Engraved Stamp Beauties

[Eli]

Paintings from The National gallery in Prague or in Slovakia, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1971:


Waiting, by Imro Weiner-Kráľ (1901-1978), engraved by Josef Herčík:

The Resurrection, Gothoic style, Unknown 14th Century artist (Mistr vyšebrodského altar - can't find information in English, and hope someone could add little information), engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Woman with Jug, by Miloš Alexander Bazovský (1899-1968), engraved by Jiří Antonín Švengsbír:

Woman in National Costume, by Josef Mánes (1820 - 1871), engraved by Josef Herčík:

The Feast of the Rosary (German: Rosenkranzfest), Detail, by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), engraved by Ladislav Jirka:

The man with the yellow coat (right) is Dürer's self-portrait:

Here is Durer's complete painting (Wikipedia):

[Eli]

Today we take little and short break from Czechoslovakia to visit other country that produced great engraved stamps - Tunisia. During years 1959-1961, Tunisia issued a very long set of 28 definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia" shows daily activities and views of Tunisia. Here is a group of ten of them. Stamps were designed by Tunisian designers and engraved by French engravers as indicated:


Riding a Camel, designed by Yahia, engraved by Georges Bétemps:

Medenine, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Charles Mazelin:

Weaving, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Roger Fenneteaux:

Products of Tunisia, designed by Farhat, engraved by Claude Durrens:

Turner, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Robert Cami:

Monastir, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Sfax, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Claude Durrens:

Kairouan, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Djerba, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Pierre Gandon:

Carpet Weaving, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Roger Fenneteaux:

[Florian]

Re: https://stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=16852&start=4050

Quote:
The Resurrection, Gothic style, Unknown 14th Century artist (Mistr vyšebrodského altar - can't find information in English, and hope someone could add little information), engraved by Miloš Ondráček:


Resurrection by the Master of the Alterpiece in the church of the Cistercian Abbey in Vyšší Brod

For more info see:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vy%C5%A1%C5%A1%C3%AD_Brod_(Hohenfurth)_cycle

[RogerE]

Welcome back Florián, nice to see you posting again

/RogerE

P.S. I hope you will visit the Stamps and Languages thread.
A good place to start is at the cumulative index:
https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=90529&start=500

[Eli]

Thank you very much, Florian, for adding the comprehensive information in English:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vy%C5%A1%C5%A1%C3%AD_Brod_(Hohenfurth)_cycle



Today, after a little break in Tunisia, we are back to Czechoslovakia and this time, with four artworks by non Czech artists, all are exhibited in the National Gallery, Prague:


St John the Baptist, detail by Auguste Rodin (1840 - 1917), engraved by Václav Fajt and issued on November 27, 1990:

Peasant Couple Dancing, by Albrecht Dürer (1471 – 1528), engraved by Bedřich Housa and issued on November 27, 1979:

Adam and Eve, by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472 – 1553), engraved by Josef Herčík and issued on November 3, 1986:

Portrait of a Young Lady Holding a Finger Fern, by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472 – 1553), engraved by Miloš Ondráček and issued on November 24, 1977:

[RogerE]

That engraving by Dürer is full of exuberant movement and shared joy of life.
It's my favourite from that set of four.

/RogerE

[Eli]

Indeed, Roger, the Dürer stamp is very attractive. I posted more stamps show Dürer's engravings here. Enjoy!

Paintings from different galleries, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 16, 1984:

The Milevski River, by Karel Stehlík (1912 - 1985), Ales South Bohemian Gallery, engraved by Josef Herčík:

Under the Trees, by Viktor Barvitius (1834 – 1902), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Landscape with Flowers, by Zoltán Palugyay (1898 - 1935), Slovak National Gallery, engraved by Václav Fajt:

Illustration of King from Vyšehrad Codex, the National Library, Prague, engraved by Jan Mráček:

View of Kokorin Castle (Hrad Kokořín), by Antonín Mánes (1784 – 1843), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Ladislav Jirka:

[Eli]

Paintings from the National Gallery, Prague, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1989:


Nirvana, by Anton Jasusch (1882 - 1965), engraved by Martin Činovský:

Dusk in the Town, by Jakub Schikaneder (1855 - 1924), engraved by Václav Fajt:

Bakers, by Pravoslav Kotík (1889 - 1970), engraved by Josef Herčík:

[stallzer]

The lovely 1937 Malaysian Kelantan Chief's Hat.

Recess printing by BW

[Eli]

Flower Paintings from the National Gallery, Prague and Slovak National Gallery, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1976:


Flower painting by Peter Majetka (1913 - 1972), engraved by Jan Mráček:

Flower painting by Cyril Bouda (1901 - 1984), engraved by Jindra Schmidt:

Flower painting by Jan Brueghel (1568 - 1625), engraved by Josef Herčík:

Flower painting by Rudolf Bys (1660 - 1738), engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Stamps issued with tabs:

The flower vase in 1944 Bouda's painting is painted on the background of the city Florence:

[RogerE]

More nice works, thanks Eli. The Oleander stamp, and the original artwork, are particularly attractive.

/RogerE

[lima34]

Series: Silver Jubilee of King George V
British Commonwealth Omnibus issue
Designed by : F. D. Manley
Engraved by : F. D. Manley
Printed by : John Ash

[RogerE]

"Fun fact". The horse was called Anzac,
named in honour of the WWI soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps = ANZAC.

/RogerE

[lima34]

Thank you Roger.

[Eli]

Today we take little and short break from Czechoslovakia to visit other country that produced great engraved stamps - Tunisia. During years 1959-1961, Tunisia issued a very long set of 28 definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia" shows daily activities and views of Tunisia. Here is a group of ten of them. Stamps were designed by Tunisian designers and engraved by French engravers as indicated:

Here is a second group of ten stamps from the set:

Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Ein Draham, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Claude Durrens:

Kairouan, designed by Yahia:

Saddlers, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by André Frères:

Horseman, designed by Yahia, engraved by Raoul Serres:

Gafsa, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Robert Cami:

Tunis, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Sidi-Bou-Said, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Gabes, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jean Miermont:

Wadi Medjerda, designed by Ben Gamra:

Bizerte, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Roger Fenneteaux:

[RogerE]

What a varied set of styles and designs in that set! Thanks Eli.

/RogerE

[stallzer]

U.S. 1909 Alaska, Yukon, Pacific Exposition issue. Designed by Clair Aubrey Huston.

Alaska Yukon Pacific expo. Scott #370

U.S. 1909 Hudson Fulton celebration issue. Designed by Clair Aubrey Huston.

Hudson Fulton Celebration Scott #372

[jjarmstrong47]

U.S. 1909 Alaska, Yukon, Pacific Exposition issue. Designed by Clair Aubrey Huston.



Three engravers worked on this stamp. Marcus Wickliffe Baldwin did the portrait, Edward McLellan Hall did the frame and Robert F. Ponickau did the lettering. This was common in those days where there was a bit of a pecking order among engravers. You started at lettering and might not make it up to being a vignette/portrait engraver for years, if at all.
U.S. 1909 Hudson Fulton celebration issue. Designed by Clair Aubrey Huston.




The same engravers worked on this and Baldwin was also co-designer. Stamps from this era are true classics and prove that a single colour engraved stamp can still be beautiful and don't need the addition of lots of coloured layers.

[Eli]

Marshall Plan, issued by Greece on September 20, 1951. I have no information about the designer and engraver of these stamps. I included this set in my Greek Mythology collection since two stamps show mythic figures: the 700D. stamp shows Hephaestus, the Greek god of blacksmiths, and metalworking and the 1600D. stamp shows Demeter, the goddess of the harvest and agriculture:

[Eli]

Paintings from the National Gallery, Prague, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 18, 1983:

Žalov (Morana, the god of death, shows the hero the way to the cemetery), by Mikoláš Aleš (1852-1913), engraved by Josef Herčík:

Genius, by Vojtěch Adalbert Hynais (1854-1925), engraved by Josef Herčík:

Allegories of Music and Lyrics, by František Ženíšek (1849-1916), engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Allegory of Prague, by Václav Brožík (1851-1901), engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Prague Castle, by Julius Eduard Mařák (1832-1899), engraved by Ladislav Jirka:

[RogerE]

More lovely engraved Czech stamps, thanks Eli.

A few years ago my wife and I had a few days in Prague, and thoroughly enjoyed exploring
that beautiful city, high and low. We managed to spend a large part of one day at Hradčany
Castle, one of the many "must visit" highlights of our time in the city. The stamp in the
previous post prompted happy memories of that day...

/RogerE

[Global Administrator]

.

.

Sierra Leone 5/- Elephant stamp 1933

Added these true gems to stock today (693BX) - Sierra Leone 1933 Wilberforce. Centenary of Slavery Abolition, and the death of William Wilberforce. Absolutely superb set 11 - fresh gum, bright vivid colours, on this amazing steel engraved Bradbury Wilkinson classic steel engraving set. Barest hinge touches after 87 years. From a collection formed in Scotland, (no humidity there!) hence the lovely fresh gum, and not the usual browned gum Arabic from this set. SG 168/178.

A TON more detail on this wet here including how the Elephant Eye on 5/- was re-engraved several times - and they STILL got it badly wrong!

http://www.bephila.com/articles/sierra-leone-1933-wilberforce-stamps

Glen

[Eli]

Paintings, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 22, 1978 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava:

Flower painting by Jakub Bohdan (Bogdan) (1660-1724), engraved by Jindra Schmidt:

The Dream of Salas, by Ľudovít Fulla (1902 - 1980), engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Apostle with Censer, Master of the Spissko Capitals, circa 1480-1490, engraved by Ladislav Jirka:

[Eli]

Paintings from different galleries in Prague, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1985:

Lenin on Charles Bridge, Prague (Karlův most), by Martin Sladký (1920-2015), Lenin museum, Prague, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Avenue of Poplars, by Václav Rabas (1885-1954), the National Galley, Prague, engraved by Václav Fajt:

Beheading of St. Dorothea, by Hans Baldung Grien (1484/1485-1545), the National Galley, Prague, engraved by Václav Fajt:

[lesbootman]

Which one did he do for the US? The Greta Garbo one?

I received some stamps I'd purchased from the USA last week. One of the stamps on the envelope stood out as being a real class act even with the various postal markings it received. What a shame that such a great stamp ends up being used as scrap postage. I assume this is the one being talking about.

[lesbootman]

This Costa Rica issue of 1950 was printed by Waterlow, a company responsible for some of the classic mid 20th century British Commonwealth issues.

Costa Rica 1950 Coffee Scott #C203 SG No 494

[Eli]

This Costa Rica issue of 1950 was printed by Waterlow, a company responsible for some of the classic mid 20th century British Commonwealth issues.

Image (275) 0.45 shr.jpg

Great and very attractive Stamp!!! thanks you share it, and the rest of the set stamps in other thread, with us. Is the central figure engraved?

[lesbootman]

This Costa Rica issue of 1950 was printed by Waterlow, a company responsible for some of the classic mid 20th century British Commonwealth issues.

Great and very attractive Stamp!!! thanks you share it, and the rest of the set stamps in other thread, with us. Is the central figure engraved?

I think that just the frames are engraved on the Costa Rica set. I've seen it suggested that the centres were printed using photogravure. Looking at the 5c, 50c and 5.00 colones denominations where the central motif illustrates banana growing, the design registration varies. Sometimes the central motif is touching the wording at the bottom (BANANO), sometimes touching CORREO AEREO at the top - it was a tight fit!

Bananas - Costa Rica - 1950

[AdmiralCollector]

Quote from lesbootman above: "I think that just the frames are engraved on the Costa Rica set. I've seen it suggested that the centres were printed using photogravure."

Yes. Confirmed by the Scott Catalogue which says frames are engraved, centers are photogravure.

[lesbootman]

Quote from lesbootman above: "I think that just the frames are engraved on the Costa Rica set. I've seen it suggested that the centres were printed using photogravure."

Yes. Confirmed by the Scott Catalogue which says frames are engraved, centers are photogravure.

I've got the 2020 and 2021 versions of Scott's Volume 2 (C-F) catalogue.

For the 1950 set commemorating the War of National Liberation (C189-C196) there is a note saying "Engraved: Center Photogravure" in the headings to the listings.

For the 1954-59 definitive set (C227-C245) there is also a note saying "Engraved: Center Photogravure" in the headings to the listings.

That's not the case for the National Agricultural, livestock and industry fair set (C197-C210), there is no comment regarding printing. I read that somewhere else.

[lesbootman]

Most of Costa Rica's issues of the inter-war period were single colour stamps. The St John's Hospital set of 1946 (Scott C128-140) was the first of a number of sets where the stamps had a black central motif surrounded by a coloured frame. Although the Scott catalogue does not always mention it, they all look fairly similar so in most cases the stamps probably were printed with engraved frames combined with photogravure central motifs.

The 1948 National Theatre set (Scott C166-C177) is a case in point.

Scott C171 and C175

Conversely, the 1947 Columbus set (Scott C148-C153) is described in Scott as engraved and the central motifs do look as if they are recess printed rather than photogravure.

The stamp shown below (with surcharge) is Scott C178 (surcharged on C150)

Scott C178 and C339

For the 1954-59 definitive set the Scott catalogue does say that the stamps were printed with engraved frames combined with photogravure central motifs. The stamps issued in 1954 (Scott C227-C245) bear a "Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd" printer's imprint, the stamps issued in 1956 (Scott C252-C255) have an "Austrian State Printing Works, Vienna" imprint and the single stamp issued in 1959 (Scott C240A) has a "Thomas de la Rue & Co Ltd" printer's imprint.

Scott C227 and Scott C252

Scott C239, C255 and C240A

[jjarmstrong47]

Most of Costa Rica's issues of the inter-war period were single colour stamps. The St John's Hospital set of 1946 (Scott C128-140) was the first of a number of sets where the stamps had a black central motif surrounded by a coloured frame. Although the Scott catalogue does not always mention it, they all look fairly similar so in most cases the stamps probably were printed with engraved frames combined with photogravure central motifs.

The 1948 National Theatre set (Scott C166-C177) is a case in point.

It is interesting that Waterlow would print the centre by photogravure as this is a reworking of the stamp they produced in 1901 which was a superb piece of engraving. Note how you vcan even see the walking stick in one of the characters' hand. They should have had the original plates but perhaps they were too worn to reproduce.

[lesbootman]

And yet a higher definition scan of the 2 Colones denomination suggests that maybe the central motif was a repeat or re-working of the 1901 issue (Scott #49) rather than photogravure. Scott's listing for the set (#C168 - C177) makes no mention of the printing process. The central motif is not as intense but the guy with his walking stick is still visible. There are more obvious differences, i.e. the horse drawn carriage from the 1901 issue does not appear on the 1948 stamp.

This is not a big stamp. The printed design is approx 27mm wide x 13mm high, so to get such a level of detail on such a small stamp is pretty impressive.

Costa Rica 1948 National Theatre 2 Colones (Scott # C175)

[RogerE]

These are attractive stamps — thanks for the large, high resolution images.

May I inject a small linguistic comment?

Increasingly I see instances in which "i.e." and "e.g." are incorrectly interchanged.
I think this is another evidence of the phenomenon in which acronyms are often
used by people who don't actually know what they stand for. While these two
abbreviations don't quite qualify as acronyms, the same principle is involved.

i.e. = id est [Latin] — that is. What follows "i.e." should be a paraphrase
or restatement or clarification of what went before.
e.g. = exempli gratia [Latin] — for example. What follows "e.g." should be
an example of what went before.

To illustrate:
• The vignette of Costa Rica's 1948 National Theatre commemoratives differs in various
details from that of the 1901 issue, e.g., the horse-drawn carriage has been omitted.
• In both cases the stamps are bicolours, i.e., the frame and the vignette are
in different colours.

Further discussion: https://www.aje.com/arc/editing-tip-using-eg-and-ie/

/RogerE

[lesbootman]

Thanks for the advice on the use of i.e. and e.g.! I'll try to get it right next time.

My wife tries to keep me in check, particularly when I fall back to using the colloquial language of my youth (the dialect my boss at work knows as South Shropshire carrot-cruncher)!

When we first met I had to translate most of what certain of my relatives were saying when they spoke to her!

She's able to understand now, though on occasion chooses not to!

[RogerE]

Good onya, lesbootman

There are many reasons for communication difficulties between husbands and wives.
In our house it tends to come down to diminished hearing abilities due to accumulated years,
i.e. deafness brought on by ageing.

/RogerE

[Eli]

Thanks lesbootman and other for the great Costa Rica stamps and discussion

Paintings from different galleries, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1973:

Boy from Martinique, by Antonín Pelc (1895-1967), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Ladislav Jirka:

Fortitude (mountaineer), by Martin Benka (1888-1971), Martin Benka Museum, Slovakia, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Self-portrait, by Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Jindra Schmidt:

Pierrot, by Bohumil Kubišta (1884-1918), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Josef Herčík:

Ilona Kubínyiová, by Peter Michal Bohúň (1822-1879), Slovak National Gallery, engraved by Jindra Schmidt:

Madonna and Child (Unknown Artist, c. 1350), Slovak National Gallery, engraved by Jindra Schmidt:

[RogerE]

More beauties, thanks Eli.
I especially like Rembrandt's self portrait.

/RogerE

[Eli]

Thanks, Roger, for your warm words!

Paintings from different galleries, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 17, 1988:

Field Workers carrying Sacks, by Martin Benka (1888-1971), Slovak National Galley, engraved by Martin Činovský:

Woman watching Bird, by Vojtěch Preissig (1873-1944), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Bedřich Housa:

Jaguar attacking Rider, by Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Miloš Ondráček

[Eli]

Today we take little and short break from Czechoslovakia to visit other country that produced great engraved stamps - Tunisia. During years 1959-1961, Tunisia issued a very long set of 28 definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia" shows daily activities and views of Tunisia. Here is a group of ten of them. Stamps were designed by Tunisian designers and engraved by French engravers as indicated:

Part I of "Life in Tunisia"
Part II of "Life in Tunisia"

Here is the third and last group of eight stamps from the set:

Jerid, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Pierre Gandon:

Nabeul, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by André Frères:

Kef, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jean Miermont:

Picking Olives, designed by Yahia, engraved by Jean Pheulpin:

The Way to Sidi-Bou-Said:

Seaport of Sfax:

Sbeitla, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Georges Bétemps:

Beja, designed by Hatem El Mekki:

[RogerE]

Lovely! Those designed by Hatem El Mekki are especially attractive

Thanks Eli.

/RogerE

[lima34]

Country: Sweden
Series: 750th Anniv of Stockholm
Catalog codes: Michel SE 2290
Designed and engraved by L. Sjööblom.
Printed by Sweden Post Stamps.

[lesbootman]

A small (and pretty random) selection of mid 20th century engraved issues from Colombia:

Scott # 634

Scott # 653

Scott # 681

Scott # C231

Scott # C252

Scott # C269

Scott # C308

[lesbootman]

I think this is my favourite of the seven designs.

According to Wikipedia The National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Las Lajas (Spanish: Basílica Santuario Nacional de Nuestra Señora de las Lajas), commonly called Las Lajas Shrine (Santuario de Las Lajas), is a basilica church located in the southern Colombian Department of Nariño, in the municipality of Ipiales, and is built inside the canyon of the Guáitara River.

The present church was built in a Gothic style between 1916 and 1949, taking up a total time frame of 33 years to build. The name Laja (slab) comes from the name of a type of flat sedimentary rock similar to shale and slate.

The engraver captured the image pretty impressively.

[lesbootman]

This one runs a close second in my eyes.

The Tequendama Falls is a 132 metres high waterfall on the Bogotá River, located 32 kilometres southwest of Bogotá in the municipality of Soacha.

[lesbootman]

An alternative rendering of the Las Lajas Shrine, I was surprised that this stamp does not look so good under magnification.

[lesbootman]

1937 12c stamp in same design as above:

Scott # 444

[Eli]

Thanks, Roger! Hatem Al Mekki is indeed a great Tunisian designer. Thanks all for great engraved stamps, I like very much those from Colombia

Paintings from different galleries, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1979:

Horseback Rider, by Jan Bauch (1898-1995), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Jindra Schmidt:

Sunday by the River, by Alois Moravec (1899-1987), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Self-portrait, by Gustáv Mallý (1879-1952), Slovak National Gallery, engraved by Jan Mráček:

Self-portrait, by Ilja Jefimovic Repin (1844-1930), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

[Eli]

Paintings from different galleries, issued by Czechoslovakia on November 27, 1974:

Self-portrait, by Ludvík Kuba (1863-1956), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Portrait of František Ondříček (1857-1922), Czech violinist and composer, by Václav Brožík (1851-1901), National Museum, Prague, engraved by Josef Herčík:

Pitcher with Flowers, by Otakar Kubín (1883-1969), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Jiří Antonín Švengsbír:

Woman with Pitcher, by Janko Alexy (1894-1970), Slovak National Gallery, engraved by Miloš Ondráček:

Bacchanalia, by Karel Škréta (1610-1674), National Gallery, Prague, engraved by Ladislav Jirka:

[Arsdorf]

This beautifully executed engraving of Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde of Luxembourg was done by the master engraver of the early 1900s, Ferdinand Schirnböck, and is seen here on Luxembourg's 1914 definitive issue.

Die proof on glazed card

Reverse of die proof

Color essays