Master stamp engraver
In many countries, collectors can be found searching for issues created by the eminent stamp AND BANKNOTE ENGRAVER AND DESIGNER CZESŁAW SŁANIA (1921–2005), WRITES MICHAEL BURZAN, AS HE provides a brief price guide to the designs of this master stamp engraver
Born in Poland, Czesław Słania emigrated to Sweden and engraved designs for a number of countries, predominantly European postal administrations. He was even appointed as the Royal Swedish, Danish and Monegasque Court Engraver.
In time for his 100th birthday, Posta Faroe Islands issued a miniature sheet on 12 August 2021, with a 39kr stamp included showing him at work. The beautiful engraving was by Martin Morck, who is widely considered to have taken the mantle from the ‘master’. Another mini sheet had celebrated the occasion of his 100th stamp for the Faroe Islands in 2003. Sweden Post had already issued a special 70th birthday booklet of Czesław Słania on 5 October 1991, followed by a large-format souvenir sheet on 17 March 2000 on the occasion of stamp No. 1000 created by him.
Fans of his works can be pleased that the majority of the good 1,000 stamps and miniature sheets by his hand can still be found at reasonable prices little above the novelty value. But for special varieties or signed rarities they sometimes dig deeper into their wallets, as auction offers showed in 2023.
Rare plate proofs
In Sweden at AB Philea, a rare selection of proofs demonstrated the range of his works, mostly at three-figure level. For Great Britain, Słania had engraved the 1999 Elizabeth II 1st class value in intaglio. Presented as a plate-proof in dark ultramarine without value indication, it sold at €188. Another plate proof in ultramarine with portrait of HM Elizabeth II closed at €128. A price of €222 was paid for a proposed 2000 design of Gibraltar’s Castle £5 value as a blue plate proof.
Monaco contributed a 1992 Birds from Mercantour National Park 6 francs proof in ultramarine (€308). Poland even presented Słania’s old exam-test design for a ‘90 GR’ stamp in black on yellow paper (€282).
A plate proof in dark blue for Sweden’s 6kr stamp of 1998 honouring Nobel Prize winner Nadine Gordimer found a new home at €316. Proofs of Słania’s works showing Swedish Royalty were among the most in demand. A top price of €547 was reached by a plate proof in brown for the 1996 10kr on the 50th birthday of King Carl XVI Gustaf. Described as a ‘Unique item!’, there was a 2.10kr plate proof without value in black for the king’s 40th birthday in 1986, which was hand-coloured in blue and with perforation on four sides. The 1993 Royal Family 12kr was included in a plate proof in turquise perforated on all sides. An unfinished gravure of the 5kr Stockholm Royal Palace for the 2002 joint issue with Thailand showed up as a plate proof in violet.
At Philea, a plate proof of Sweden’s 1978 bear definitive in black closed at €196 in 2021. Bids of €395 awaited a set of five different specially made black plate proofs of 1972 for the 90th birthday of Sweden’s King Gustaf VI Adolf. The rare gift from the Swedish Postmaster General to a prominent member of the ‘Kungakommittén 1972’ was presented and kept in an elegant leather case.