Publish Date: 11.06.2019
Category: News from the University
Pošta Slovenije presented a commemorative postage stamp to mark the centenary of the University of Ljubljana, which we are celebrating this year, while the University of Ljubljana designed a picture postcard bearing the image of Provincial Hall, which has served as the seat of Slovenia’s largest and oldest university since the latter’s establishment in 1919. As part of that presentation, Pošta Slovenije set up a postal counter in the lobby of the University of Ljubljana, from which it was possible to send a picture postcard bearing the commemorative postage stamp.
The presentation of the commemorative postage stamp was held in the Chamber Hall of the Rector’s Office, where the first lecture at the first Slovenian university was held on 3 December 1919. “On the centenary of our university I wish for it to continue boldly along its path, keeping an open mind and pursuing high goals and global challenges. I believe that it will succeed, as it was successful in the same regard 50 years ago, when it was commemorated for the first time with its own postage stamp. That it has received another today, to mark its centenary, is truly a special honour. I am sure that the university will deservedly grace postcards and letters that will make their way to different addresses in Slovenia and across the globe,” said the Rector of the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Igor Papič.
The initiative to establish the first Slovenian university took shape back in 1848, but it took seven decades for that to actually happen. As Prof. Dr. Božo Repe from the Faculty of Arts of the University of Ljubljana said, the focal point was the national, Slovenian-Yugoslavian importance of the university at the time of its establishment. “For some, the university was the highest Slovenian institution, which would preserve the language. For others, it was a predominantly Yugoslavian institution that would use Slovene solely as one of the Yugoslavian dialects and (in addition to scientific development) would serve for the creation of a single Yugoslavian nation with one language,” said Dr. Repe. “One hundred years of development, from 1919 until its historic anniversary in 2019, have seen the university grow from a small ‘institution of higher learning’ intended primarily for the preservation of the language and the national identity and the development of teaching, administrative and technical staff, to one of the top 400 universities in the world.”
The importance of the University of Ljubljana today is also illustrated by the fact that the aforementioned institution received its own postage stamp to mark its centenary. “It gives me great pleasure to witness the recording of this important anniversary of our greatest educational institution on a postage stamp. This a gift, an homage to the University of Ljubljana, that it might continue its successful work in the future,” said Vesna Kos Tomažič, authorised representative of Pošta Slovenije’s Executive Management, during the presentation of the stamp. Representative of the Slovenian Philatelic Association Dr. Peter Kramar explained that philately can tell us many things, as it transcends stamp collecting to include research. “For example, how the mail was carried in a given period, what type of postmarks were used, how postage costs were charged and, last but not least, thematic philately, which tells a story based on the images borne by stamps,” explained Dr. Kramar. The postage stamp bearing the image of Provincial Hall thus speaks of the importance of the University of Ljubljana for the Slovenian state and nation.
Following the presentation, guests were given the opportunity to send a picture postcard designed especially for the event with the commemorative stamp from the lobby of the Rector’s Office of the University of Ljubljana. The picture postcard bears the image of Provincial Hall, the seat of the University of Ljubljana. The architectural sketch is the work of Professor Emeritus, Peter Gabrijelčič.
Snapshots of the event can be viewed here.
Picture postcard issued by the University of Ljubljana to commemorate its centenary. The architectural sketch is the work of Professor Emeritus, Peter Gabrijelčič.
A temporary postal counter was set up in the lobby of the Rector’s Office of the University of Ljubljana.
Pošta Slovenije presented special commemorative albums that include the entire May stamp issue and first-day covers. From left to right: Professor Emeritus Peter Gabrijelčič (whose architectural sketch graces the University of Ljubljana’s picture postcard), Prof. Dr. Božo Repe from the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ljubljana, the Rector of the University of Ljubljana Prof. Dr. Igor Papič, authorised representative of the Executive Management of Pošta Slovenije Vesna Kos Tomažič, representative of the Slovenian Philatelic Association Dr. Peter Kramar and Vice-Rector of the University of Ljubljana for the Arts Prof. Boštjan Botas Kenda.