Collecting By Engraver

Cynical, I certainly agree with you about the Faroese horse engraving.

It's a beauty. Even the great Slania couldn't have done better.

I don't think we have had any from Bahrain yet.
I have no info regarding engraver or printer but most
likely one of the British. Bradbury, Wilkinson Co. or
De La Rue or Waterlow.

Scott 137




Scott 139




Scott 140

Nice Litho. Good to see you back.

Litho, glad to see you back with your usual self.

I have that Faroese horse. Wonderful engraving indeed. Morken was a master himself. The blue ship stamp from 1981 always reminds me of the bluenose, only from its colors, and is also very nice. I'm kind of simple with those kinds of things!

And those Czechoslovakian engravings are always nice.

Not possible to own them all! So it's great to see that ones others have and discover something of art which we would otherwise never discover.

Thanks Anthony and Andrew for the welcome back. Winter is
approaching here in Canada and it's time to forget about all those
outside chores and hunker down by the hearth with my stamps.

lithograving - SG indicates that your three Bahrain stamps posted above were designed by D.C. Rivett, printed by Bradbury Wilkinson & Co, Ltd., and issued on February 22, 1964. No individual engravers are identified; it is likely that each stamp was produced by a team of two or three engraving specialists for the design elements of portrait, vignette, & lettering. By treaty, Bahrain's postal system was run by India, and later Great Britain, until the sheikhdom inaugurated its own independent postal service in 1966. - nethryk

Thanks nethryk. There is hardly any info regarding engravers from the
British printers.

These Austrian semi-postals from 1946 show various scenes from St. Stephen's Cathedral, Vienna.
The surcharges were used in the reconstruction of the cathedral
which was damaged at the end of World War II.
The set was designed by Hans Strohofer. Five engravers took part
including Hubert Woyty-Wimmer (1901 - 1972), Hans Ranzoni (1896 - 1991)
Rupert Franke (1888 - 1971) and Herbert Toni Schimek (1905 - 1982).

AUSTRIA
Scott B189 - B198

This stamp commemorating Austrian poet Franz Grillparzer was
first issued in February 1947, engraving done by Ferdinand Lorber (1883 - 1957).
It was reissued in March and again June 1947 but this time
via photogravure.
Good example in comparing the two print processes portraying the same
stamp design.

Scott 489



Scott 490 March





Scott 490 June

Bohdan Roule (1921-1960) was a rising star in the outstanding Czechoslovakia engraving tradition whose premature death at age 39 was a great loss to collectors of engraved stamps. Roule studied under the famous Czech painter, graphic artist and stage designer Frantisek Tichy (1896-1961) and also under top Czech graphic and poster designer Karel Vodak. In his too brief career, Roule designed and/or engraved 54 stamps for Czechoslovakia; here are images of six of them.

- nethryk

Locomotive engineer, definitive stamp designed by Czech graphic designer Cyril Bouda (1901-1984), issued on May 15, 1954, Scott No. 656, SG No. 826.


Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904), Russian physician, dramatist and short story author, designed by Roule, and issued on September 24, 1954 to mark the 50th anniversary of Chekhov's death, Scott No. 665, SG No. 838.


Motorcyclists and trophy, designed by Czech artist Mario Stretti (1910-1960), issued on August 28, 1955 to publicize the 30th International Motorcycle 6-day Trial, Scott No. 720, SG No. 896.


Radio telescope and observatory, designed by Czech artist Frantisek Hudecek (1909-1990), and issued on December 20, 1957 to publicize the International Geophysical Year, Scott No. 836, SG No. 1012.


Volleyball players, designed by Mario Stretti, and issued on January 25, 1958 to publicize the European volleyball championships in Prague, Scott No. 841, SG No. 1017.


Slovakian fighter, designed by Roule after "Forward," a work by Slovak sculptor Ladislav Snopek (1919- ), and issued on August 29, 1959, Scott No. 931, SG No. 1109.

nethryk, thanks for that info on Bohdan Roule. I always enjoy
finding out new information about the person(s) who designed or
engraved these stamps. The Chekhov stamp really shows his abilities.

Here is a set of personalities, some famous others not so, issued by Czechoslovakia in 1970.

All engraved by Ladislav Jirka another one of those superb
Czech engravers.
The quote below is the only info I was able to find about him.






Scott 1668

Ludwig van Beethoven




Scott 1669

Friedrich Engels





Scott 1670

Maximillian Hell, Slovakian Jesuit & astronomer





Scott 1671

Lenin





Scott 1672

Josef Manes, Czech painter






Scott 1673

Comenius, theologian & educator

Here is an engraved beauty from Yugoslavia. Well actually only the black parts are engraved, the rest of her is just plain photogravure.

I have no idea who engraved her. Printing was done by the
Austrian State Printer (Österreichische Staatsdruckerei) as per imprint, lower right.

Scott 997

Edward P. Archer (1924-1990) studied at the Mechanics Institute in New York City. In 1941 he began his apprenticeship at American Bank Note Company. In 1952 Archer moved to Jeffries Bank Note Company, and in 1967 he joined the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, from which retired in 1989. Here are examples of Archer's engraving work on the vignettes of six stamps issued by the USA.

- nethyrk

Daniel Webster and Dartmouth Hall, designed by John R. Scotford, Jr., assistant director of Dartmouth's Hopkins Center for the Creative and Performing Arts, and issued on September 22, 1969 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the legal decision called the "Dartmouth College Case," which Daniel Webster (1782-1852) won before the U.S. Supreme Court, Scott No. 1380. Lettering: Kenneth C. Wiram.


Sidney Lanier (1842-1881), American musician and poet, designed by American artist William Arthur Smith (1918- ), and issued on February 3, 1972, Scott No. 1446. Lettering: Kenneth C. Wiram.


Liberty Bell, Americana Series booklet stamp designed by Bernard Glassman, and issued on October 31, 1975, Scott No. 1595. Lettering: Albert Saavedra.


HMS Resolution and HMS Discovery, se-tenant stamp designed by artist Jak Katalan after a painting by English artist John Webber (1751-1793), who served as the official artist on Captain James Cook's voyage of exploration (1776-1780), and issued on January 20, 1978 to commemorate the bicentennial of Cook's arrival in Hawai'i, Scott No. 1733. Lettering: Robert G. Culin, Sr.


National Farmers' Bank, architecture by American Louis Henri Sullivan (1856-1924), se-tenant stamp designed by Walter D. Richards, and issued on August 28, 1981 in the American Architecture Series, Scott No. 1931. Lettering: Dennis Brown.


Brooklyn Bridge, designed by American artist Howard Koslow (1924- ), and issued on May 17, 1983, Scott No. 2041. Lettering: Robert G. Culin, Sr.

R. (Roberto?) di Giuseppe designed and engraved postage stamps for Italy, San Marino, and Vatican City during the mid-1970s. I have no biographical information about di Giuseppe to share, but nevertheless here are images of some examples of his fine stamp design and engraving work.

- nethryk

Palace staircase, Caserta, designed by Italian engineer and architect Luigi Vanvitelli (1700-1773), issued by Italy on March 1, 1973 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Vanvitelli's death, Scott No. 1090. Check out the lurking lion by the landing.



Palazzo Farnese di Caprarola, designed by Italian Mannerist architect Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola (1507-1573), issued by Italy on September 21, 1973 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Vignola's death, Scott No. 1115.


Nude, sculpture by Italian sculptor Emilio Greco (1913-1995), issued by San Marino on May 9, 1974, Scott No. 841.


God Admonishing Adam, after a work by Italian Renaissance sculptor Jacopo della Quercia (c. 1374-1438), issued by Italy on December 20, 1974, Scott No. 1173.


Belvedere courtyard, one of a set of six stamps designed by Italian artist Lino Bianchi Barriviera (1906-1985), combined engraved and lithogravure, and issued by Vatican City on May 22, 1975 to publicize European Architectural Heritage Year, Scott No. 576.


"Fortitude," allegorical figure after a statue in stucco by Italian Rococo sculptor Giacomo Serpotta (1652-1732), issued by Italy on July 26, 1976, Scott No. 1228.


The Dragon versus St. George, a se-tenant pair, after paintings by Venetian artist Vittore Carpaccio (1460-1526), issued by Italy on July 30, 1976, Scott Nos. 1231 & 1232. Poor Dragon, an endangered species if there ever was one, loses badly once more.

Good stuff nethryk, both the Americans and Italians had
plenty of great engravers during the sixties and up to the eighties.

Here is one more from Austria, engraved by Kurt Leitgeb
who has been mentioned before.

The Schwarzdruck (Black Print) block was a private issue for the exibition
" Wien 75"

In Austria Netto Katalog # N9



Below is the issued stamp Scott B339 for Stamp Day and
the 125th Anniversary of Austrian stamps