My first autograph, in a small blue notebook, dates back to January 13, 1974 and — according to my handwritten note at the time — was obtained in the Congress Hall of the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw (a “gift” to Poland from Josef Stalin — for a while it bore his name). It belongs to Jan Kociniak (1937–2007), an actor whom I later remembered, among other roles, for his brief appearance in Stanisław Bareja’s film “Miś” (1980). Over the years, this very first signature took on a special meaning for me — not only as a keepsake, but also as the beginning of my entire collection.
 |
| Jan Kociniak |
At that time, I was a frequent visitor to the Congress Hall, where concerts, theatre performances, and various artistic events were held. It also helped greatly that my father, for a period, had access to (often complimentary) tickets, which allowed me to attend such events quite regularly.
 |
| Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC license) |
