Painting Stamps - Spain "Stamp Day" Series 1958-1979

During years 1958-1979, Spain publicized the "Stamp Day" by issuing art stamps, show mainly Spanish and Catalan paintings. Each set devoted to one painter and usually, one stamp in the set depicts the painter. The stamps were printed photogravure in Fábrica Nacional de Moneda y Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda (RCM-FNMT).

Here is a list of the sets comprising the series:

So, let's start with my favorite set from the series...

Paintings by Torres - 1965

Julio Romero de Torres (1874 – 1930) was a Spanish painter from Córdoba. A set of ten stamps was issued on March 24, 1965, one of them shows a self-portrait of Torres:

The rest stamps show very attractive women paintings.

- Girl with Jar
- The Song
- The Virgin of the Lanterns
- Girl with Guitar




Monument to Romero in Córdoba (1940), by Juan Cristóbal González:

Paintings by Torres - 1965

- Poem of Cordoba
- Marta and Maria
- Poem of Cordoba
- The Little Charcoal Maker
- Long live the Hair!

Thanks for starting this thread.
I really liked these Spanish Painters stamps after I first noticed them
at a new issue dealer.
Just bicolour photogravure with the paintings printed in one colour only.
Compared to the ugly mishmash of multicolour photogravure Spain issued later.

I only have three of the sets.
1962 Zurbaran 1966 Sert and 1968 Fortuny

Many thanks lithograving for your words and comments. I too like the bicolor stamps hence I started with the set of Torres which is my favorite among this series.

I find several of the later multicolor stamps less beautiful than the bicolor, especially in the 1970's period, probably because the method of printing doesn't do justice for them. Part of the multicolor are nice and attractive, like the 1975 fruit set (not belongs to this series) which I posted in the fruit thread.



Me too, I don't have all, only 11 sets. I don't collect these stamps particularly, they were among a collection of Spanish stamps I purchased for my engraved stamps collection. Since I find most of them very attractive, I decided to keep them. Please, feel free to post your stamps and any related items such FDC's, covers and maxicards.

Paintings by Zuloaga - 1971

Ignacio Zuloaga y Zabaleta (1870 – 1945) was a Spanish painter, born in Eibar, Guipuzcoa. He was known for his dramatic and evocative depictions of traditional Spanish life, often focusing on rural, folkloric, and religious themes. His style combined elements of realism with a vivid, expressive use of color, heavily influenced by Spanish masters like Velázquez and El Greco. He was also celebrated for his portrayal of figures such as peasants, matadors, and musicians, which showcased his deep connection to Spain's cultural heritage. A set of eight stamps was issued on March 24, 1971, one of them shows a self-portrait of Zuloaga:

Here are the rest stamps of the set, show mainly portraits and Spanish themes:

- My Uncle Daniel
- Segovia
- The Duchess of Alba
- Juan Belmonte

Paintings by Zuloaga - 1971

- The Countess of Noailles
- Pablo Uranga
- Boatmen's Houses, Lerma

Issued to honor Jose Maria Sert (1876- 1945)
1945) and for Stamp Day 1966

Sert painted the mural entitled American Progress at 30 Rockefeller Center. American Progress was commissioned by the Rockefellers to replace Diego Rivera's mural Man at the Crossroads, which Nelson Rockefeller destroyed because it included an image of Lenin.
As per Wikipedia
None of the images on the stamps are from the Rockefeller Center mural.

Spain 1966
Scott 1337 - 1346

Portrait of Jose Maria Sert



25c, The Magic Ball.
40c,Evocation of Toledo,
70c, Christ on the Cross.
80c, Parachutists.
1.50p, "Audacity."
2.50p, "Justice."
3p, Jacob Wrestling with the Angel.
5p, "The Five Continents."
10p, Saints Peter and Paul.

Issued to honor Francisco de Zurbaran (1598-1664) and for Stamp Day 1962

Francisco de Zurbaran was a major painter of the Spanish Baroque
who is primarily noted for religious subjects.

Spain 1962
Scott 1095 - 1104

Zurbaran self portrait



25c, Martyr,
40c,Burial of St. Catherine.
70c, St. Casilda.
80c, Jesus crowning St. Joseph.
1.50p, St. Jerome.
2.50p, Virgin of Grace.
3p, The Apotheosis of St. Thomas Aquinas.
5p, The Virgin as a child.
10p, The Immaculate Virgin.

Paintings by Solana - 1972

José Romano Gutiérrez-Solana (1886, Madrid – 1945) was a Spanish painter, engraver and author born in Madrid. Solana's art often reflects a somber, almost macabre atmosphere, influenced by the harsh realities of Spanish society during his time. A set of eight Solana's painting stamps issued by Spain on March 24, 1972. One of them shows self-portrait of Solana with his family:

Here are the rest of the stamps:

- Clowns
- Blind Musician
- Return of the Fishermen

Paintings by Solana - 1972

- Decorating Masks
- The Bibliophile
- Merchant Navy Captain
- Pombo Reunion

Paintings by Alonso - 1969

Alonso Cano Almansa (1601 - 1667) was a Spanish Baroque painter known for his elegant, expressive style that combined realism with a sense of idealized beauty. A set of ten stamps show his painting was issued by Spain in the "Stamp Day" on March 24, 1969. One of them shows Alonso portrait by Velázquez (1599 – 1660):

The rest of the stamps show Alonso's paintings, all are religious paintings:

-St. Agnes
- St. Joseph
- Christ Supported by an Angel
- The Holy Family

Paintings by Alonso - 1969

- The Circumcision
- Jesus and the Samaritan
- Madonna and Child
- St John Capistrano and St Bernardin
- The Vision of St. John the Baptist

Issued to honour Maria Fortuny I Marsal (1838-74), and for Stamp Day 1968

Fortuny, was the leading Catalan painter of his day, with an international reputation. His brief career encompassed works on a variety of subjects common in the art of the period, including the Romantic fascination with Orientalist themes, historicist genre painting, military painting of Spanish imperial expansion, as well as a prescient loosening of brush-stroke and color.

From Wikipedia

Spain 1968
Scott 1512 - 1521


Fortuny portrait.



40c, The Vicariate,
50c, "Fantasy" (pianist).
1p, "Idyll" (piper and sheep).
1.20p, The Print Collector,
2p, Old Man in the Sun.
2.50p, Calabrian Man.
3.50p, Lady with Fan.
4p, Battle of Tetuan,
6p, Queen Christina in Carriage

Paintings by Lopez - 1973

Vicente Lopez Portana (1772–1850) was a Spanish prolific painter executing many religious, allegorical, historic and mythological scenes, but he specialized in portraits. During his long career he painted nearly every notable person in Spain during the first half of the 1800s. A set of eight stamps show his paintings was issued by Spain in the "Stamp Day" on September 29, 1973. One of them shows his self-portrait:

The rest of the stamps show portrait paintings:

- King Ferdinand VII of Spain ( 1784-1833)
- La Senora de Carvallo, Lopez daughter
- Lieutenant General Francisco Javier de Oms and Santa Pau, Marquess of Castelldosrius
- Queen Isabella II of Spain (1830-1904)




- Francisco Goya, Spanish painter
- Maria Josepha Amalia of Saxony, 1828
- Felix Antonio Maximo Lopez, the Organist, 1820

Paintings by Rosales - 1974

Eduardo Rosales Gallinas (1836 – 1873) was a Spanish painter born in Madrid. He was an adherent of the Italian-based art movement known as "Purismo" and specialized in historical scenes. A set of eight stamps show his paintings was issued by Spain in the "Stamp Day" on September 29, 1974. One of them shows portrait of Rosales by the Spanish painter Federico de Madrazo (1815 - 1894):

The rest stamps in the set show Rosales' paintings:

- Tobias and the Angel
- Testament of Isabella the Catholic
- Nena



- Presentation of Don Juan of Austria
- The First Steps
- St John the Evangelist
- St Matthew the Evangelist