Collecting By Engraver

nethryk said




On page nine Perf14 pointed out that up to that point, works from
twenty nine engravers had been shown.
And you mentioned that you had a database of 450 stamp engravers.
Perhaps you could post the list and we could check off which
have been touched on who is left. Also list the page(s) where
each particular engraver is mentioned.
Could be fun especially if more members would join in
with examples of engravers which haven't been shown yet.

One of the most popular themes on Austrian stamps as well as
in other countries is honouring famous personalities.
1974 was a good year with eleven examples.


AUSTRIA

Scott 980

Hugo Hofmannsthal, playwright

Engraver: Werner Pfeiler




Scott 981

Anton Bruckner, composer

Engraver: Alfred Nefe




Scott 986

Karl Kraus, poet & satirist

Engraver: Alfred Nefe




Scott 992

Franz Anton Maulbertsch, painter

Engraver: Kurt Leitgeb

AUSTRIA

Scott 997

Franz Jonas, Austrian President 1965 - 1974

Engraver : Rudolf Toth





Scott 998

Franz Stelzhamer, poet

Engraver: Werner Pfeiler



Scott 1000

Ferdinand Ritter von Hebra, founder of modern dermatology

Engraver : Kurt Leitgeb




Scott 1001

Arnold Schonberg, composer

Engraver : Otto Stefferl, who was also the designer.

AUSTRIA


Scott 1003

Edmund Eysler, composer

Engraver : Rudolf Toth





Scott 1008

Carl Ditters von Dittersdorf, composer

Engraver: Alfred Fisher




Scott 1010

Franz Schmidt, composer

Engraver : Rudolf Toth

lithograving - My list of stamp engravers is in the form of an Excel spreadsheet which has taken me many moons and considerable effort to compile. As my worldwide engraver database is still (and shall, as long as there are active engravers, always be) a work in progress, I would be happy to engage in "fair and balanced" exchanges of relevant research about individual engravers with like-minded and knowledgeable collectors for our mutual benefit. - nethryk

Connecting the Austrian dots: Kurt Leitgeb (1939- ) was born in Germany, but after World War II his family moved to Vienna. He joined the Austrian National Bank in 1959 and served his apprenticeship under Rudolf Toth and Alfred Nefe. He engraved his first postage stamp in 1967, and he retired after a career spanning some 40 years. Here are images of four magnificent stamps designed by Adalbert Pilch (except as noted), and engraved by Leitgeb for Austria.

- nethryk

Parliament and the Pallas-Athene-Brunnen, designed by Otto Zeiler, and issued on April 8, 1969, Scott No. 836.


Jacopo de Strada, designed after a painting by Venetian artist Titian (1488-1576), and issued on May 6, 1971, Scott No. 894.


Tegetthoff off Franz Josef Land, designed after an illustration by Julius Prayer (1841-1915), issued on August 30, 1973, Scott No. 949. Note the misspelling of Prayer's name on the stamp!


Sigmund Freud, Austrian neurologist and father of psychoanalysis, issued on May 6, 1981, Scott No. 1175.

Damn, guys, this topic is amazing (just had to slither through 5/6 pages since my last visit). It's like an exhibition / museum. Learn so much and see so much greatness.
Would be highly unfair to point out any stamp, they're all beautiful works of art and history.

Thanks a lot!

Thanks again for your kind encouragement Andrew. Why don't you join us and post some of your items?
It seems like nethryk and me are playing a duet here.


Just like to add a couple of items about Alfred Nefe. As nethryk mentioned before he worked for the Austrian National Bank where he engraved banknotes including the 100 Schilling below







He first engraved stamps for the Austrian State Printer in 1965.

Scott 750, 751

Combination Print: 1 colour engraving and photogravure.




The last example that I can find of his work is this 1996 Europa stamp portraying Paula von Preradovi, who wrote the lyrics for the new post WWII Austrian anthem.
I've heard this anthem and in my opinion there is no comparison between this bland boring piece
and the old "Kaiserhymne" (Emperor's Hymn).

Wikipedia states:

Probably my favourite Nefe stamp would be the Ferris Wheel one
Scott 759 which nethryk has already shown on the previous page.
The Viennese actually call it the Riesenrad (Giant Wheel)

Here are a few more of Nefe's work over the years.

Scott 1061 1977





He was a master of fine detail

Scott 1066 1977




Scott 1097 1978

Here are just four more engraved by Alfred Nefe and then on to another engraver.

Scott 1140 1979

August Musger, developer of slow motion film technique.




Scott 1170 1980

Robert Musil, author, poet




Scott 1261 1983

One hundredth anniversary of Austrian Parliament building.
Notice the neo-classical style and also see Scott 836
which nethryk has posted previously.







Scott 1411 1987

Combination Print: 1 colour engraving and multicolour photogravure

Bearded Vulture

The way that flag is crumpled up in the hands of that man in the Austrian stamp, makes me imagine its the Canadian flag. I know it's optical illusion but thought I'd share it!

As for your other point litho, I would but I'm having serious problems with:
- time (just this weekend I finally organized the small amounts of issues I have received in my subscriptions this year from Sweden, Iceland, Canada, UN, etc)
- images are not easy for me since I don't have a scanner so mine would always be considerably less quality then the ones you 2 provide

The Danish, Iceland, Faroe Islands stamps I bought 10 months ago are still not organized sufficiently for me to do anything of use with them hahah.

Hopefully, I'll find some 'time' during the coming months to join into the fun.

AndrewF31 - Thanks. Save up some coin for that scanner! They're really not all that expensive anymore, and it would be great if you could join in by posting images here.

Pietro Nicolò Arghittu (1946- ) is an Italian stamp designer and engraver. Here are images of four examples of Arghittu's fine work for Italy.

- nethryk

Two stamps with bold graphical designs:

Saint Daniel Comboni (canonized in 2003), Roman Catholic missionary, and an African village, issued on March 14, 1981, Scott No. 1449.


Ernesto Teodoro Moneta, Italian journalist, nationalist, revolutionary soldier and later a pacifist and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, and stylized doves, issued on May 5, 1983, Scott No. 1560.


And two "museum pieces:"

Madonna and Child, after a sculpture by Donatello (c. 1386-1466), issued on October 10, 1986 as a Christmas stamp, Scott No. 1696.


Still Life, after a painting by Italian artist and printmaker Giorgio Morandi, issued on July 20, 1990, Scott No. 1820.

I wonder if Pietro Nicolò Arghittu will have to retire now
that he is 65 ?
Then again isn't the retirement age 55 in Italy?

Alfred Fischer's first engraved stamp was issued in 1965 and his last in 1980.
In between he did some fine work.


Scott 745 1965

ITU Centenary





Scott 1171 1980

Christmas



The scan really doesn't do justice to the stamp. Viewing the actual stamp it appear as if
the solid coloured (photogravure) portions are iluminated. This effect is due to the solid raised
black engraved outlines which represent the lead template.


Scott 907 1971

Highway over the Brenner Pass



Scott 911 1971

High - speed Electric Train

Here are images of two stamps depicting a view of Torun, Poland, Nicolaus Copernicus's birthplace, also designed by Otto Zeiller, and engraved by Alfred Fischer for the set issued by Vatican City on June 19, 1973, Scott Nos. 537 & 539.

- nethryk

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