Rudolf Mękicki
Polish, 1887-1942
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Rudolf Mękicki was a Polish medalist, heraldist, art historian and museologist, creator of bookplates, editor-in-chief of the quarterly Zapiski Numizmatyczne, lecturer at the Lviv Polytechnic.
He completed secondary school in his hometown and obtained an education in art and art history. Initially, he worked as an art teacher at a school. He spent World War I in Russian captivity, where he was taken as an Austrian soldier. He also fought in the Polish Army. After leaving the army, he devoted himself entirely to museum work. Until the end of his life, he worked at the National Museum, later transformed into the Historical Museum of the City of Lviv. From 1921, he was a curator, and from 1940, he was the scientific director.
He was the author of the first Polish numismatic ex-libris (with images of coins) designed and made in Lviv in 1910. He is considered the precursor of Polish numismatic ex-libris. In his work, he used the technique of drawing reproduced on zinc plates. He was the creator of traditional ex-libris based on heraldic motifs and realistic drawings with historical stylization. In 1929, he became treasurer of the Graphic Arts School Society.
Until 1939, he was the author of book covers, stock certificates and bonds, diplomas, city banknotes, badges, coins, medals, and posters, among other things. He was also a highly regarded author of commemorative diplomas awarded to such political figures as Edward Rydz-Śmigły, Ignacy Mościcki, and Józef Beck. In his collecting activities, he also served as a donor to the W.N. Smagłowski Municipal Library (1872–1939) in Stanisławów, and above all, he donated coins from the Lviv Mint to the King Jan III National Museum in Lviv, where he was curator from 1922 until his death. His artistic output includes over 200 bookplate designs, 118 of which were realized, including those with numismatic themes. He lectured on the history of writing and heraldry at the General Faculty of the Lviv Polytechnic.
He was buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv.
His wife Julia (1899–1987) was a collector of bookplates and coins, and an activist in numismatic societies. The work begun by Rudolf Męcki is continued by his children: Stanisław (1924-2016, author of many bookplates), daughter Krystyna (1922-2010, member of the Polish Numismatic Society in Gliwice), Juliusz (1921-2000, numismatist and collector, president of the board of the Polish Numismatic Society in Gliwice).
