ROMANIA
Two seals are known and the wording on both could imply that they were for official or service use.
Further information is needed.
| Updates. The above was written by Steve Hiscocks. I have added colour illustrations and re-numbered using 'RH' (Revised Hiscocks) numbers. I will take Romania as dating from the Treaty of Berlin (1878), before which it was part of the Ottoman Empire. Its borders changed several times, 1881, 1913 and in 1918 it became enlarged by the addition of parts of the defunct Austro-Hungarian Empire (including Transylvania). The borders stayed the same until 1940, then shrank, changing again in 1944 (lost Northern Transylvania) and 1947 (regained Northern Transylvania). No pricing as yet. |
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| 1922-47 | 1948-64 | 1965 - 1989 |
OFICIUL
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| #1 c1910 ??? 33mm | #2 1929-30, 28.8mm |
The first one is of uncertain status. The French influence is clear, indicating the pre-communist era, but it is very much like
the flaps forming part of some telegrams and may have been cut from one. The frame though suggests that it was free-standing.
The lettering around the top of the cancel suggests 'Bucharest', though there appears to be 9 letters to it, which does not match normal renditions of that name.
BUCUR???? cannot be BUCUREST and doesn't look like BUCUREŞTI, but could be BUCURESJI which I have seen used.
As for a date, I can only guess, but it looks like the earliest.
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| #3 1938-47, 33.9mm | #4 1969 50mm |
| RH # | Type. | was | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH1 | 1 | - | c1910? Imperf. black. | - | - | - |
| RH2 | 2 | - | 1929 Perf. 11.4 Light blue. | - | - | - |
| RH2a | 1930 Dark blue. | - | - | - | ||
| RH3 | 3 | 1 | Perf. 11.4 Blue. | - | - | - |
| RH3a | 1938 Pale blue. | - | - | - | ||
| RH3b | 1947 rouletted. Pale blue. | - | - | - | ||
| RH4 | 4 | - | 1969 Perf. 13.8 Black on pale cream. | - | - | - |
It looks like there may have been another seal between #2 and #3.
SERVICIUL
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| #5 1965-9 50mm |
| RH # | Type. | was | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH5 | 5 | 2 | 1965-9 Perf. 13.5 Black on pale cream. | - | - | - |
Telegram forms that I have.
Form images at 150dpi, with any closeups generally at 300dpi.
Telegram of 21 June 1929, used at Aiud, nothing on the back. The bottom-left has "p. Conformitate" with Conformitate meaning Conformity.
The imprint at bottom-right says "Form. 122/6. - C. R. 37621".
Telegram of 31 August 1930, used at Galati, nothing on the back.
The imprint at bottom-right says "R. S. — C. 4946 — Form. 122".
Telegram of 27 January 1938, nothing on the back. I do not know the significance of the "RADIA-MADEA" stamped on it.
The imprints at bottom say "Form. 315 (176X250) 1935" and "M. O., Imprimeria Nationalà" ("National Printing House ").
Used on 25 May 1947, this is a Hungarian form repurposed as a Romanian telegram in Oradea, Transylvania.
The imprinted Hungarian stamp has on it "OKIRATI ILLETEK" meaning "DOCUMENTATION".
The heading on the front is "POSTAI SZÁLLÍTÓLEVÉL BELFŐLDI CSOMAGHOZ" meaning "POSTAL DELIVERY LETTER FOR DOMESTIC PACKAGE ".
In red it has "(A címirat másolatát helyezze el a csomagban !)" meaning "(Place a copy of the title in the package!) ".
From 1940-1944, this area had been part of Hungary. The Treaty of Paris (February 1947) reallocated it to Romania.
The imprint on the back says "M. kir. állami nyomda. Budapest, 1943.", "állami nyomda" being "state printing house".
Very similar to the last. Used on 4 May 1947, the imprint on the back says "M. kir. állami nyomda. Budapest, 1944."
Telegram of 25 August 1955. It is headed "MINISTERUL POȘTELOR ȘI TELECOMUNICATIILOR DIN R.P.R." meaning "THE MINISTRY OF POSTAL AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF THE R.P.R."
It now has a Coat of Arms. The imprints at bottom say "E.S.I.P. 9606275 — l P Croiova 1576" and "Ktg 6-20. Format A5. (1) / Ed. 1954".
Croiova is the name of a city, capital of Dolj județ county.
Telegram of unknown date, but before the later types. It is headed like the last, but in a different font.
The imprint at bottom says "Ktg 6-20 Format A5". It may be earlier than the type above.
Telegram of 7 July 1959, but now again simply headed "TELEGRAMA". The Coat of Arms has gone.
The imprints at bottom say ". 28. Tlp. d.p.t." (I think) and "Ktg. 6-20. F. 1/12 A1". It may be earlier than the type above.
Telegram of 18 June 1960. Similar to last but different left imprint.
The imprints at bottom say "C. 315 — Tlp. d.p.t." (I think) and "Ktg. 6-20. F. 1/12 A1".
Telegram of 6 March 1965 (I think, from a poorly legible backstamp). Similar to last but different imprints and quite a bit smaller.
The imprints at bottom say "60/308", "cd. 4358/1962 Imp M.T.Tc. Filaret" and "M.T Tc. 8-01".
Filaret is a village in Giurgiţa Commune in Dolj County.
Telegram of 5 February 1966 (from the backstamp). Similar to last but different imprints and quite a bit smaller.
The imprints at bottom say "60/308", "I. P. Tiparul" and "M.T.Tc. 8-01".
Tiparul translates as "Pattern".
Telegram of 8 June 1968 (from the backstamp). Similar to last but longer and different imprints.
The imprints at bottom say 'c. 7710/1967 — I. P. ,,Tiparul" ' and "M.P.T. 3-01; 1/12 A1".
Telegram of 27 December 1969 (from the Radauti backstamp). Similar to last but different imprints.
The imprints at bottom say 'I. P. Tiparul' (though the T looks like a Γ) and "M.P.T. 3-01 , 1/12 A1".
Telegram of 3 March 1973. Similar to last but different imprints. Used at Baia Mare
The imprints at bottom say 'I. P. Tiparul — cd. 5934/1971' and "P.T.T.R. 3-01; 1/12 A1".
Telegram of 3 March 1973. This is the same date as the last, but used at Alba Iulia, Transylvania. Similar to last but missing the bottom-right imprint.
No imprint at bottom-left. The imprint at bottom-right says "P.T.T.R. 3-01; 1/12 A1" like the last one.
Unused Telegram form of 1978. This is roughly the same size as previous ones, but in a portrait rather than landscape format. It has an imprinted 10 Bani postage stamp with the 1965 Coat of Arms.
The imprints at the bottom say "128/ 1978" and "M T.Tc. 29-1-312". The side inscription says "Prej de vínzare 10 ' ani" ("Sale price 10 years.").
If anyone can provide scans to help with this, I am happy to give appropriate credit.
