Index · Edition · pl-cs-2-0-in-the-skies-2023
In the Skies — Crypto Stamp 2.0
Watercolor hot-air balloons by Andrzej Gosik — homage to Jan Potocki
Poczta Polska issued "In the Skies" on 9 November 2023, featuring watercolors by Polish artist Andrzej Gosik. Physical stamps followed in March 2024. The motif shows four surreal hot-air balloons honoring Jan Potocki, the first Pole to ascend in a balloon in 1790. The edition uses a decreasing rarity system: Balloon #1 (6,700 copies), Balloon #2 (4,700), Balloon #3 (2,700), Balloon #4 (1,700). Gosik is a long-time designer for Poczta Polska; his style combines fairy-tale references with unusual form language. His work was exhibited at the Castle Museum in Łańcut in 2022.
Variants
| Variant | Variant | Mintage | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon #4 | 1,700 | 1 | |
| Balloon #3 | 2,700 | 2 | |
| Balloon #2 | 4,700 | 3 | |
| Balloon #1 | 6,700 | 4 |
About the Polski Kryptoznaczek 2.0 — In the Skies (Andrzej Gosik 2023/2024)
First true artist collaboration of Poczta Polska — "In the Skies" with Polish watercolor artist Andrzej Gosik. Launched in two phases: 09.11.2023 (NFT) and March 2024 (physical).
Core Data
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| NFT launch | 9 November 2023 |
| Physical launch | March 2024 |
| Total physical | 17,000 (decreasing rarity) |
| Artist | Andrzej Gosik (watercolor, Poland) |
| Cat-5 designer | Topteam (community member) |
| Tech | Polygon ERC-1155 |
| Format | Stamp + Cover + Folder + Cat-5 |
The Four Hot-Air Balloons (Decreasing Rarity)
| Variant | Mintage | Price | Rarity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balloon #1 | 6,700 ex | 18.50 zł | Common |
| Balloon #2 | 4,700 ex | 30.80 zł | Uncommon |
| Balloon #3 | 2,700 ex | 61.50 zł | Rare |
| Balloon #4 | 1,700 ex | 123 zł | Very Rare |
Plus 4 Cat-5 NFT-only versions designed by Topteam — a community member of the Polish Crypto Stamp Community. An innovation in issuer practice: community participation in design.
Andrzej Gosik
Andrzej Gosik is a Polish watercolor artist and painter, long-time designer for Poczta Polska. Style characteristics:
- Watercolor surrealism with fairy-tale-like references
- Fairy-tale-ambiguous atmosphere — images suggest multiple interpretations
- Unusual form language — abstract geometries + narrative elements
- Hot-air balloon theme — recurring symbol of his works
2022 Castle Museum Łańcut exhibition: A recognition of Polish ballooning tradition — Jan Potocki, first Pole in a balloon (1790).
Theme: Polish Ballooning Tradition
The "In the Skies" series is a historical homage to Polish aviation pioneers:
- Jan Potocki (1761-1815) — first Pole in a balloon (1790, Warsaw)
- Polish ballooning tradition from the 19th century
- Connection of science and art
Gosik's surreal watercolors transform real ballooning into fantastic imagery — combination of historical reverence and artistic freedom.
Edition Format: Three-Plus System
The edition comes in an extended format:
- Crypto Stamp Perforated (4 variants = 4 balloons)
- Crypto Stamp Non-Perforated (premium)
- Crypto Cover (FDC, 4 variants)
- Crypto Folder with unperforated block (limited edition)
- Cat-5 NFT-only (4 Topteam versions)
This five-element architecture is the most complex crypto stamp edition of Poczta Polska — structurally comparable with Liechtenstein's Stamp 4.0 system.
Tech Stack
Standard Polski Kryptoznaczek tech (Polygon ERC-1155). Special: decreasing rarity system with 4 token IDs of different mintages in one smart contract — perfectly supported by ERC-1155 multi-token standard.
Significance in the Wiki
This edition documents:
- First artist collaboration of Poczta Polska
- Andrzej Gosik as systematic NFT artist pioneer
- Decreasing rarity system as collector mechanic (6,700 → 1,700)
- Community design via Topteam for Cat-5 — structural innovation
- Polish ballooning tradition as historical theme
- Artist Cat-5 concept as extension of the AI Cat-5 of "Polska w Kosmosie"
The edition is the most artistically ambitious crypto stamp of Poland and probably the most valuable collector item of the programme (Balloon #4 with 1,700 ex at 123 zł).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Andrzej Gosik?
Andrzej Gosik is a Polish watercolor artist with a long-standing designer tradition for Poczta Polska. His style features watercolor surrealism with fairy-tale references — the images create an ambiguous atmosphere that allows multiple interpretations. Gosik combines abstract geometries with narrative elements and uses hot-air balloons as a recurring symbol. His 2022 exhibition at Castle Museum in Łańcut honored Polish ballooning tradition, particularly Jan Potocki as the first Pole in a balloon in 1790. After numerous classical stamps for Poczta Polska, this crypto stamp edition extends his postage works into the NFT space.
What is Topteam and Cat-5 community design?
Topteam is a community member of the Polish Crypto Stamp Community — not a professional artist, but a collector and enthusiast who contributed the design for the Cat-5 edition of the In the Skies series. This community designer participation is unique in the crypto stamp space, as other issuers work exclusively with professional designers. The initiative reflects the decentralized Web3 community spirit and gives collectors an active role in design. After the AI-generated Cat-5 of Polska w Kosmosie, Cat-5 now extends as a community platform.
References
- communityIn the Skies — crypto-stamps.orgen
- communityDrifting through the Polish Crypto 2024 — Bitter Groundsen