Great Sun, 540 tons and 24 guns; Black Eagle, 420 tons and 32 guns; and Prophet Samuel, 400 tons and 24 guns. Two of this trio are shown on the 95 stamp.
SG1190 Sea Breezes 4/61