I Muse...On a Nice Supplemental Stamp

This morning over coffee I was reading Issue 2 of Close Up (the quarterly newsletter of the Czeslaw Slania Study Group) and I came across a really great idea to supplement a Slania collection. So I thought I'd share it.

First, though, it is probably a good idea to establish a bit of Slania history. The die-hards would already know this, but I'm still learning stuff, so bear with me. In 1956 Slania left Poland and moved to Sweden. Initially there wasn't any work for him with the Swedish Post Office. In fact, in 1959, after still not being able to secure an engraving position, he was planning to move to begin working for the Canadian Banknote Company. Then, one of Sweden's master engravers took ill and Slania was offered his position. He began work for the Swedish Post Office in Stockholm on 1 October, 1959. The engraver he replaced was Sven Ewert, who worked for Sweden's Postal authorities from 1928 to the 1950's.

Now we come to the supplemental stamp I mentioned earlier. In 1986, Sweden and the US issued a joint commemorative set of stamps in booklet format. The subject of one of the stamps in the booklet is Sven Ewert - the man Slania replaced. This stamp was not engraved by Slania, But the connection, I think, is rather cool and could add a bit of extra colour to a Slania collection  And it's a quite attractive stamp, too!

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!

I Interview... Roos Philately

One of the things that makes hobbies fun for me is the like-minded people you meet on your journey. I really get a kick out of chatting with people who have the same interests and passions as myself. Taking this into consideration, I thought to myself: 'Wouldn't it be fun to chronicle my stamp conversations with fellow Slania collectors in blog form!' I asked a couple of stamp buddies, and they seemed really keen on the idea. So I then thought: 'How do I go about this?' The answer came to me while I was outside gardening (another of my loves). I recalled reading, and really liking, the section in Stamp Magazine in which collectors were interviewed. I decided that was the way to go.

The first person I chose to interview was a fellow Aussie, who I speak to a lot over Facebook. We both share a love of Slania stamps and have fun chatting about him. He goes by the name Roos Philately. And I reckon he's the perfect choice for this the first in my 'I Interview...' series. So without further ado let's get into it. I hope you enjoy...

Slania Crazy: First of all thanks for taking the time to have a chat, Roos.

Roos Philately: My pleasure.

Q: When did you start collecting Slania stamps?

A: I started collecting the engraved stamps of Czeslaw Slania back in 2011.

Q: What drew you to start collecting Slania?

A: I'd have to say that it is the extreme detail that he puts into his work.

Q: What is your favourite Slania stamp, and why is it your favourite?

A: This is a very difficult question to answer as I have a few favourites, but if I had to choose one stamp in particular it'd have to be this stamp from Sweden "The Waxholm Boat."

The stamp shows the S.S. Storskar (former S.S. Strangenas Express) which is one of the large steam-powered archipelago ships still in operation. The ship was built in 1908 in Gothenburg. This lovely stamp was designed by Lemnart Peterson from a photograph, and engraved by Czeslaw Slania. The stamp was recess printed on fluorescent paper in blue and brown, by the Post Office Stamp Printing Works located in Stockholm.

I chose this stamp as a favourite due to the level of detail within the stamp, especially on the ship itself and the building in the centre background.

Q: Where do you usually get your Slania stamps?

A:The majority of the time I purchase them on-line from ebay, Delcampe, Bidstart, and the Stanley Gibbons Marketplace. I also purchase some at stamp fairs from dealers, and out of Circuit Books if I can find them in Mint Never Hinged condition.

Q: What references do you like using?

A:The on-line references I use are:-

•  www.slaniastamps-heindorffhus.com
• www.theburinofczeslawslania.com
• www.japhila.cz/hof/0451/index0451a.htm

I also have a couple of books:-

• Life work of Slania, edited by Harold Ashby Short (pdf version)
• Czeslaw Slania: Catalogue of Works, by Janusz Dunst 

Q: Do you remember what your first Slania stamp was?

A: The first purchase for my Slania collection was the 1993 Monaco Birds of Prey set

It isn't hard to see why these stamps helped with the choice to start collecting the work of Slania.

Q: Do you collect any other engravers?

A: I am currently only collecting the stamps engraved by Czeslaw Slania.

Q: What are your other stamp specialisms?

A: I have a real interest in the King George V issues of Australia. I really like looking over them for varieties and flaws.

Q: How do you store your Slania stamps?

A: They are currently housed in Hagner pages in folders. Later down the track I will consider other ways to store them.

Q: Do you have any collecting tips to share?

A: I believe in having fun when collecting stamps, be that Slania's engraved stamps or any other stamp collecting interest you may have.

I'd like to thank Roos Philately again for taking part in this new series. If anyone else out there wishes to participate, please let me know in the comments.

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!

I Muse...On One More to Get!

Isn't it always the way that when you come to the last stamp you need for a year set or - as in this case - a country set and you simply cannot find it anywhere!

I am now right near the end of collecting a copy of all the stamps Slania engraved for Poland. I have been collecting his Polish issues ad hoc so the stamp I can't find is not his last for Poland. The elusive stamp for me is the 1954 1,40zt 10th anniversary of the Second Republic in Liberated Poland. This is the offending stamp...

I can buy this stamp as a part of the set of ten. But the prices for a mint set are way too far out of my price range. So I'm hunting for it individually. This, so far anyway, is turning out to be more difficult then searching for a needle in an entire field of hay!

If anyone out there spots a mint one for sale on either Delcampe or ebay please give me a shout. I would massively appreciate it.

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!

Poland 1953 - Wawel Castle

Wawel Castle is located in Krakow, Poland. It was built for Casimir III the Great, who reigned through the middle of the 14th Century from 1333 to 1370. It consisted of a number of buildings arranged around a central courtyard. 

It was rebuilt later in the 14th Century by Jogaila and Jadwiga of Poland. Incidently, Jadwiga, aka Hedwig, was the first female monarch of Poland. She reigned from 1384 till her death in 1399. Additional sections were added to the castle during the rebuild. One area known as the Jogaila and Jadwiga Chamber held the Szczerbiec sword, which was used in coronation ceremonies. This sword still resides in the castle and is part of a public exhibit. 

In the 16th Century the castle was further refurbished by King Sigismund I the Old. He hired Italian architects and sculptures a well as German decorators, transforming the castle into a beautiful renaissance palace.

For centuries, this castle was the residence for Polish monarchs, making it a valuable historical landmark and a representation of Polish statehood. 

***

On 10 November 1953, Poland issued a set of three stamps to celebrate 'Renaissance Year'. Czeslaw Slania engraved one of the stamps in this set. Slania's engraving is based on a photo by St. Kolowca. The stamp depicts the Renaissance inner courtyard of the castle.

Looking at my Slania catalogue, I discovered that this stamp contains one of Slania's hidden names. Or is there two? (more on that in a moment) If you look closely at the third floor, centre left of the stamp, you will see a name engraved above the window. The name PILCH can be just made out. Pilch was a friend of Slania. Here's a close-up:

According to the Heindorff website there is another hidden name on this stamp in the spot I have marked...

When I zoom in on this spot, I have to admit I can't see anything, not that I'm saying there is nothing there! But while studying this area I DID find something else. Well, I think I did. Here's a close-up of what I found at the base of the pillar to the right of the window.

This looks to me remarkably like 'SL' with the strike-through on the L. This is exactly the same as the way Slania engraved his name at the bottom of the stamp.

***

In 1956 this stamp was reissued with four different denomination change overprints. When I zoom in on each of these stamps, I can no longer find the markings that I believe say 'SL'. Below is a close-up of the 60 GR overprint, which, as you can see, no longer includes the letters.

When I zoom in on the other three overprints I find a similar scenario. Except for the 10 GR, which seems to have a slight remnant of the letters. 

You can just make out the struck-through 'L'.

***

Now I am far from an expert of Polish Philately, so I'm calling on all you guys out there who are. Firstly, were the overprints a separate printing in 1956? Or were the overprints done on surplus stock? Was this stamp printed from multiple plates? Were the plate/plates retouched in any way? I'm keenly interested to find out.

This may all just be my imagination, but I reckon this could very well be another hidden name. And for all I know it is already documented elsewhere. What do you think? Is this mentioned somewhere as a hidden name?

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!