I Muse... On Our 2nd Birthday!

Today is a big day. It's the 2nd Birthday of Slania Crazy! 

Wow! Two years already. It seems to have gone by so fast. And yet within that time I have learned so much about Czeslaw Slania and the art of engraving in general. Not only that my Slania stamps have taken me on an amazing fact-finding journey. I have learnt some Polish history. taken a glimpse at the fascinating Faroe Islands, embarked on a quest to discover more about the rich history of Iceland. and I've travelled down the canals of Sweden (metaphorically of course!) to see some of its fabulous sights and culture. 

But perhaps the best part of doing this blog has been the wonderful people I have had the privilege of getting to know. My new Slania friends have helped me so much in my learning process, I will be forever grateful to them. And a big thank you to those who have sent me some beautiful Slania-related gifts, allowing me to showcase them on this blog. Having said that, I have yet to share all of the gifts that have been given to me yet, but I am getting there...

I have discovered so much already, yet I have barely scratched the surface of collecting the works of this amazing artist! In the coming year, I will be focusing most of my Slania-related time consolidating all the great stuff I have already collected of his works. As my readers may know I also do a few other blogs. One of those is dedicated to collecting the works of Albert Decaris, a French engraver. This year the majority of my purchases are going to revolve around fleshing out my Decaris collection a bit more. I am very passionate about my Decaris collection, so much so that I have  even started learning French. 

But back to Slania and what to expect on this blog over the coming year. First up I will be completing my series on Slania's wonderful Iceland stamps. I also have many Slania engraved banknotes that I have yet to scan and delve into. I now also have a complete set of Slania's Faroe Island stamps. So expect to see some more of those. Additionally, I have some Denmark, Sweden, Poland and others to have fun with. And maybe another interview or two. So hang with me, because I reckon the coming year will be a blast!!

Before I say au revoir I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for supporting this humble blog. We have now had over 46,000 page-views, which I think is rather amazing. Hopefully before the year is out we will hit the big 50,000!! Blimey! Okay, that's enough rambling from me!

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!

I Spy...A Phantom Island

The term "Phantom Island" conjures up images of a small island in the middle of some vast ocean, a thick layer of fog enshrouding all but its jagged peaks that claw at the sky. Something found in the pages of a fantasy novel or a funky comic strip. 

Interestingly, the term "Phantom Island" has a real world application. This is the name given to an island on a map that, one way or another, has been to proven to be non-existent.. This non-existent - or "phantom" - island is subsequently removed from all relevant maps.  This scenario generally occurred when early sailors, exploring unknown regions, got their bearings wrong and misidentified what they were seeing. For instance, the Baja Peninsula in California was at one point represented as an island off mainland America. 

There have been other instances in which purely mythical islands have been added to maps. The Isle of Demons was purportedly an island off the coast of Canada. It first appeared on a Johannes Ruysch map, dated 1508. Legend had it that the island was inhabited by vile demons and crazy hell beasts that attacked passing ships or those foolish enough to land on its demented shores. Sounds very much like the fantasy novel images I mentioned earlier, doesn't it?

So what exactly does all this have to do with stamps? Well, several weeks ago I wrote a blog on the 1984 Nordia Exhibition mini-sheet, designed and engraved by Czeslaw Slania. Click HERE to have a look. After I had published the blog, it was brought to my attention by a stamp buddy that the map featured on the mini-sheet actually contains a Phantom Island. Pretty cool! The Phantom Island in this map was known as Frisland. It apparently appeared on most maps of the North Atlantic for roughly one hundred years beginning in the 1560's. 

So where is Frisland on the 1984 mini-sheet? Our Phantom Island can be located on the stamp portion of the mini-sheet at centre-left, adjacent to the perforations. See below.

Here's a close-up...

You will note that many of the discernible names have an Italian flavour to them: Aqua, Spagia, Bondendea, Monaco. This strongly suggests the original reports of this island came from southern Europe somewhere. If you'd like to learn a little more about Frisland click HERE.

Until next time...

I Muse...on Slania's Boxers

Silence. Suddenly lights flare to life, illuminating the battle arena. The spectators crowded around the boxing ring erupt in frenzied cheers and shouts. The gladiators stare at each other from opposite corners of the arena, their eyes seething with battle-lust. Then a man steps into the ring. The announcer. Grabbing the microphone dangling from a long wire before him, he takes a deep breath...

"L-l-let's get ready to rumble!" he shouts. Then leaves.

The crowd goes ballistic! The bell rings. The fight is on...

***

Anyone who is a fan of Czeslaw Slania probably knows that he was a huge boxing fan. So much so that hen produced a set of 23 engravings in postage stamp format of World Champion Boxers. These stamps were printed in 1964 and they are true masterpieces, each and every one. So without further ado, let us feast our eyes on some truly glorious engraved portraits.

John Lawrence "Boston Strong Boy" Sullivan

Born in Boston 1858

Defeated Jake Kilrain in 1889

Record: 40-1-2

James John "Gentleman Jim" Corbett

Born in San Francois 1866

Defeated John L. Sullivan in 1892

Record: 11-4-3

Robert James "Bob" Fitzsimmons

Born in Cornwall, UK, 1863

Defeated James J. Corbett in 1897

Record: 63-8-4

James Jackson "The Boilermaker" Jeffries

Born in Ohio USA, 1875

Defeated Robert J. Fitzsimmons in 1899

Record: 19-1-2

Tommy "The Little Giant of Hanover" Burns

Born in Ontario, Canada 1881

Defeated Marvin Hart in 1906

Record: 48-5-8

John Arthur "Galveston Giant" Johnson

Born in Texas, USA 1878

Defeated Denver Ed Martin in 1908

Record: 73-13-10

Jess Myron "Great White Hope" Willard

Born in Kansas, USA 1881

Defeated Jack Johnson in 1915

Record: 28-6-1

William Harrison "Kid Blackie" Dempsey

Born in Colorado, USA 1895

Defeated Jess Willard in 1919

Record: 54-6-9

James Joseph "The Fighting Marine" Tunney

Born in New York, USA 1897

Defeated Jack Dempsey 1926

Record: 55-1-1

Maximillian Adolph Otto Siegfried "Max" Schmeling

Born in Pomerania, Germany 1905

Defeated Jack Sharkey in 1930

Record: 56-10-4

Jack "Sharkboy" Sharkey (real name: Joseph Paul Zukauskas)

Born in New York, USA 1902

Defeated Max Schmeling 1932

Record: 38-14-3

Primo "Ambling Alp" Carnera

Born in Sequals., Italy 1906

Defeated Jack Sharkey 1933

Record: 89-14-0

Maximilian Adelbert "Max" Baer

Born in Nebraska, USA 1909

Defeated Primo Carnera 1934

Record: 68-13-0

James Walter "Cinderella Man" Braddock

Born in New York City, USA 1905

Defeated Max Baer 1935

Record: 50-26-7

Joseph Louis "Brown Bomber" Barrow

Born in Alabama, USA 1914

Defeated James J. Braddock in 1937

Record: 66-3-0

Ezzard Mac "Cincinnati Cobra" Charles

Born in Illinois, USA 1921

Defeated Jersey Joe Walcott 1949

Record: 93-25-1

Arnold Raymond "Jersey Joe Walcott" Cream

Born in New Jersey, USA 1914

Defeated Ezzard Charles 1951

Record: 51-18-2

Rocco Francis "Rocky" Marchegiano

Born in Massachusetts, USA 1923

Defeated Jersey Joe Walcott 1952

Record: 49-0-0

Floyd "The Gentleman of Boxing" Patterson

Born in North Carolina, USA 1935

Defeated Archie Moore 1956

Record: 55-8-1

Jens Ingemar "The Hammer of Thor" Johansson

Born in Gothenburg, Sweden 1932

Defeateed Floyd Patterson 1959

Record: 26-2-0

Floyd "The Gentleman of Boxing" Patterson

Born in North Carolina, USA 1935

Defeated Ingemar Johansson 1960

Record: 55-8-1

Charles L. "Sonny" Liston

Born in Arkansas, USA Unknown

Defeated Floyd Patterson 1962

Record: 50-4-0

Cassius Clay AKA Muhammad Ali

Born in Kentucky, USA 1942

Defeated Sonny Liston 1964

Record: 56-5-0

Incidentally, if we turn our attention back to stamp one, of John L. Sullivan, one notices he fought bare-knuckled. Slania actually used his own hands as models for the engraving.

As a final note, I'd like to thank Roos Philately for the excellent images. I can't wait to acquire this set myself.

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!

Iceland 1986 - Bicentenary of Reykjavík

Reykjavík is the capital of Iceland, and it just so happens to be the world's northernmost capital city. It is believed the area was first settled around 870 by Ingólfur Arnarson from Norway. The story of how Arnarson decided upon the location of his settlement is rather interesting. He employed a traditional Norse ritualistic practice, involving the use of Öndvegissúlur, or high-seat pillars.  So just what are Öndvegissúlur? In Norse culture the leader of the family sat in a throne-like chair, known as the high-seat. Two wooden poles stood either side of the high-seat. These were the Öndvegissúlur.  The ritual basically goes as follows: upon sighting land, Arnarson took up his Öndvegissúlur and hurled them into the ocean, trusting they would find an ideal settlement location. He then waited to see where the pillars were washed ashore. The point at which they struck land was the site of the new settlement. Simple as that!

In this case it seems Arnarson's Öndvegissúlur had chosen wisely. They directed him to a spot literally steaming with geothermal energy. Energy, which over time, was harnessed by the people of Reykjavík in many utilitarian ways. As far back as the 1930's geothermal energy was being used to heat schools, hospitals, swimming pools, many of the homes in the city, and it has even been used to dry fish, a staple in the Icelander's diet. In fact, the abundance of Hot Springs are what possibly gave the city its name, Reykjavík, which means "Smoke Cove" or Smoky Bay". In 1786 the city was founded as a trading town, and from that point forward it grew steadily, and it now has a population of a around 130,000 people. 

I sometimes spend a moment to reflect on when and how I first heard tell of a particular spot on this globe we call home. For me Reykjavík became part of my known world back in the early 1980's while studying chess at school. I learned that Reykjavík hosted the 1972 World Chess Championship between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky.

***

In 1986 Iceland issued a set of four stamps to commemorate the Bicentenary of Reykjavík, two of which were designed and engraved by Czeslaw Slania.

The 12k stamp depicts a captured moment from 1856. This elegant scene brilliantly illustrates some of the intrinsic aspects of Icelandic life. 

In the foreground we see two men chatting near the 'Reykjavík Pond'. One of the men is holding a farming sickle. Agriculture was a vital industry in Iceland. Food crops included potatoes, turnips, cabbage, carrots, and grain for bread and livestock feed. Over time crops like tomatoes, cucumbers, and capsicums were grown in greenhouses heated by geothermal energy.

In the middle-ground a church and other buildings line the geothermal 'Reykjavík Pond', a crucial part of the local geography. While in the background we spy a ship lying at anchor, a reminder of the city's trading roots. Indeed, the man chatting with the farmer is perhaps a merchant come to trade with the locals.

While doing a bit of research into Iceland I came across a photo (seen below) from the 1860's. It is taken from a similar perspective as the stamp. Indeed, several matching features can be spotted. The pond, of course. The church and other buildings. We can even see wooden fences similar to the one in the stamp.

***

The 13k stamp depicts two women washing clothes in a hot water stream and hanging them on a frame straddling the stream. Below is a photo of a woman doing just this at Laugardalur c. 1902-1910.

Until next time...

Stay Slania Crazy!