I've shown some of the wartime labels made for the 1941 Paris Philatelic Exhibition before, with engravings from Camors and Gandon. Today, it's Charles Mazelin's turn. At the time, he was one of a group of up and coming engravers on the French scene, so it will have been great for him to be able to feature on all three souvenir sheets that were produced.
The 1941 sheet (confusingly inscribed Paris 1942) aimed to raise funds for French artists who had lost their income because of the war. The sheet had Parisian Sites and Monuments as its theme. Mazelin engraved a view of the Notre-Dame.
I think it absolutely beautiful and by far the best one of the three, but that's maybe because I'm quite partial to Paris! In 1942, the sheet's charity aim were the 'intellectuals', who may have been able to explain why again we find the odd inscription of Paris 1943 on the actual sheet and the stamps themselves. The labels all depicted literary meetings. Mazelin's label is titled Soirée à l'Arsenal.
This was actually an engraving of 1831, by Tony Johannot. Various French authors are included, though I must admit I had only heard of one. On the left, leaning against the wall we have Charles Nodier. Standing more or less in the centre we find Jules Janin. On the extreme right we have Paul Foucher. Alfred Johannot is leaning behind the card player, and behind him we are told to just be able to distinguish the en face portrait of Victor Hugo.
The final sheet was isued in 1943 (that's the one inscribed 1944 on the stamps only) and was aimed at raising funds for musicians. Logically, the labels had a musical theme to them. Mazelin's label depicted the Boléro, the orchestral work by Maurice Ravel.
What with Mazelin's non-stamp but still philatelically inspired work being arguably more interesting to collect than his regular stamp work, these are three most welcome additions to such a collection.
:-)
Adrian
The 1941 sheet (confusingly inscribed Paris 1942) aimed to raise funds for French artists who had lost their income because of the war. The sheet had Parisian Sites and Monuments as its theme. Mazelin engraved a view of the Notre-Dame.
I think it absolutely beautiful and by far the best one of the three, but that's maybe because I'm quite partial to Paris! In 1942, the sheet's charity aim were the 'intellectuals', who may have been able to explain why again we find the odd inscription of Paris 1943 on the actual sheet and the stamps themselves. The labels all depicted literary meetings. Mazelin's label is titled Soirée à l'Arsenal.
This was actually an engraving of 1831, by Tony Johannot. Various French authors are included, though I must admit I had only heard of one. On the left, leaning against the wall we have Charles Nodier. Standing more or less in the centre we find Jules Janin. On the extreme right we have Paul Foucher. Alfred Johannot is leaning behind the card player, and behind him we are told to just be able to distinguish the en face portrait of Victor Hugo.
The final sheet was isued in 1943 (that's the one inscribed 1944 on the stamps only) and was aimed at raising funds for musicians. Logically, the labels had a musical theme to them. Mazelin's label depicted the Boléro, the orchestral work by Maurice Ravel.
What with Mazelin's non-stamp but still philatelically inspired work being arguably more interesting to collect than his regular stamp work, these are three most welcome additions to such a collection.
:-)
Adrian