Collecting By Artistic Style

Does anyone else collect stamps that just appeal to them visually?

I have a pretty wide variety of interests, but am a sucker for stamps that hint at woodcuts or have an art deco style.

If I ever have time, I'd like to do a study of how stamps are influenced by the prevailing artistic style and if there are particular nations that seem to stay in front of trends (or create them.)

Not sure if this answer fits your question. Yes, but only if they fit into my main collecting themes. In the Portugal & colonies realm, that I've written about on other posts, the 1914-30s Ceres issues have always captivated me. The 1894 Carlos Neto and 1898-03 Carlos Mouchon also create intrigue. All of these P & C issues have many paper, shade, perf, and other varieties.

Elsewhere, I have a "strange thing" for the King George VI issues from Ascension; the oblong ones. I've got a complete set and many, but not all, of the perf varieties.

I've been known to while away the hours at a covers bargain box, pulling covers that appeal to me without rhyme or reason.

Worse, I've yet to regret it.\

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

I have a weakness for the art nouveau/secession style stamps of Austria and Czechoslovakia.

As an example here is an American stamp from just last year:



I can't say I care for it very much as a stamp, but I could see it being a compelling painting if it were outsized like a Rothko. No matter.

This stamp seems to harken back to the exquisite engraving work of earlier days or what is commonly found in the background of paper currency.

Which other nations have used this style, I wonder. I recall a number of Brazilian stamps that are similar (and I will see if I can post an example.)

How would you describe this stamp design?

Here is one of the Brazilian stamps to which I referred. It was issued in 1972

I think it is a poor stamp also but can see the merit as a piece of art.
Tom

A few weeks ago, I purchased a new-issue set of "Traditional Fabrics" from Niue. I know little about fabrics, I don't intend to start a fabric or craft topical collection, and the Pacific Islands are nowhere near the top of my philatelic interests. But the stamps were just gorgeous.

My next step, I suppose, is to get a thin binder and a couple of Vario pages and start a "Stamps that don't fit anywhere else but that I really, really like anyway" book.

Peking, me too!

I'm with IkeyP...I tend towards covers that are visually appealing to me.

I have a small accumulation of Mexican stamps designed by Eppens, just because I love his artwork. Here are a couple.

All stamps appeal to me, that's why I collect them.

I don't suffer from the " What's it worth " syndrome.


I have always liked an image of a woodcut on stamps
such as this one by the Austrian Benedictine monk,
Switbert Lobisser.


Even though it's a very nice stamp, expertly engraved
by Wolfgang Seidel it should have been printed in typography
to make it appear more authentic.



This one below from Argentina I noticed while going through a
new issue stock book way back when we still had dozens
of brick and mortar stamp stores here in Toronto.
Remember them?
I liked it and paid maybe a quarter for it.
For sure worth less now in real value since a gallon of
gas was around 40c then.
But I liked it.

It's for Columbus Day 1964 showing an old woodcut.

I also like those Brazilian ones mentioned above and
purchased the set from the Brazilian Philatelic center
when still current.

Scott 1257 - 1261

litho, the "woodcuts" are now on my want list!

James, have you found that dramatic style of Eppens in other nations's stamps?

A set from NZ released in 1988 - Electricity centenary.

Now that's modern art!