On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Romanian National Red Cross Society, Romfilatelia and the Romanian Post introduce into circulation on Friday, July 3rd, 2026, a philatelic issue dedicated to the event and entitled ‘ROMANIAN RED CROSS, 150 YEARS’, consisting of a postage stamp, a perforated souvenir sheet and a First Day Cover.
The National Red Cross Society of Romania was founded on July 4th, 1876, and has operated continuously ever since, fulfilling its role as an auxiliary to public authorities in humanitarian matters. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the Romanian Red Cross was recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in the year of its founding. It became a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in 1919 and has retained its membership ever since.
Among the signatories of the founding charter of the Romanian Red Cross were some of the most prominent personalities of the time, including Nicolae Kretzulescu, C. A. Rosetti, Ion Ghica, Dimitrie Sturdza, Gr. G. Cantacuzino, and Dr. Carol Davila.
The first President of the Romanian Red Cross was Prince Dimitrie Ghica, who drafted the first Statute of the Romanian Red Cross.
Queen Marie, under whose patronage the Red Cross operated during World War I, addressed the Romanian people with the following message: ‘The Red Cross, the hope of all in times of peace as well as in times of war, must never perish. Let us all, young and old alike, support it with devotion, enthusiasm, and wholehearted love‘.
In 1995, Law No. 139 on the National Red Cross Society of Romania was adopted and promulgated. The law defines the organisation as an autonomous, non-governmental, apolitical, non-profit legal entity under public law that acts as an auxiliary to public authorities and carries out its humanitarian activities throughout the entire territory of Romania.
The Romanian Red Cross continues to carry out programs in support of its mission, drawing on a nationwide network of 47 branches and more than 7,800 active volunteers who devote their time to assisting people in need.
Through all its activities, the Romanian Red Cross remains true to its mission of assisting vulnerable people in times of disaster and crisis. Through its programmes and initiatives for the benefit of society, the Romanian Red Cross contributes to the prevention and alleviation of suffering in all its forms, protects health and life, and promotes respect for human dignity, without discrimination on the grounds of nationality, race, sex, religion, age, or social or political affiliation.
The perforated souvenir sheet of the issue, featuring the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 32, depicts current images from the humanitarian campaigns of the National Red Cross Society of Romania.
The postage stamp, with the face value of Lei 6, as well as the First Day Cover, feature Queen Marie in the foreground, depicted in scenes from military field hospitals during World War I.
Romfilatelia thanks the Romanian National Red Cross Society and the Office of His Majesty the Custodian of the Romanian Crown for the documentary support provided in the development of this postage stamp issue.
