Royal Palace Official Postal Christmas Card. The design was later used in 1980 for a lithographed art image on a Monaco aerogram; it is also known in the form of a frameable art engraving. The date of engraving, or first printing, or of the first use of this official postal Christmas card is not known to me, however, I believe it to be from the mid-1970s. I had not (prior to 2015) recorded having any examples of the Christmas Card, though I may have had one or two that I failed to record. This is the first example that I have formally recorded. It is accompanied by the original 1977 mailing envelope to Ernest A. Kehr, a well-known (now deceased) American philatelic journalist. This example is a card that is folded to 183 x 128 mm, with the Slania engraving on the front in an area that is slightly inset/depressed. The second and fourth sides are blank. The third side has text in the center (typographed, not engraved) "Meilleurs Voeux" and in the lower right corner "Principaute de Monaco / Office de Emissions de Timbres-Poste". The front (engraved) is printed in black with a bluish tinge. Page three is typographed in black. The paper is yellowish white with a small watermark that appears to read in script "Arrches", but is probably "Arches" a famous old French art paper maker. The watermark appears to be positioned only occasionally in the larger sheet of paper, thus I suspect that some/many examples do not include the watermark. While such an item, used as a Christmas card, cannot reasonably be called "rare", many/most were probably discarded (the recipients not realizing their importance or that the front image was engraved by Slania); they are certainly "scarce".
ACTUAL item.
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Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
202975
Show Horse with Formal English Rider. Horse engravings have long been among Slania's favorites. This remarkable engraving was apparently done in 1990. In black with clear background. Image area 80 mm wide by 108 mm high. Unumbered, but marked "E & A." Signed "Slania".
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.
Reference
For reference only. NOT for sale.
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202143
Horse. Engraved by Slania from a sketch by Count Piotr Michalowski, internationally recognized Polish artist who is known for his great knowledge of horses and for his outstanding horse sketches and paintings. Prepared by Slania for the 90th anniversary of the Kobenhavn Philatelic Klub. In black on gray background 100 x 117 mm, on paper 137 x 170 mm. Pencil-signed by Slania. In nice green windowed display folder with reproduction of Slania signature on front.
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.
90.00
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202144
Horse. Engraved by Slania from a sketch by Count Piotr Michalowski, internationally recognized Polish artist who is known for his great knowledge of horses and for his outstanding horse sketches and paintings. Prepared by Slania for the 90th anniversary of the Kobenhavn Philatelic Klub. In black on gray background 100 x 117 mm, on paper 137 x 170 mm. Pencil-signed by Slania. (Green folder not included.)
REPRESENTATIVE image of stamp design.