Collecting By Engraver

Mario Baiardi (1909-1972) was an Italian sculptor and engraver. In 1928 he gained recognition when some of his work was included in an Exhibition of Sacred Art. In 1948 he moved to Argentina, where he spent four years at the Casa de Moneda engraving coins, medals and postage stamps. In 1952 he returned to Italy as chief engraver for the Bank of Italy. Here are images of three examples of Baiardi's fine engraving work while he was employed by the Argentine Mint.

- nethryk

Allegory of Liberty, designed by Italian artist Renato Garrasi, and issued on June 20, 1949 for Constitution Day, Scott No. 585, SG No. 810. Note the symbolic Phrygian cap.


Allegory of "Intercommunication," designed by Renato Garrasi, and issued on November 19, 1949 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the U.P.U., Scott No. 586, SG No. 812.


José Francisco de San Martín (c. 1778-1850), Argentine general and the principal leader of the southern part of South America's successful struggle for independence from Spain, designed after an 1828 portrait, issued on August 17, 1950 as one of a set of seven stamps commemorating San Martín's death centenary, Scott No. 588, SG No. 814.

Jean Miermont (1915-1973) was a French artist and engraver who studied at l'école Estienne under master engraver René Cottet. Most of the stamps he engraved were issued by French colonies, former French colonies and Monaco. Here are six examples of Miermont's engraving work with various subjects.

- nethryk

Ksar Es Souk, airmail stamp designed by Alexandre Delpy, and issued for use in French Morocco on July 25, 1955, Scott No. C55, SG No. 467.


Globe, "Education Key," and teacher with pupils, designed by Chamnane Prisayane, and issued by Laos on October 1, 1959 as one of a set of four stamps promoting education and the fine arts, Scott No. 58, SG No.95.


Cactus (Cereanee), designed from a drawing by Monacan artist Hubert Clerissi (1923-2000), and issued by Monaco on June 1, 1960, Scott No. 471, SG No. 608.


Buffalo cart, airmail stamp designed by Marc Leguay, and issued by Laos on July 1, 1960 as one of a set of three stamps promoting tourism, Scott No. C37, SG No. 107.



"Unsettled Forecast," designed by Tunisian artist Hatem El Mekki (1918-2003), and issued by Tunisia on May 15, 1964 for World Meteorological Day, Scott No. 441, SG No. 595.


Eld's Deer or Thai Brow-antlered Deer (Panolia eldii siamensis, originally named Cervus eldi), designed by Duk Sokhon, and issued by Cambodia on August 1, 1972 as one of a set of six native animals stamps, Scott No. 297.

That first Argentinian scan is an absolute stunner Nethryk in a bunch of great scans.

AnthonyUK - Thanks! It's regrettable (for us stamp collectors, anyway) that the hugely talented Mario Baiardi engraved so few stamps when compared to his output of coins and banknotes.

Martin Cinovský (1953- ) is a Slovak artist and engraver who studied at the University of Graphic Arts in Bratislava under Slovak painter and graphic artist Albín Brunovský (1935-1997), and also at the National Superior School of Decorative Arts in Paris. Since 1980, he has taught engraving and security design at the University of Graphic Arts in Bratislava. Here are images of four examples of Cinovský's work on postage stamps issued by Slovakia.

- nethryk

Ján Kollár (1793-1852), a Slovak writer (mainly poet), archaeologist, scientist, politician, and main ideologist of Pan-Slavism, designed by Jozef Baláž (1923-2006), combined engraved and photogravure, and issued on May 20, 1993 to commemorate the bicentenary of Kollár's birth, Scott No. 165.


Michal Kovác (1930- ), Slovak politician in the early 1990s (member of the Movement for a Democratic Slovakia) and the first President of Slovakia (1993-98) after the creation of that state, designed by Cinovský, and issued on November 3, 1993, Scott No. 159A. Numeral appears to be photogravure.


Spišský hrad (Spiš Castle), a 12th century UNESCO World Heritage Site, designed by Cinovský, combined engraved and photogravure, and issued on July 19, 1995, Scott No. 229.


Jozef Škultéty (1853-1948),a Slovak literary critic, historian, linguist, writer and translator, and the cross of Lorraine, designed by Jozef Baláž, combined engraved and photogravure, and issued on January 19, 1998 for the 50th anniversary of Škultéty's death, Scott No. 295. Note: The flag and the coat of arms of Slovakia both include the cross of Lorraine.

Very interesting everyone.

Jacques Jubert (1940- ) is a French graphic designer, illustrator and engraver of postage stamps and banknotes. He is a 1958 graduate of l'Ecole Estienne and l'Ecole supérieure des arts décoratifs, and also a 1962 graduate of l'Ecole des Arts Décoratis in interior architecture and sculpture. Jubert has produced stamps for France and Andorra, and since 1997 he has been the artistic director for the stamps of Saint Pierre & Miquelon (SPM). Here are images of five stamps demonstrating Jubert's design and engraving skills.

- nethryk

Lev (Leo) Nikolayevich Tolstoy (1828-1910), Russian novelist and writer, semi-postal stamp designed by Jubert, and issued by France on April 15, 1984 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Tolstoy's birth, Scott No. B507, Y&T No. 1989.


Grand Chartreuse Monastery, head monastery of the Carthusian order, located near Grenoble, designed by Jubert, and issued by France on July 7, 1984 to commemorate the monastery's 900th anniversary, Scott No. 1916, Y&T No. 2323.


Museum archives, designed by P. Boudreau, and issued by SPM on October 6, 1999, Scott No. 687.


The Fulwood, an 1828 shipwreck, designed by Jean Claireaux, and issued by SPM on November 5, 2004, Scott No. 779.


Henri Claireaux (1911-2001), politician and senator, designed by SPM-French artist Patrick Derible (1956- ), and issued by SPM on January 25, 2005, Scott No. 804.

I've just started mounting my first topical collection which are all stamps engraved by C. Slania.
This isn't the best page to show but is quite small (and sparsely populated) but you get the idea.



I was happy to find the Irish stamp at the Charing Cross market for 5p.

nethryk - I do admire your investigative spirit that takes you to fields hitherto explored by few people only. It has never occurred to me that I should look for a connection between the Slovak patriarchal cross and the cross of Lorraine (your post of 02/19/2012). Thank you for broadening my horizons again.

nethryk - I greatly appreciate Jubert's rendering of Tolstoy's portrait and the same goes for the style of his portraits of the personalities depicted in the 1985 Writers set. Thanks again.

florian - Thanks. I have learned many interesting and interrelated facts by researching the stamps in my collection. Of course, I also enjoyed watching James Burke's classic BBC TV series, "Connections."

Ion Dumitrana (1923-1976) was an engraver and also a leading designer of postage stamps for Romania during the 1950s and 1960s. Here are images of the seven stamps he engraved in a set depicting some of the peasant houses in the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in Bucharest, all stamps designed by Romanian graphic artist Aida Tasgian Constantinescu, and issued by Romania on December 25, 1963, Scott Nos. 1590-96, SG Nos. 2086-92. Note how well Dumitrana has rendered the wood carvings decorating these cozy dwellings.

- nethryk

Ploesti, 18th century


Oltenia, 1875


Hunedoara, 19th century


Oltenia, 19th century


Brasov, 1847


Bacau, 19th century


Arges, 19th century

Now that alfred explains on "La gravure et les timbres - Pierre Albuisson / Procédé de la taille-douce" how the multicoloured engraved stamps of Laos (see Nells250's and lithograving's posts of 11/17/2011 on p. 47) were made once, I sadly miss lithograving's participation on this thread. He would certainly be most happy to get hold of this info.

florian - Our well-informed friend lithograving may only be taking a sabbatical from SCF, as he did last fall. Let's hope he returns soon. Also, it's getting a bit lonely for me posting almost all of the new images in this thread.

Sem L. Hartz (1912-1995) studied in Amsterdam at the State Academy of Fine Arts and specialized in copper engraving. In 1936 he joined Joh. Enschedé en Zonen as an apprentice engraver and eventually become the firm's Art Director. Hartz designed and engraved many postage stamps and bank notes for the Netherlands and its colonies, Belgium, and Luxembourg. Here are images of seven examples of his work, all stamps designed and engraved by Hartz.

- nethryk

Anthony Christiaan Winand Staring (1767-1840), Dutch romantic poet, semi-postal stamp issued by Netherlands on May 29, 1941 to benefit cultural and social relief, Scott No. B138, SG No. 562. (Lettering: Jan Van Krimpen)


Cornelis Evertsen de Jongste (1642-1706), 17th century Dutch admiral, issued by Netherlands on April 1, 1944, Scott No. 261, SG No. 587.


General Patton Monument, Ettelbruck, commemorating the U.S. 3rd Army's victory in the Ardennes Battle of the Bulge (1944-45), issued by Luxembourg on June 8, 1961, Scott No. 301, SG No. 695.


The four stamps in a set commemorating the 300th anniversary of the Votum Solemne (Solemn Promise) which made the Virgin Mary Patron Saint of the City of Luxembourg, issued by Luxembourg on April 28, 1966, Scott Nos. 436-39.

Key and Arms Of City of Luxembourg, and Arms of the Prince of Chimay


Interior of the Cathedral of Luxembourg, after a painting by Juan Martin


Our Lady of Luxembourg, after an engraving by Dutch engraver Richard Collin (1627-1697)


Column and spandrel with sculpted angels from Cathedral

nethryk - Thanks a lot. For those of us who have lived our lives with stamps' history each memorable stamp we once came across sets off a film full of memories showing in our minds' cinema.

florian - You're welcome. I believe I understand your comments about pleasant memories from earlier times.

José Manuel Mata Martín (1931- ) studied at the National School of Graphic Arts and the National School of Ceramics. After completing the FNMT apprentices program, Mata joined the Spanish Mint as an engraver in 1955. He engraved many stamps and banknotes for Spain up until his retirement in 1993. Here are images of six examples of Mata's engraving work.

- nethryk

Bridge and view of Zamora, issued in 1965, Scott No. 1283, Edifil No. 1646.


Enchanted City, Cuenca, issued on July 26, 1967, Scott No. 1477, Edifil No. 1807.


Jarandilla Castle, issued on August 11, 1967, Scott No. 1480, Edifil No. 1810.


Antonio Machado (1875-1939), Spanish poet, and castle, issued on February 20, 1978, Scott No. 2086, Edifil No. 2459.


Bank of Spain, Madrid, issued on November 5, 1982, Scott No. 2304, Edifil No. 2677.


St. Andrew's Gate, Villalpando, Zamora, issued on Novemebr 5, 1982, Scott No. 2308, Edifil No. 2680.

nethryk - Using AnthonyUK's engraver index I find I have some more biographical info for your data base obtained during my visit to Musée de La Poste, Paris in 2005:
p. 44: Roger Fenneteaux (1913 - 2000)
p. 52: Gilbert Aufschneider (1927 -).