Romfilatelia, the specialized company in issuing and trading Romanian postage stamps is releasing a topic issue celebrating 50 years since the issue of the first Europa stamps.
France, Luxembourg, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Holland are among the first countries that have issued postage stamps with topic Europa.
Taking into account the fact that next year we shall celebrate 50 years since the issue of the first postage stamps with the subject “Europa” were printed for the countries of the old continent, and 500 years from the death of Christopher Columbus, the great navigator of the 15th century, Romfilatelia is providing a preview of the events in 2005, by releasing a 4-postage stamps issue containing premiere elements for Romania.
The four stamps of the issue illustrate the figure of the famous explorer and discoverer, reproduced by various antique portraits, and have been printed on perforated or imperforated sheets of paper (28 stamps / sheet) as well as in a block of indented stamps. Two logos, namely 50 and CEPT (the European Conference of the Post-Office and Telecommunication Administrations) are reproduced both on postage stamps and on the block (as labels).
The telecommunications have developed in Romania in close connection to the international evolution. The evolution was determined by the activity of these international telecommunication organizations created in order to ease the communication in this area. Romania has joined this activity since 1865.
The technological development and the political implications of telecommunication usage plead for a global approach, facilitated by cooperation between states and possibly by the private sector, within certain international organizations.
CEPT has been created through the Arrangement regarding the foundation of the European Conference of Post and Telecommunication Administrations, which stipulates that the administrations of the European countries which are members of the Universal Postal Union or of the International Union of Telecommunications may become members.
There are two major reforms characterizing the CEPT activity. The first occurred in 1992 and it refers to the separation of the operating activity, by creating ETNO (European Telecommunication Network Operators) and PostEurop, and the second in 2001, through the reorganization of the technical committees. After the reform of 2001, the CEPT mission is to consolidate the relations between members, to promote cooperation and to create a dynamic market for post and telecommunication services. Today, CEPT counts 45 members, countries of the European Union and the European Association of Free Movement, as well as countries from the Eastern and Central Europe.
Romania was assigned the CEPT presidency between October, 2004 and October, 2005.
The original technical execution of the four stamps block framed by the two logos consists of joining the postage stamps perforated in a square outlining with the stamps perforated in a hexagonal outlining – which is a premiere for Romania. Other features are the “harrow perforations” of the postage stamps composing the philatelic block, on one hand, and, on the other hand, they attached the general graphics representing the three ships participating to the march towards “The New World” (Santa Maria, Nina and Pinta).
The combined square-hexagon perforation can also be found in the 4-column stamp sheets (28 pieces).
