Collecting By Engraver

Fountains, designed by Lino Bianchi Barriviera and issued by the Vatican City on May 22, 1975. What I like in this set is that it printed on colorized papers, make a nice background to each fountain.

- Fountain of St. Peter's Square, engraved by Eros Donnini:

- Fountain St. Martha's square, engraved by Eros Donnini:

- Fountain of the oven, engraved by Eros Donnini:

- Belvedere Courtyard, engraved by R. di Giuseppe:

- Casina Pio IV, engraved by Francesco Tulli:

Fountain of Galley, engraved by Francesco Tulli:

Carlos III (Spanish: Carlos Sebasti#1513;n de Borb#1501;n y Farnesio; 1716 – 1788, Charles III) was King of Spain in years 1759 - 1788. He was a reformist monarch and a leading figure of the Enlightenment. His reign was marked by efforts to modernize Spain through economic, social, and administrative reforms, including the promotion of education, infrastructure development, and support for scientific research. Often called the "Enlightened Despot," Carlos III strengthened royal authority while implementing policies that revitalized the Spanish economy and laid the foundation for modernization.

An engraved SS, entitled "Carlos III y la Ilustracion" ("Charles III and the Enlightenment"), engraved by Pablo Sampedro Molero, was issued by Spain on December 14, 1988. The stamp probably shows painting of Carlos III and members of the Royal family, but I have no information about the source of it:

The SS margin shows portrait of King Carlos III by Anton Raphael Mengs (1728 - 1779):

Merry Christmas!!!

Paintings by the Italian painter Andrea del Sarto (1486 – 1530), designed by Auguste Böcskör, printed photogravure and engraved by Wolfgang Seidel (180L) and Alfred Fischer and issued by San Marino on December 11, 1980:

- Madonna of the Harpies, detail (1517), Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence, Italy:


San Gallo Annunciation (c. 1513–1514), Palatine Gallery in Florence, Italy:



Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

The Sao civilization flourished in Middle Africa from the 6th century BCE to as late as the 16th century CE. The Sao lived by the Chari River south of Lake Chad in territory that later became part of Cameroon and Chad. They are the earliest people to have left clear traces of their presence in the territory of modern Cameroon. Around the 16th century, conversion to Islam changed the cultural identity of the former Sao.

Ancient Sao's artworks discovered by French archaeologists, designed by René Cottet, issued by Chad on December 2, 1963:

- Clay Baboon's Head, engraved by Pierre Béquet
- Clay Dancer's Mask, engraved by René Cottet
- Clay Dancer's Statue, engraved by Jacques Gauthier
- Bronze Pendant, engraved by Georges Bétemps
- Bronze Pectoral Jewel, engraved by Pierre Forget






Eprevue de luxe of the Clay Baboon's Head, engraved by Pierre Béquet:

"Immigration", designed and engraved by Severre Morken and issued by Norway on June 11, 1999 as one of a set of four stamps issued to celebrate the entry to the new millennium.

Design based on a photo taken by Axel Theodor Lindahl (1841 – 1906) was a Swedish photographer notable for his early photography of Norwegian landscapes. In 1879 he took this photo in Seljestad station, town of Harstad, Norway. The photo is exhibited in Norsk Teknisk Museum, Oslo, Norway:

To commemorate the 2000th anniversary birth of the Roman poet Virgil, Italy issued on October 21, 1930 a set of 13 one color stamps contains 10 different designs. Four of the stamps are engraved, all by Corrado Mezzana.


god Jupiter and a flying eagle symbolizing Rome. Virgil's Aeneid tells that god Jupiter decided that Rome will be an empire and will rule the world for ever. The phrase from the Aeneid reads: His ego nec metas rervm nec tempora pono; Imperium sine fine dedi (For these I set neither borders nor limits in time, dominion without end have I bestowed). These particular stamps were overprinted for use in the Aegean Islands.


King Turnus headed his army, prepares a war with the Aeneads. The phrase from the Aeneid reads: "Et opes nobis et adhvc intacta ivventvs" (We still have means, a manhood still unharmed). This stamp was overprinted for use in Somalia.

"The Hearth", the phrase from Virgil's poem Bucolics reads: "Hic focvs et taedae pingves hic plvrimvs ignis" ("Here we have a hearth and pitchy brands; here a good fire ever blazing"). This stamp was overprinted for use in Somalia

The rest of the stamps in the set are photogravure. Most show scenes of the Virgil's Aeneid.

"Great moments of French History", SS designed and engraved by Louis Boursier and issued by France on June 9, 2018.

The Treaty of the Pyrenees was signed on 7 November 1659, and ended the 1635 to 1659 Franco-Spanish war. The stamp shows Louis XIV of France and Philip IV of Spain at the Meeting on the Isle of Pheasants, June 1660:


Marie-Therese of Austria, (1638, Spain — 1683, France), queen consort of King Louis XIV of France (reigned 1643–1715). As the daughter of King Philip IV of Spain and Elizabeth of France, Marie-Therese was betrothed to Louis by the Peace of the Pyrenees (1659), which ended a 24-year war between France and Spain:

The stamp design based on a painting by the Spanish painter Diego Velazquez (1599 – 1660):

Local scenes and nature, issued for use for French Guyana in 1947:

- Resting in the field, designed by M. Soubrier and engraved by Charles-Paul Dufresne.
- Woman wearing the Guianese Katoury, designed and engraved by Charles Mazelin.
- The Maroni River, designed by M. Soubrier and engraved by Emile Feltesse.
- The Oyapok River, Inini, designed and engraved by Charles Mazelin.
- Red-billed Toucan (Ramphastos tucanus), designed and engraved by Pierre Gandon.
- Macaws, designed and engraved by Pierre Gandon.

During the early 1960's until the late 1970's, Spain issued a very long series of engraved stamps show Spanish abbeys and monasteries. Here are three sets from the series. I don't have information about the engraver/s of most of the stamps.

- Veruela Abbey (Spanish: Real Monasterio de Santa Maria de Veruela, or "The Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Veruela") is a Cistercian abbey dating from the 12th century. It is situated near Vera de Moncayo, in Zaragoza province, Spain. It was founded in 1146 by Pedro de Atares. Stamps were issued on November 25, 1967:



- Santo Domingo de Silos Abbey (Spanish: Abadia del Monasterio de Santo Domingo de Silos) is a Benedictine monastery in the village of Santo Domingo de Silos in the southern part of Burgos Province in northern Spain. The monastery is named after the eleventh-century saint Dominic of Silos. Stamps were issued on October 26, 1973:



- The monastery of San Juan de la Penia ("Saint John of the Cliff") is a religious complex in the town of Santa Cruz de la Seros, at the south-west of Jaca, province of Huesca, Spain. It was one of the most important monasteries in Aragon in the Middle Ages. Its two-level church is partially carved in the stone of the great cliff that overhangs the foundation. Stamps were issued on October 28, 1975:

During years 1959-1961, Tunisia issued a very long set of 28 definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia" shows daily activities and views of Tunisia. Stamps were designed by Tunisian designers and engraved by French engravers as indicated.

I will post the set in four parts, each part with 7 stamps.

Woodcock (Scolopax rusticola), Ein Draham, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Claude Durrens:

Kairouan, designed by Yahia:

Riding a Camel, designed by Yahia, engraved by Georges Bétemps:

Saddlers, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by André Frères:

Medenine, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Charles Mazelin:

Horseman, designed by Yahia, engraved by Raoul Serres:

Weaving, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Roger Fenneteaux:

Here is the second part of the 1959-1961 set definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia".

Gafsa, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Robert Cami:

Products of Tunisia, designed by Farhat, engraved by Claude Durrens:

Turner, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Robert Cami:

Monastir, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Tunis, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Sidi-Bou-Said, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Gabes, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jean Miermont:

Here is the third part of the 1959-1961 set definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia".

Sfax, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Claude Durrens:

Wadi Medjerda, designed by Ben Gamra:

Kairouan, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jacques Combet:

Bizerte, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Roger Fenneteaux:

Djerba, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Pierre Gandon:

Jerid, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Pierre Gandon:

Carpet Weaving, designed by Jallal Ben Abdallah, engraved by Roger Fenneteaux:

Here is the fourth and last part of the 1959-1961 set definitive stamps entitled "Life in Tunisia".

Nabeul, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by André Frères:

Kef, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Jean Miermont:

Picking Olives, designed by Yahia, engraved by Jean Pheulpin:

The Way to Sidi-Bou-Said:

Seaport of Sfax:

Sbeitla, designed by Hatem El Mekki, engraved by Georges Bétemps:

Beja, designed by Hatem El Mekki:

History of France, designed and engraved by Albert Decaris and issued by France on November 5, 1966:

Vercingetorix (82-46 BC)
Vercingetorix was a Gallic king and chieftain of the Arverni tribe who united the Gauls in a failed revolt against Roman forces during the last phase of Julius Caesar's Gallic Wars. After surrendering to Caesar and spending almost six years in prison, he was executed in Rome.

Clovis (455-511)
Clovis was the first king of the Franks to unite all of the Franks under one ruler, changing the form of leadership from a group of petty kings to rule by a single king, and ensuring that the kingship was passed down to his heirs. He is considered to have been the founder of the Merovingian dynasty, which ruled the Frankish kingdom for the next two centuries. Clovis is important in the historiography of France as "the first king of what would become France".

Charlemagne (742-814)
Charlemagne was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and Emperor of what is now known as the Carolingian Empire from 800, holding these titles until his death in 814. He united most of Western and Central Europe, and was the first recognized emperor to rule from the west after the fall of the Western Roman Empire approximately three centuries earlier. Charlemagne's reign was marked by political and social changes that had lasting influence on Europe throughout the Middle Ages.