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1952 Ashmun set (#332-337, C68/69) and Arthur Szyk

mikwizzymikwizzy
in Stamps and Postal History
Saleski states that Arthur Szyk was the designer of the 1952 Ashmun set

Does anyone have any information to corroborate this?
I've been unable to find anyone else saying this.

The 1949 set (#309-312) is also credited to Szyk and certainly seems to match his style whilst the 1952 set does not.
Also, Szyk died in 1951


Comments

  • TravisTravis
    Hi Mik,

    I am not sure if he designed the entire issue but if you look at the bottom of the souvenir sheet (Scott C69a), you can clearly see Szyk's name.
  • TravisTravis
    More info...

    In an article "News, Views and Comments" / Stamps Magazine / Downs, C. N. / 1957-09-28 which was reprinted in the Oct-Dec 2004 issue of the LPS Journal, it states:

    Franklin R. Bruns was at that time Philatelic Advisor to Liberia. and. to
    quote again from the article, one day he "had a talk with a well known printer over brreakfast and "they came up with an idea for a set of stamps commemorating the founding of Liberia. Bruns got in touch with Szyk, who designed the set of
    stamps.

    Later in the article it states:
    Another set of commemoratives was accepted by the Liberian government in 1952. These were by another designer, and every stamp in the set portrayed Ashmun. "Szyk designed an elaborate, beautifully engraved souvenir sheet on which the second, the Jehudi Ashmun issue, was mounted. It was one of the first of its kind.

    So it looks like Arthur Szyk only designed the frame of the souvenir sheet, not the actual stamps. I am not sure who designed the stamps.
  • mikwizzymikwizzy
    Travis

    thanks. That makes some sense
    The 49 stamps were clearly in Szyk's "cartoonish" style if you look at his other works whereas the 52 stamps are much more "traditional" in design

    I've come across a reference that links Bileski to Szyk so that may explain his involvement
  • TravisTravis
    I just came across an article entitled "Death of Engraver Harry Peckmore" in Essay Proof Journal #127 that states that Peckmore was the actual engraver of the Ashmun series. My guess is since his company did the printing and he did the engraving, that he designed the issue or at least had input into it.
  • mikwizzymikwizzy
    Travis

    thanks. I'll check this out
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