Born in 1852, as the descendent of an actors’ family, Caragiale was an excellent pamphleteer, short-story writer and journalist. During his life he collaborated with a great number of magazines and newspapers. In 1889, he set up “Moftul roman” humoristic magazine. He was the director of the National Theatre of Bucharest between 1888 and 1889.
Above all, his comedies O noapte furtunoasa (A Stormy Night), O scrisoare pierduta (A Lost Letter), D’ale Carnavalului (Carnival Scenes), Conu Leonida fata cu reactiunea (Mr. Leonida Faces the Reaction), and the drama Napasta (The Misfortune) or Momentele si schitele (The Moments and Sketches) remain famous.
In his work, Ion Luca Caragiale chose his characters from all social domains, from politicians to people from justice, the small bourgeoisie, press, education, public clerks, rich people, and representatives of the modern society, as well as upstarts.
As a perfect painter, he managed to render the picturesque side of Bucharest and of the province from the late 19th century and the early 20th century, by taking us through modern drawing-rooms, breweries or through the tumult of the street.
The comicality, the drama and the fantasticalness define the essence of Caragiale’s literary work and outline the limits of the Romanian theatre from the viewpoint of topics, vision, style and typology of his creation.
In 1962, on the occasion of half-centennial of his death, on the recommendation of the World Peace Council (non-governmental organization, member of the United Nations), Ion Luca Caragiale was commemorated all over the world. In the same year, at Ploiesti city, it was inaugurated the “Ion Luca Caragiale” Memorial Museum.
In 2012, we celebrate 160 years since the birth of great writer and 100 years since his death, and for the entire Romanian culture, 2012 is the “Caragiale” Year.
In the last 10 years, within a worldwide cultural project, unique in the history of the Romanian culture, more than 1,500 artists from 141 countries made at Ploiesti city the largest collection of portraits in the world of a universal culture personality, Ion Luca Caragiale.
Beside these cultural institutions involved in actions of paying homage to Caragiale, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation a postage stamp issue dedicated to this event 2012 - “Caragiale” Year.
On the postage stamp of the issue with the face value of lei 5.00 is illustrated the photo portrait of the great master.
The souvenir sheet of the issue illustrates elements from the “Caragialiana” sculptural ensemble, placed in front of the “Ion Luca Caragiale” National Theatre, in Bucharest, made in the year 2010 by Ioan Bolborea.
The philatelic document is created into a limited edition of 230 copies, equipped with the postage stamp of the issue, numbered and cancelled with the “first day” postmark.
The philatelic album is created into a limited run printing of 600 pcs. and is equipped with the special minisheet of 8 postage stamps (2 tȇte-bȇche stamps) with one label and illustrated thematic border, numbered in red from 001 to 600 and the First Day Cover of the issue equipped with the postage stamp of the souvenir sheet and cancelled with the “first day” postmark, which is also clearly imprinted in gold foiling.
