In 2008 we shall all rejoice over the celebration of 150 years since the releasing of the first Romanian postage stamps issue, the famous “Bull Head”. On this occasion, Romania organizes the first World Philatelic Exhibition, under the name of EFIRO 2008. The First EFIRO Exhibition (E-exhibition FI-Philatelic RO-Romanian), enjoying international attendance was organized in 1932, under the high patronage of King Carol II. The subsequent two editions were hosted by the Palace of Parliament in 1998 and 2004.
In order to promote the great philatelic event among local people, in 2006 and 2007, Romfilatelia released two postage stamps issues dedicated to the event. The issue of 2006 presents in a “mark on mark” manner all the stamps of the original “Bull Head” issue (July 15, 1858) and the second one of 2007, in the same manner, made up of three stamps with the face values of Lei 1.10, Lei 2.10 and Lei 3.30, reproducing the stamps of the second “Bull Head” issue (November 1, 1858 – May 1, 1862) with face values of 5, 40 and 80 “parale”.
The postage stamp issue dedicated to EFIRO 2008, that Romfilatelia introduces into circulation within EFIRO 2008 events, reunites images of the postage stamps issued between 1858-1932 which have been, at the time, philatelic première themes for Romanian philately. The postage stamps issue, brought to life under the concept of “mark on mark“, reunites six images part of certain postage stamps whose themes were, back when they were released, a première issue together with the reproduction of the first Romanian philatelic souvenir sheet (1932).
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 0.50, envisages the image of one of the three postage stamps part of the second “Bull Head” issue meant to prepay the newspapers that the Moldavian Postal Services distributed to its subscribers.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 1.00, presents the image of one of the three postage stamps of the first issue circulated in both Principalities: Moldavia and Muntenia, released in 1862. For the first time, the Romanian postage stamps bore the Latin text graphics of the correctly formulated text: FRANCO SCRISOREI.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 2.40, presents the image of a stamp of the issue (with three face values) reproducing, for the first time, the effigy of a notorious public person, ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 3.10, illustrates the stamp head of the set image of the first jubilee stamp issue dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the reign of King Carol I. All 5 stamps of the set have only been circulated for three days – May 10, 11, and 12, 1891.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 4.50, envisages the image of stamp head of the set of the first postage stamp issue dedicated to the inauguration of an edifice: the Posts Palace. Released in May 1903, the postage stamps issue was printed in Paris, in 1901.
The postage stamp with the face value of lei 6.00, reproduces the image of the first Romanian commemorative postage stamps issue, released on the occasion of the commemoration of 500 years in 1932 since the death of Alexander the Good. Out of the 500,000 postage stamps printed, 400,000 were immediately withdrawn once an incorrect enthronement year was discovered (1406 instead of 1400).
The souvenir sheet of the EFIRO 2008 issue, whose stamp, performed on round outline, having a face value of RON 8.10, puts together, in an original concept, graphic elements with the image of the first Romanian philatelic souvenir sheet printed in 1932 on the occasion of the first Philatelic Exhibition EFIRO, organized under the high patronage of King Carol II.
EFIRO 2008 philatelic document – created in a limited run printing of 500 copies, numbered, equipped with the postage stamp set of the issue, cancelled with the “first day” post mark.
