In 1922, Silas started working for the Canadian Bank Note Company. He was taught the art of engraving by the well-known engravers Charles Copeland and George F C Smillie. This apprenticeship took place at the American Bank Note Company where at that time all Canadian stamps were engraved. When stamp engraving moved to the CBNCo, Allen became the chief engraver.
Unusually for a stamp engraver, Silas was more of an etcher than an engraver. He would normally start his work with an etching, and only in the latter stages would finish the work with engraving.
One of his favourite works was the portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which he engraved for the series of definitive stamps issued in 1954. This is by many considered among his best work. Two other highlights in his large catalogue are the Wildlife Week series and the Prime Ministers series.
In 1951, Canada started a series of stamps portraying Prime Ministers, a series which ran until 1955. A total of eight stamps were issued of which at least five were engraved by Silas. It is probable that he also engraved the other three. It has been recorded that Silas thought his engravings for the 1952 and 194 sets of this series as the best, which would imply him having done others as well. However, no conclusive proof has so far been forthcoming.
Things are clearer with regard to the series of Wildlife stamps, which Canada embarked on in 1952. This series, too, ran for five years, with a total of 12 stamps being issued. Silas engraved all of them with the exception of the final stamp issued in 1957, depicitng a white-billed diver.
Again, Silas has been recorded as saying that his favourites of this series were the 1953 Polar Bear, the 1954 Walrus and American Beaver stamps, the 1955 Whooping Cranes and the 1956 Mountain Goat.
The detail on these stamps is incredible and yet it is fascinating to see how on the various die proofs, the smallest of details are picked on, and thought in need of correcting. For example, the die proofs of the 1954 5c Beaver stamp, which featured in Scott Stamp Monthly in 2005, include remarks such as 'two lowest points on maple leaf are too sharp on angle from stem' and 'correct by added emphasis/rock cleft that looks like beaver right leg'.
Silas Robert Allen passed away on 14 May 1958.
You will find Silas Robert Allen's database HERE.