SO MUCH PILEUP

Philately Fridays: New Zealand, 1978

2013-06-14T09:58:00.001-05:00

Six stamps for New Zealand's huge agricultural industry. Loving the fat outlines and the metallic gold ink.

Design News covers from Japan

2013-06-10T17:49:00.000-05:00

These industrial design magazine covers from Japan are pretty next level. Designed by the fantastic Takenobu Igarashi.

Philately Fridays: Poland, 1972

2013-06-07T09:29:00.001-05:00

Five post-psychedelic stamps from Poland for the 1972 Olympics.

Philately Fridays: New Zealand, 1977

2013-05-31T09:38:00.001-05:00

Click image for larger view.

Five connected stamps all about teachin' the youngsters, all done up in a perfect late 1970's illustration style.

Philately Fridays: New Zealand, 1971

2013-05-24T17:57:00.001-05:00

I really love the use of mix-and-match patterns along with the minimal illustration style in this cool ass Christmas stamp from New Zealand.

Philately Fridays: Singapore, 1981

2013-05-03T10:48:00.001-05:00

Philately Fridays: Australia, 1973

2013-04-26T09:39:00.003-05:00

Four stamps from Australia teaching the people about metric conversions.

Philately Fridays: Australia, 1983

2013-04-19T16:10:00.000-05:00

I think we need a little peace and harmony right about now.

More Vacation Fun Spots

2013-04-10T16:48:00.001-05:00

Click image for larger view.

Gorgeously-designed and exceuted illustration for a 1982 issue of Disney's Vacationland magazine. Two years ago, I posted a similar illustration, but this one has much more going on. One of my all time favorites.

Philately Fridays: Cuba, 1972

2013-04-05T08:46:00.002-05:00

Cuba gets ready for the 1972 Olympic games in MUNICH!

Mr. Peanut's Guide to Nutrition

2013-04-03T09:43:00.003-05:00

Here are a few pages from a 1970 brochure about health as explained by the one and only Mr. Peanut!

Philately Fridays: 1970s Israel

2013-03-29T10:16:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I last posted! Here are four Israeli stamps for you to enjoy. Unfortunately I track down exactly what year these were released, ~~but they seem to be from the mid to late 1970s.~~ Enjoy!

EDIT - thanks to the blog reader who reminded me these are from 1968!

Philately Fridays: Cuba, 1967

2012-07-06T08:59:00.003-05:00

Loving the subtle grooviness of this stamp from Cuba, commemorating their participation in the 5th Pan American Games. The distinctly Cuban color scheme and funky illustration style goes nicely with the clearly Canadian Games logo.

Philately Fridays: German Democratic Republic, 1983

2012-06-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

Philately Fridays: Germany, 1972

2012-05-18T08:34:00.000-05:00

Nice one from Germany with the shoutout to "Invincible Vietnam." Excellent deliberate use of halftone dots.

Philately Fridays: Maldives, 1974

2012-05-04T11:52:00.001-05:00

Here's a small batch of islands making their Philately Fridays debut - the Republic of Maldives. For a tiny little collection of land, they sure cranked out some great design work. Here's their 1974 World Cup stamp. Stay tuned for more Maldivian mayhem soon!

Philately Fridays: Germany, 1979

2012-04-27T09:18:00.001-05:00

Two stamps from the German Democratic Republic, celebrating the International Year of the Child.

Sounder Organ Playing Guide

2012-04-24T18:08:00.001-05:00

Groovy sheet music book cover (unfolded) for the Hammond Sounder organ from 1973.

Philately Fridays: Art Nouveau in Germany, 1977

2012-04-20T11:26:00.004-05:00

Groovy three stamp set from 1977, celebrating the Art Nouveau movement in Germany.

Click image for larger view

Pinball Hall of Fame

2012-04-09T13:49:00.003-05:00

I was in Las Vegas over the weekend and didn't miss the chance to visit the Pinball Hall of Fame. Here are a few photos (please excuse the poor quality - all I had on me was my cell phone) of their enormous collection of games in excellent condition.

Philately Fridays: Peru, 1971

2012-04-06T09:04:00.001-05:00

Here's one from the 1971 International Pacific Fair held in Peru.

Philately Fridays: Two from Germany

2012-03-30T09:40:00.002-05:00

Probably for the same reason I love amusement park maps, I love super clean architectural illustrations like the ones in these two stamps from Germany. The first one celebrates the 75th anniversary of the suspended tram in Wuppertaler and the second one is for the Sport Und Erholungszentrum recreation center in Berlin.

Philately Fridays: Hungary, 1978

2012-03-23T08:32:00.003-05:00

Four super sci-fi fantasy stamps from Hungary, 1978.

Philately Fridays: Germany, 1983

2012-03-09T10:28:00.002-06:00

Two stamps from Germany all about SPORTS! No idea why the illustrator got all wavy with everything, but it works for me.

John Alcorn

2012-02-27T10:35:00.004-06:00

photo by Phyllis Alcorn, 1989.

John Alcorn was an American graphic artist and illustrator, working from the 1950s up until his death in 1992. A graduate of Cooper Union, a member of Pushpin Studios, and then an art director at CBS, Alcorn then went on to set up shop as a freelance illustrator, creating his most eyecatching and memorable work. Here are some of my favorites. To view much much more of his work, visit The Art of John Alcorn website.

Editorial illustration, 1969

One of the dozens of book jackets Alcorn produced while working in Florence for the Italian publishing house Rizzoli. This cover is from 1973.

1972.

1973.

1976,

Packaging design for Aramis Perfume, 1982

1989.