For the collectors fond of the themes approaching the field of photographic technique, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the postage stamp issue Collection objects – Photo Cameras.
The term photography associating two terms coming from the Greek language, fotos and grafein, is simply translated in the current language: writing with light.
The issue approached by Romfilatelia illustrates on the postage stamps antique cameras belonging to the collection of the Technical Museum of Bucharest. Mention must be made of the fact that two stamps reproduce the images of cameras that were donated by the founder of the Technical Museum, Dimitrie Leonida, and his wife, Iulia Leonida.
Goldmann bellows camera (Austria) is illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of lei 0.50. Designed to take photos on 18 x 24 cm plates, the device manufactured around 1900 is the product of Goldmann RA Fabrik Photographischer APPARATE Company set up in 1888. This high quality camera was used successfully by both amateurs and professionals.
Manufacture D`optique E. Suter camera, Bale (Switzerland) is illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of lei 0.80. A Swiss product from the second decade of the 20th century, the device was made by Optische Anstalt E.Suter AG Company whose existence was mentioned until 2005. The device was donated by Iulia Leonida (the second wife of Dimitrie Leonida) to Serincu Stefan (a former employee of the museum). He donated it to the Technical Museum in 1982.
Plaubell Makina camera (Germany) is illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of lei 1.40. The device was manufactured in the second decade of the 20th century by Plaubell GmbH Company set up in 1902 by Hugo Schrader. At the beginning of its existence, the company produced and traded very high quality lenses. A bellow-type camera, Plaubell Makina had a focalization telemeter. The manufacture of Plaubell cameras stopped in 1953.
Ernemann Tropen-Klapp camera (Germany) is illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of lei 2.00. Manufactured in the third decade of the 20th century, it is a Tropen Klapp foldable camera (tropical) produced by Ernemann company, one of the most prestigious firms in the field, having its factory in Dresden. The device reproduced on the postage stamp belonged to Dimitrie Leonida.
Balda Pontina camera (Germany) is illustrated on the postage stamp with the face value of lei 2.10. Manufactured in the fourth decade of the 20th century, the device belongs to Balda-Werk manufacturing company. After the Second World War, Balda, just like as many other companies from Dresden, was nationalized under the Russian authority. Max Baldeweg set up a new company also called Balda (Balda Kamera-Werk), headquartered in Bünde, West Germany.
On the postage stamp with the face value of lei 14.50 is illustrated Welta camera (Germany). The apparatus manufactured in the fourth decade of the 20th century was produced by the German company Welta, set up in 1914 as Weeka-Kamera-Werk. After the war, Welta improved the old models since it had been reorganized as a state company (Veb Welta-Kamera-Werk).
Rolleiflex camera (Germany), made in 1961, is illustrated on the first day cover of the issue. It was manufactured by the German company Franke & Heidecke since 1929 and later by Rollei-Werk. It has two lenses: Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar (3.5/75 mm) and Heidsomat (2.8/75 mm). High quality photos were taken with this type of camera.
