"Back in the 90s I was in a "fanclub" for Czeslaw Slania - the famous Polish stamp engraver. He came to our club meeting at the Columbian Expo in '92, so I was fortunate enough to meet him. I bought this from him at the meeting.
For some reason the scan added some strange rainbow effects - but you get the idea. He was quite an artist.
https://stamporama.com/upload/2000773297
just a suggestion - but maybe one of our moderators could amend the title to say "the engraver's art" or something? "
Wow, Theresa, I am envious to know you've met such a legend of the hobby.
In 2000, Sweden issued this souvenir sheet featuring Czesław Słania's 1000th stamp engraving:
At 60mm x 81mm, the stamo is also purported to be the largest engraved stamp ever produced. It reproduces a portion of a ceiling painting in Sweden's Royal Palace by David Ehrenstrahl. from 1695.
Beautiful stamp. The look of terror(?) on the lion's face is awesome, as if he had been swept up into the sky. Or perhaps into a waterfall. Anyway, into some kind of a maelstrom.
(and thanks for the opportunity for me to use the word maelstrom)
Czeslaw Slania's legacy lives on in the work of Piotr Naszarkowski , a fellow Polish emigre to Sweden, who, upon Slania's death, stepped in to engrave the Greta Garbo joint issue from Sweden and USA.
Originally planned, by the USPS, to be produced by photogravure, the hew and cry by the Czeslaw Slania Study Group, and others, convinced the postal service to shell out for the extra expense of an engraved issue.
One might have thought that, at this point, the US would have contracted to use the die created for the Swedish stamp (well, I would have thought). Instead, they had Naszarkowski engrave another plate of the same image. While nearly identical, differences can be noted, particularly in the hair curl over the right eye and on the cheek.
For the US, Naszarkowski also engraved the 2006 duck stamp.
Could one of you please let me know what the Scott's Catalog number is for the
Zesław Słania's 1000th stamp engraving souvenir sheet that Ted posted?
Both images are super but looking at both of them side by side the Sweden issue seems to have just a little more depth to it. The master engraver did her justice though.
Inspired by this fine thread of Czeslaw Slania and Piotr Naszarkowski I purchased the Czeslaw stamp and also this dual first day cover "ceremonial" of the Naszarkowski Garbo stamp. Also purchased one of the last stamps Czeslaw worked on, of Elvis Presley, Piotr finished that stamp when Czeslaw became too ill to work. Ill post that when it arrives.
The Garbo stamps in "real life" are spectacular. And like Ernie, I favor the Sweden issue.
Cheers!
Eric
PS...Some clarification. The stamp was not based on a "still" from the movie As You Desire Me, but from a black and white photograph by Clarence Sinclair Bull taken during the filming of the movie.
"I am not sure what to make of the mirror image "reversal" from movie image and the stamps. "
If I were to hazard a guess, I would invoke the "rule" I learned in photography, of always having the subject moving into the picture -- that is, more space in front of the subject than behind.
The stamp designer may have taken into consideration the normal placement of a stamp on a cover, and, considering the whole cover as the canvas, so to speak, wanted her body facing inward to the center of the picture, while her head is turned, gazing "off stage," leaving you to wonder what is prompting that ultry sultry look.
Swedish 2004 stamp, part of a series celebrating 50 years of Rock-n-Roll. Joint effort of Slania and Naszarkowski. Supposedly Slania became ill after doing most of the background, and could not finish, and Naszarkowski stepped in. Maybe more to it than that.
Eric
PS Not sure this stamp works aesthetically for me, with the transitions from the "engraved" to smooth portions, which I am sure is purposeful. Seems to be too abrupt. Just my two cents, and worth every penny.
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