1304) "Ancient Postal Routes, Romanian Principalities XIX Century", Romania: A set of two Postage stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued by "Romfilatelia" (Romanian Post) depicting Ancient Postal Routes and modes of postal transport: Date of Stamp set issue: 09.04.2020:
EUROPA Postage Stamps:
EUROPA Postage Stamps (also known as Europa-CEPT - European Conference of Postal and Telecommunications Administrations - until 1992) are special stamps issued by European Postal Administrations/Enterprises and bear the official EUROPA logo, a PostEurop registered trademark under the aegis of PostEurop in which Europe is the central theme.
EUROPA stamps underline cooperation in the posts domain, aimed at promotion of philately. They also build awareness of the common roots, culture and history of Europe and its common goals.
As such, EUROPA stamp issues are among the most collected and most popular stamps in the world.
Since the first issue in 1956, EUROPA stamps have been a tangible symbol of Europe's desire for closer integration and co-operation.
In 1993, PostEurop became responsible for issuing EUROPA stamps.
When CEPT decided to focus more on telecommunications in 1993, PostEurop took over the management of the Europa issues. The CEPT logo was replaced by a new logo created by PostEurop i.e. the word "EUROPA" leaning towards the right hand side.
Each year, PostEurop's "Stamps & Philately Group" selects the EUROPA stamp theme:
1993- Contemporary Art
1994 - Great Discoveries
1995 - Peace and Freedom
1996 - Famous women
1997 - Tales and legends
1998 - Festivals and National Celebrations
1999 - Nature Reserves and Parks
2000 - Common Design, Tower of 6 stars
2001 - Water - Treasure of Nature
2002 - The Circus
2003 - Poster Art
2004 - Holidays
2005 - Gastronomy
2006 - Integration through the eyes of Young People
2007- Scout Centenary
2008 - Writing Letters
2009 - Astronomy
2010 - Children Books
2011 -Forests - International Year of Forests
2012 - Visit ….. (for instance "Visit Finland")
2013 - Van of the Postman - Postal vehicles
2014 - Musical 9nstruments - National musical instruments
2015 - Old Toys
2016 - Ecology in Europe - "Think Green", Common Design
2017 - Castles
2018 - Bridges
2019 - National Birds
2020 - Ancient Postal Routes
2021 - the theme will be "Endangered National Wildlife"
2022 - the theme will be "Stories & Myths"
The EUROPA Stamp issue by Romanian Post:
on the theme "Ancient Postal Routes - Romanian Principalities":
The need for mail transport dates back to ancient times. The first form of mail transport organised and administered by the State was reported in the ancient writings dating back to the time of the Roman Republic - with the introduction of the horseback mailmen service for fast mail and carriages for heavy transport mail.
The Emperor, the members of his house and the high officials of the Empire benefitted of this service, but not the general public.
Routes with regulated stops were organised from distance to distance, with stations and relays for feeding and changing horses, layover places. The stations and relays were run by civil servants appointed for a fixed period of time and who provided the supplies, services and supervised the staff. This form of organisation of the "courier and postal service" has been taken over and perpetuated over time, being considered to be the most efficient system.
In the 17th-18th Centuries, in the Romanian Principalities, the postal service was organised by the State and with an authorisation from the Prince, individuals could also be transported by post chaise. The tolls for the maintenance of this postal service were incumbent upon the lower class population, the boyars and the civil servants being exempted.
At the beginning of the 19th Century, post relays called "Menziluri" were set up, led by a Menzil captain, where there were kept the horses and carriages ("olace") needed to transport the State couriers, officials on a mission and persons authorised by the Prince to travel by Post. For them, "podorojna" (written orders to provide someone with post horses), travel documents etc were issued, on which the route, the name of the traveller, the number of horses necessary for transport, the date and the department were filled in.
The main post roads of that time were in:
Muntenia - Bucharest-Targoviste, Bucharest-Craiova, Bucharest-Giurgiu or Silistra, over the Balkans-Adrianople-Constantinople.
Moldavia: Iasi-Barlad-Galati-Sumla, over the Balkans-Adrianople-Constantinople and Iasi-Harlau-Cernauti.
Other secondary routes were derived from these main roads.
The postal service was provided from the budget of the country and also from the taxes laid for transport and the tolls in cash or in kind collected from the population. The operation for postal services was done by contractors with lease agreements concluded for periods of 3 to 5 years.
The Post Directorates and Post Captains had special seals and stamps with the name of the post office or contractor.
In 1830, with the introduction of the Organic Regulation in the Romanian Principalities, the fixed taxes by type of postal service, route and distance were introduced. A post relay had to have 20 horses and the stable had to provide shelter for 30 horses.
The letters were charged according to the weight and the distance between the stations.
By the Agreement of 1833-1836, in the Principality of Muntenia, the contractors were allowed to double the tax per letter from 2 to 4 Parale/Dram and by post office.
From 01.08.1856, the tax for a standard letter was reduced to 2 Parale/Dram. 1 Oka = 400 Drams; 1 Dram = 3.2 grams; distance between two stations = 15-20 kilometres.
In the Principality of Moldavia, the conditions for the execution of the postal services were negotiated by the State with four contractors, their agreement coming into force from 01.01.1852 for one each for the four postal routes spread across the Principality.
In 1851, the Administrative Council of Moldavia set up the service of post coaches that were to carry bi-weekly drives transporting travellers, cargo, letters, packages, prints and money, with collection of taxes according to a special tariff.
For travellers, in addition to the "podorojna" - a special print - a blanketor IHAM - was also issued, bearing the seal of the Ministry of Finance, which indicated the name of the traveller, the distance and the number of horses requested.
For these blankets for each traveller, a tax of 5 Parale by hour and by each horse registered in the blanket was levied.
In 04/1852, the Principality of Muntenia followed the Moldavian system.
In the Principality of Wallachia according to the agreement executed in 1856-1861, the postal services were rented to 5 contractors and their territories were divided over 8 routes.
The Postage Stamps:
The First Day Cover (FDC) is titled "EUROPA 2020 VECHI RUTE POSTALE - Principatele Romane, secofui XIX" (meaning "EUROPA 2020, Ancient Postal Routes - Romanian Principalities - XIX Century").
At left is a map of postal routes and a post chaise/carriage being drawn by a team of horses, with guard/escort riders galloping alongside.
At to right are affixed the two stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued in the set. The special Cancellation Handstamp. Postmark bears the date "09.04.2020".
Two Sheetlets of five stamps each of the two variants and a label has been issued in the set.
Two Miniature Sheets (MS) Blocks of four Stamps have been issued, with the denominations of Lei 1.90 printed first in one sheet and the stamp of Lei 20.50 printed first in the other and vice versa in the lower section.
Two postage stamps have been issued by Romanian Post on the theme - Ancient Postal Routes:
The Stamp of Lei 1.90 graphically depicts the following elements/features - postal routes from Moldavia, a detail from the lithography - "Post riders in Moldavia" (by Raffet - 1839) and the seal of the Telegraph Office Roman, in Moldavia around 1840.
The two stamps of Lei 1.90 and Lei 20.50
The Stamp of Lei 20.50 illustrates the following elements/features - A post coach and postal routes within Wallachia, along with a detail from the lithography "Post Coach Crossing Over the Buzau River" (by Raffet - 1839). and the seal of the Posts Office Directorate in Wallachia, around 1840.
The Seals illustrated on the Stamps are represented on postal documents from the collection of the "Museum of Romanian Records".
The Romanian Principalities Maps used as background for the Stamps and First Day Cover (FDC) layout was taken from "Romanien 1820-1872 - Fritz Heimbuchler, Munchen - 2002" and the routes are taken from documents in the "Museum of Romanian Records".
The Special Philatelic & Medal Album Combo titled "ANCIENT POSTAL ROUTES" ("VECHI RUTE POSTALE" in Romanian)
The special product, created into a limited run printing of 301 pieces, which presents a combo of the hobbies of Philately and Numismatics.
In the album, there are two exposed valuable collection pieces - a block of two imperforated stamps and a medal presenting on the Obverse the seal of the Posts Office Directorate of Wallachia at the beginning of the 19th Century.
The Certificate of Authenticity (COA) presents the characteristics of the Medal. The Block of imperforated Stamps sheets are numbered from "001 to 301".
The specifications of this stamp set are:
Date of Issue: 09.04.2020
Issuer: Romanian Post
Stamp values: Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90
Stamp sizes: 36.0 mm x 36.0 mm
Sheetlets Size: 136.0 mm x 136.0 mm
Block of 4 Stamps (2 Sets) x 4 models: 100.0 mm x 136.0 mm
Special Block of imperforated stamps (in Philatelic Album): 136.0 mm x 136.0 mm
Process: Offset
Colours: 4 Colours
Designer: Ion Chirescu
In 1851, the Administrative Council of Moldavia set up the service of post coaches that were to carry bi-weekly drives transporting travellers, cargo, letters, packages, prints and money, with collection of taxes according to a special tariff.
For travellers, in addition to the "podorojna" - a special print - a blanketor IHAM - was also issued, bearing the seal of the Ministry of Finance, which indicated the name of the traveller, the distance and the number of horses requested.
For these blankets for each traveller, a tax of 5 Parale by hour and by each horse registered in the blanket was levied.
In 04/1852, the Principality of Muntenia followed the Moldavian system.
In the Principality of Wallachia according to the agreement executed in 1856-1861, the postal services were rented to 5 contractors and their territories were divided over 8 routes.
The Postage Stamps:
At left is a map of postal routes and a post chaise/carriage being drawn by a team of horses, with guard/escort riders galloping alongside.
At to right are affixed the two stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued in the set. The special Cancellation Handstamp. Postmark bears the date "09.04.2020".
Two postage stamps have been issued by Romanian Post on the theme - Ancient Postal Routes:
The Stamp of Lei 1.90 graphically depicts the following elements/features - postal routes from Moldavia, a detail from the lithography - "Post riders in Moldavia" (by Raffet - 1839) and the seal of the Telegraph Office Roman, in Moldavia around 1840.
The Stamp of Lei 20.50 illustrates the following elements/features - A post coach and postal routes within Wallachia, along with a detail from the lithography "Post Coach Crossing Over the Buzau River" (by Raffet - 1839). and the seal of the Posts Office Directorate in Wallachia, around 1840.
The Seals illustrated on the Stamps are represented on postal documents from the collection of the "Museum of Romanian Records".
The Romanian Principalities Maps used as background for the Stamps and First Day Cover (FDC) layout was taken from "Romanien 1820-1872 - Fritz Heimbuchler, Munchen - 2002" and the routes are taken from documents in the "Museum of Romanian Records".
The special product, created into a limited run printing of 301 pieces, which presents a combo of the hobbies of Philately and Numismatics.
In the album, there are two exposed valuable collection pieces - a block of two imperforated stamps and a medal presenting on the Obverse the seal of the Posts Office Directorate of Wallachia at the beginning of the 19th Century.
The Certificate of Authenticity (COA) presents the characteristics of the Medal. The Block of imperforated Stamps sheets are numbered from "001 to 301".
The specifications of this stamp set are:
Date of Issue: 09.04.2020
Issuer: Romanian Post
Stamp values: Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90
Stamp sizes: 36.0 mm x 36.0 mm
Sheetlets Size: 136.0 mm x 136.0 mm
Block of 4 Stamps (2 Sets) x 4 models: 100.0 mm x 136.0 mm
Special Block of imperforated stamps (in Philatelic Album): 136.0 mm x 136.0 mm
Process: Offset
Colours: 4 Colours
Designer: Ion Chirescu
Links to some posts on Romanian currency and philately on this Blog:
14) Roman Gold and Silver Artefacts, Romania: "History of Gold Coin Series": A Coin issued in the Collector Coin Series from the Banca a Nationala a" Romaniei stable: Date of Coin issue: 02.03.2020
15) "Ancient Postal Routes, Romanian Principalities XIX Century", Romania: A set of two Postage Stamps of Lei 20.50 and Lei 1.90 issued by "Romafilatelia" (Romanian Post) depicting Ancient Postal Routes and modes of postal transport: Date of Stamp Set issue: 09.04.2020
Santosh Khanna has commented:
ReplyDelete"Excellent & informative post."
Thank you so much, Khanna sahab.
DeleteRadhakrishnan Thampy has commented:
ReplyDelete"Thanks for sharing. Best wishes."
Thank you so much for visiting the post, Thampy.
ReplyDeleteAshok Borate has commented:
ReplyDelete"Very Informative".
Thank you, Ashokji.
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