Collecting By Engraver

Terrific specimens Litho.

In fact, I have found it hard finding engraved stamps I didn't like. Do you have any you think are not as accomplished?

Are you asking regarding individual stamps or engraver?

As regards the accomplishment of the engraver, we have also to remember that he/she is essentially "copying" a design they've been given. I think it can be tricky sometimes to tease out the designers skill from the engravers, especially when we generally don't see the original artwork they are working from.
In my original post on this thread, I posted a pic of a Slania-engraved stamp I like. I have to say, though, its such a "simplistic" design, did it require much "accomplishment"? Its a joint issue, the same design engraved by different engravers in each country. Not much to choose between them, I don't think.
I'm not sure where I'm going with this argument... I just think its a really interesting question and one to ponder... Thanks for bringing it up!
I haven't thought much about my engraved stamps topic recently ...maybe I'll ponder some more after my second cuppa of the morning..!

For me, the engraving skill is in depicting the required image but it doesn't have to be overly complicated.
Slania is the master for me for this reason.
The image below is an example.



You can literally count the number of lines used they are so few. His skill in shading was sublime.
I have plenty that I don't find interesting or particularly well engraved. I'll scan some next time I come across them.

One of my personal favorites is the Frenchman Pierre Gandon. He has done some beautiful work which I have been chasing, so I think collecting by Engraver is a great idea.
Here is an example of Gandon's work.



France Airmail of 1946 titled "Iris"

Andrew I'm with you, there are hardly any engraved stamps that
I don't like but having said that there are some examples which
just aren't up to the standards one expects from engraved stamps.

Some which come to mind are these two below from East Germany.
Maybe it's the subject matter more so than the poor engraving but they just don't appeal to me.

I agree with you stallzer, Gandon is certainly in the top ten
engravers of all time.

Anthony that's a good observation about Slania's work.
He was very economical in the number of lines used in many
of his engravings and the Grace is a perfect example.

I think that was the secret to his success which allowed him to
be so prolific in his work and fast.
For example on the one site it says that his portrait of assassinated Prime Minister Olof Palme was completed in an amazing 5.5 days.

Apropos East Germany here is the little bit about one of
it's engravers.

Margot Bitzer engraved stamps for the Wertpapierdruckerei,Leipzig
(East German State Printers) from 1960 until 1972.

Between 1960 - 1964 the stamps she engraved bore her maiden
name Sachs and then 1967 - 1972 she used her married name Bitzer.


Her first stamp for Lenin's 90th birthday, April 22, 1960.





Deep Sea Fishing 1961





150th Anniversary of Franz Liszt's birth.




Summer Olympics Tokyo, 1964




The only thing I could find out about Margot Bitzer was that she was born in 1936.

Good examples Litho of what is not so great too.

Here are some more stamps engraved by Margot Sachs - Bitzer, inscribed
Bitzer

Marie Curie, 1967





Kaethe Kollwitz, 1967





Emanuel Lasker, 1968

I'm sure we could find a lot worse than those but it's good
to see a variety of engraving skills. Makes us appreciate the
the real beauties even more.

I suppose it's also possible to have a good engraved die screwed up
by a poor printing job. Can't blame the engraver for that.

Gandon was very prolific and to be fair I don't think the example you chose Stalzer was the best but it was one of his earlier works. I agree though that he was one of the greats and partly responsible for my love of French stamps.

A decent webpage listing his work can be found at http://www.timbres-de-france.com/co...s/gandon.php

Here are a couple engraved by Gandon.

Monaco

Scott 675



France

Scott 1362



When I look at these I really can't see any difference in engraving between these and other French engravers of the sixties & seventies
such as Pheulpin, Decaris,Piel,Combet,Durrens et al.
They all seem to belong to the French style of engraving.

Engraving someone else's artwork must be difficult and maybe a bit boring as there is little scope for expression I'd imagine.

I like these from Gandon. Very dark and moody.

I do agree Anthony that it's probably not Gandon's best work, it's just the only one I have at the moment