This postage stamp issue that Romfilatelia introduces into circulation is the second series with the theme “Danube’s Coats of Arms”.
Any river in the world, regardless of continent, represents a symbol. The Yellow River is tightly related to the multi-millennial history of China, the Seine may not be presented or described without speaking of the Parisian elegance, the Rhine flows on a route symbolizing the German strictness and Mississippi reminds you of the old aborigines discovered by Christopher Columbus.
Though being only the second river of Europe (after Volga), the Danube is Europe itself or as Napoleon put it: “It is the king of the European rivers”. Starting with the 18th century, the river became a communication route between the industrialized West and the agrarian area of the South-Eastern Europe, strongly stimulating the commercial exchanges. After signing the Paris Peace Treaty of 1856, the European Commission of the Danube (1856-1938) was created as an international body establishing the free navigation on the river.
In the second half of the 20th century, the river was deepened and enlarged. Also, by building the Hydro-Energetic System from the Iron Gates and the Danube - Black Sea Canal (64 km) on Romanian territory, the river traffic was increased and the link to the sea was considerably shortened.
Marking two thirds of the border between Croatia and Serbia, the Danube flows through Belgrade and, after a short return towards South-East, it flows eastwards becoming a border between Serbia and Romania. Alongside this border, the Danube flows through a gorge, the longest in Europe (144 km), where the ancient Danubius cut the Carpathian Mountains chain.
Then there is the Danubian border between Bulgaria and Romania and later on, in its long journey of more than one thousand km on Romanian territory, it separates into three Branches: Sulina, Sfantu Gheorghe and Chilia, forming the largest Delta in Europe. The Danube waters the shores of the Republic of Moldova for about 600 meters, and the Ukrainian ones for more than 80 km.
Today, the Danube, this unique European inheritance, is protected by the International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, comprised by the representatives of the riparian countries. The existence of this Commission itself is related to the protection and preservation of the richest ecosystem in Europe.
On the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 1.40, the Ram Fortress (Republic of Serbia) is illustrated.
On the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 2.40, the Drama Theatre - Ruse (Republic of Bulgaria) is illustrated.
On the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 3.10, Cahul State University “Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu” (Republic of Moldova) is illustrated.
On the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 4.30, “Assumption of the Virgin” Church - Izmail (Ukraine) is illustrated.
On the postage stamp of the souvenir sheet of the issue with the face value of Lei 14.50, the Navigation Palace (arch. Petre Antonescu) - Galati (Romania) is illustrated.
