Czesław Słania (pronounced chess-wav swan-ya) (born 22 October 1921) is an accomplished postage stamp and banknote engraver. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, Słania is the most prolific of all stamp engravers, with over 1000 stamps to his credit.

Born in Czeladź, Poland, he entered the Kraków School of Fine Arts, a reknowned graphics arts center in 1945. While still a student, he was hired by Poland's printing bureau and began his career as an engraver. In 1951 he engraved his first stamp for Poland.

In 1959, Słania moved to Sweden where he became the chief engraver for the Swedish postal authority. He has produced numerous stamps for Sweden, and (at present) 28 different countries. His work is of such recognized quality and detail that he is one of the very few "household names" among philatelists, and some specialize in collecting his work alone.

Denmark's Queen Margrethe, 1975; Slania's name is clearly visible in the lower right margin.

External links

• Czeslaw Slania's Engravings (http://www.xs4all.nl/~pkv/slania/)
  
• Collecting the Works of Czeslaw Slania (http://www.norby.dk/chuckm.html)
  
• Lists and Images of Slania's Stamps (http://www.jaysmith.com/Topics/Slania/SlaniaTOC.html)
  
• Album for Slania's Stamps (http://www.jaysmith.com/Topics/Slania/Slania_Album.html)
  
• Books about Slania's Engravings (http://www.jaysmith.com/Literature/lit003-engr.html)