Hello! Today I’d like to introduce the top 10 stamps that Czesław Słania (1921–2005) chose himself at age 73, from the roughly 900 stamps he had engraved by then. (Over his whole life, he created 1,422 stamps.)
For the countries that issued Słania’s stamps and how many each issued, please see Vol. 2.
👉 Czesław Słania, Master of Stamp Engraving — Vol. 2: The Countries That Issued His Stamps
A Top 10 Chosen for Yushu Magazine in 1995
Czesław Słania was a Polish-born engraver of intaglio stamps.
To mark his 900th stamp in 1995, Słania picked his own favorites in response to a feature by the Japanese philatelic magazine Yushu.
His 900th stamp was the white-tailed eagle from the WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) issue.
No. 1 — Sweden: Folk Musician Hins Anders
In first place is “Folk Musician Hins Anders” — Słania’s very favorite of all his stamps.
It is based on a painting by the Swedish artist Anders Zorn (Anders Leonard Zorn, 1860–1920).
The texture is so rich you can almost hear the violin.
It sits at the center of the 1983 “Swedish Music” souvenir sheet.
At “Stolz 84,” held in Vienna in 1984, this stamp received the Robert Stolz Prize as the most beautiful stamp in the world.
No. 2 — Faroe Islands: Definitive, Sheep
Even people who aren’t Słania fans may have seen this one.
The expression in the eyes and every wave of the fleece look completely real.
Up close, you can see it is built entirely from tiny dots & lines — a level of craftsmanship that is simply astonishing.
No. 3 — Sweden: The Coronation of Gustav III
This stamp celebrates Słania’s 70th birthday.
The painting it is based on is The Coronation of Gustav III by Carl Gustaf Pilo (1711–1793).
Through the art of intaglio engraving, the stamp captures even the facial expression of Gustav III, the central figure of the painting.
At the time, it was the largest intaglio stamp ever issued in Sweden.
No. 4 — Sweden: Excursion Steamer Juno
This is one stamp from a tourism booklet.
The ship, the trees in the background and the surface of the water are rendered in every corner.
I had to look twice to make sure it wasn’t a photograph!
No. 5 — Sweden: Ballet
This is one of the stamps that made me fall for Słania’s work.
Every time I look at it, I think, “What a beautiful stamp…”
The motif is a pas de deux from Romeo & Juliet.
No. 6 — Sweden: Definitive, Mail Coach
A three-horse mail coach.
The horses are full of energy. Słania never cut corners, even on everyday definitive stamps — and this one shows it.
Issued in 1971, when he was 49, it is the earliest work in his top 10.
No. 7 — Monaco: Automata (1)
Two stamps were chosen from this set of four from Monaco.
No. 8 — Monaco: Automata (2)
It has the still, quiet atmosphere of a doll, and the details are incredibly fine.
No. 9 — Monaco: 50th Anniversary of the Stamp Issuing Office
Villa Miraflores, home of Monaco’s stamp office, is drawn in perspective, giving the building a striking sense of presence.
Comparing it with a photo of the building, you can see that even the fine ornamentation has been reproduced.
No. 10 — Sweden: Silver Coffee Pot
From a souvenir sheet on the theme of Rococo art, the silver coffee pot took 10th place.
The Top 10 Chosen by Słania in 1995, at Age 73
| Country | Issue date | Title | |
| 1 | Sweden | Oct 1, 1983 | Folk Musician Hins Anders (Swedish Music souvenir sheet) |
| 2 | Faroe Islands | Mar 19, 1979 | Definitive: Sheep |
| 3 | Sweden | Oct 5, 1991 | The Coronation of Gustav III (Słania 70th birthday souvenir sheet) |
| 4 | Sweden | May 7, 1979 | Excursion Steamer Juno (Tourism booklet) |
| 5 | Sweden | Oct 11, 1975 | Ballet |
| 6 | Sweden | Sep 25, 1971 | Definitive: Mail Coach |
| 7 | Monaco | Jan 7, 1994 | Automata |
| 8 | Monaco | Jan 7, 1994 | Automata |
| 9 | Monaco | Apr 23, 1987 | 50th Anniversary of the Stamp Issuing Office |
| 10 | Sweden | Oct 6, 1979 | Silver Coffee Pot (Rococo Art souvenir sheet) |
Summary
What did you think of the 10 stamps Słania chose himself in 1995, at age 73?
A few choices may seem surprising, but when you look closely, you start to see why.
In the ten years that followed, until his death in 2005, he created 522 more stamps.
Even in old age, his technique kept on improving.
In Vol. 1, I introduced the stamp Słania called “the best work of my life.” Please take a look at that one too.
👉 Czesław Słania, Master of Stamp Engraving — The Magician of the Burin, Vol. 1
Next, in Vol. 4, I share my own top 10 Słania stamps.
👉 Czesław Słania, Master of Stamp Engraving — Vol. 4: Postio Marche’s Top 10
I’ll keep exploring Słania from many different angles.
Postio Marche, my online shop for foreign stamps, has a dedicated Słania stamp collection — please take a look.
👉 Postio Marche — Czesław Słania Stamps
Some of the stamps shown are from a private collection. Items available for purchase are those listed in the shop only.
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