Romfilatelia, the specialized company in issuing and trading Romanian postage stamps, is releasing a new philatelic issue called Hunting Dogs.
Hunting is as old as the history of mankind. In the early times, besides picking fruit and wild plant roots, our ancestors used to hunt in order to feed themselves. As mankind has evolved, the concept of hunting changed as well, turning from the main source of food into a sport.
Since the ancient times, the dogs have been accompanying and helping the hunters, being indispensable for seeking, finding and pointing the game, as well as for tracking and tracing the wounded game.
The dog has been tamed for 4 millennia – it was in fact the first and the easiest animal to be tamed and many hunting dog breeds have been created ever since, according to the regions, the methods and types of game that they were used for. More than half of the nearly 400 canine breeds acknowledged by the International Canine Federation as ascertained (standardized) breeds are hunting breeds.
Thus, there are various groups: pointers, gundogs, retriever dogs (bringing the small game after it has been shot), coursing dogs (following big, wounded pray) and dachshunds.
The philatelic issue called Hunting dogs consists of six postage stamps, illustrating various dog breeds as follows:
1. Pointer who searches and finds the small game;
2. Transylvanian Hound capable of hunting alone, far from its master. When it finds a fresh track, he draws the attention of the hunter in a whiny tone;
3. Bloodhound breed which, despite the name, is one of the most hind and affectionate dogs. This belongs to one of the oldest hunting breeds used for searching and finding the big wounded game;
4. Jagd Terrier, a coursing dog following big sized game such as the boar or the bear;
5. Rhodesian Ridgeback breed. It originates from Zimbabwe which was previously known as Rhodesia. The dog is used for hunting lions and for guarding herds;
6. Munsterland, a continental pointer less known by the Romanian hunters.
