Mi.768 - 771 (08.03.1941)
Viennese Spring Fair

Mi.768 - 771

Vienna Spring Fair

Notes: Design: Wilhelm Dachauer. Photogravure printing. Sheets 10 x 5. Without watermark. Perf. 14 (13¾ x 14, Harper & Scheck). Quantity issued: unknown. Valid until 31.12.1942.

'There is a variety of both the 3 Pf and 6 Pf values, where a black line goes through the figure of the value. Also a very interesting variety of the 25 Pf which came about thus: These stamps were printed from a cylinder from which previously the 1 Zloty stamps of the General Government depicting Brühl Palace [Mi.51 - Sept.1940 - 1 Zł upper left corner], had been printed. The etching of this stamp had not been completely erased from the cylinder when the new Vienna Fair stamp was etched on it. The result being that part of the Zloty design could be seen on the margin of the new stamp, in particular the word 'Zloty'. This variety can only be found on the early printings as this blemish was soon erased.' Source: Harper & Scheck

Wilhelm Dachauer

Wilhelm Dachauer (1881 - 1951) was an Austrian painter. He studied at the Akademie der bildenden Künste in Vienna from 1899 to 1907 and was a professor at the academy from 1928 to 1944.

In 1913, he had his first arguably successful exhibition at the Secession. He was appointed to an honored professorship of the Akademie der bildenden Künste (Academy of Fine Arts) in Vienna in 1928, a position that he occupied until 1944. Among his students were Hildegard Joos, Maria Lassnig, Adalbert Pilch, and Peppino Wieternik (1919–1979).

Dachauer was one of the founders and leaders of the Federation of German Painters, Austrian branch (Bund Deutscher Maler Österreichs), which from 1937 sought to bring together painters with National Socialist sympathies. Dachauer joined the Nazi party in July 1938. A Committee of Inquiry after the end of World War 2 found him not guilty of serving the Nazis through his work, however he was never reinstated to his post at the Academy of Fine Arts.

Dachauer was initially influenced by the art of the Secession and later developed a form of realism that was strongly dedicated to rural and regional arts. This style fitted well to the 'official' taste of the Ständestaat and the National Socialist regime, so his work became somewhat disreputable after 1945.

After the annexation of Austria to the German Reich and the occupation of Poland, Dachauer designed several other stamps of the Generalgouvernement and a few of the German Reich. He also made the designs for several Austrian stamps after World War II, among them the Homecomer series.

Dachauer died in Vienna on 26th February 1951.

Source: Wikipedia

Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page