Robert Savage was born in Ireland on 10 October 1868. When he was only one year old, the family emigrated to the United States.
At the age of seventeen, Savage became an apprentice at Baldwin & Gleason. His engraving talent was soon noticed and talked about, which lead to him being contacted by the ABNC in 1891. They invited him to come work for them as a master engraver.
Savage’s first stamps appeared soon after: in 1893, he engraved the vignettes of five values (3c, 6c, 10c, $1 and $3) of the major US set promoting the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Savage engraved a large number of stamps and banknotes in the 34 years he worked for the company. Among those are a number of definitive issues which have since become staple diet for many collectors, such as the 1911 Canadian definitive set with the portrait of King George V. Savage based his engraving of the king on two different photographs. At the time, his work was considered the most life-like portrayal of the King and the best portrait of the King ever on a stamp.
Although Savage officially retired in 1925, he remained active and engraved many items, both for the ABNC and for other companies. Robert Savage passed away on 23 July 1943.
You will find Robert Savage's database HERE.
Although Savage officially retired in 1925, he remained active and engraved many items, both for the ABNC and for other companies. Robert Savage passed away on 23 July 1943.
You will find Robert Savage's database HERE.