ASFE Slovakia: GBLA Linocuts by Marian Kasprzyk

GBLA Linocuts by Marian Kasprzyk

Peter Valdner (2022)

The first GBLA stamps were produced by multiplying drawings on master sheets in 1967. This way of printing was extensively used to 1969. By multiplying on Hectographs, the sheets were destroyed.

Marian Kasprzyk started printing from engraved pieces of linoleum - linocuts in January 1968. He printed stamps, cachets and pictures. All are shown and valued in the Great Bitter Lake Association Encyclopaedia and Stamp Catalogue. His linocuts are real pieces of art and as always cut only one piece, they are of great historical, cultural and philatelic value. Simply top GBLA rarities.

As the linocuts survived printing, since I had started writing the Encyclopedia, I was interested in finding them. Marian printed 29 issues of stamps and pictures with them, I have so far succeeded in finding owners of 26 linocuts. If you know about the owners of the missing ones, I would like to hear from you.

The first ever linocut was made for printing the triangular stamp. Though not especially spectacular in comparison with other linocuts, it was the first one, hence of special philatelic value.

My favorite pictures are those of 14 GBLA ships. The set of 13 linocuts to produce them makes their owner the No. 1 GBLA philately collector. These linocuts are in Europe. Samples can be seen in the Encyclopedia and in the article about Captain Kasprzyk, too.

The other 12 linocuts, some of even greater artistic value, are in Europe, too. As they are unique, they are not valued in the Catalogue, but their value is at least 20-30 times the value of prints, indicated in the Catalogue. Shown in a GBLA exhibit, it could aspire for top prizes at stamp exhibitions.

The first two linocuts are cancellers, the rest are pictures, used on covers, letters, cards, etc. So all of a philatelic nature.