Notes on Postage Stamps

by Eric Gill

Eric Gill had exacting and pointed opinions about postage stamps, their purpose, and their design. Unfortunately, his theories didn't always hold up when put into practice, and he had a less than successful career as a designer of stamps. Accompanied by nine of Gill's previously unpublished preparatory drawings and sketches for stamps, Notes on Postage Stamps is a short, previously unpublished essay by Gill in which he succinctly lays out his philatelic ideas—some of which were a little too idealistic and some of which were spot-on. All of them are interesting and thought-provoking. Notes on Postage Stamps contains fifty-six full-color illustrations, most of which will be completely unfamiliar to historians and enthusiasts of Gill's work. An afterword by Michael Russem chronicles Gill's seven attempts at stamp design—only two of which resulted in published stamps.

24 pages, Pamphlet

Published January 1, 2011

About the author

Arthur Eric Rowton Gill ARA was an English sculptor, typeface designer, and printmaker, who was associated with the Arts and Crafts movement.