Romfilatelia introduces into circulation on Wednesday, December 4, this year, a philatelic issue with a collectible topic, related to the Royalty of Romania: Passions of the Queens of Romania.
The issue is composed of four postage stamps reproducing the portraits of the queens, Elisabeth, Marie, Queen Mother Helen and Anne, alongside images illustrating their passions for literature, painting and folk costume traditions, two First Day Covers, a philatelic folder with a special product in a limited edition and a set of 4 maxicards for the passionates of maximaphily.
Queen Anne, (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 5), who from an early age served as a volunteer in the Liberation Army under the command of General de Gaulle, worked as a driver of a military mini-jeep used on the battlefield to care for the wounded. Modestly displaying a romantic nature, Queen Anne was the author of several paintings appreciated by connoisseurs, generally focused on landscapes. The stamp reproduces a portrait from her youth, having as background a painting of a seashore with a blue sky with seagulls flying.
Queen Mother Helen (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 6) is remembered by her contemporaries as a gentle and compassionate figure, attentive to those in need, and as a queen who cherished the traditions of folk costumes, as she often promoted the unparalleled beauty of the traditional Romanian blouse – the ‘IA’ -, even during official appearances. Like Queen Marie, she was fond of horseback riding and participated as a rider in some official parades.
Queen Marie, a true ‘queen’ of flowers (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 12), who adored lilies, poppies, and violets (from which she derived her favourite royal colour that bears her name), was also passionate about painting and horseback riding. The princess portrait featured on the dedicated postage stamp is accompanied by the beauty of flowers from a famous watercolour painting by Queen Marie, depicting poppies. A strong-willed and ambitious figure with a masculine determination, Queen Marie was also highly regarded as a skilled equestrian.
Queen Elisabeth, (postage stamp with the face value of Lei 25) also known by her pen name Carmen Sylva, was a generous host of cultural events held at Peleș Castle, where notable figures such as George Enescu, Mihai Eminescu, and Elena Văcărescu were present. Alongside her love for music and poetry, Elisabeth often found herself in front of the easel, as a painter. The postage stamp depicts her at the royal desk in the role of a poet preparing to write the verses of a new creation in a notebook.
The philatelic issue Passions of the Queens of Romania beneficially complements a general theme dedicated to the Royalty of Romania, which has become a globally recognized collectible theme, being awarded by the international jury appointed by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), a UN body, with a bronze medal at the International Philatelic Exhibition organized in Bangkok, Thailand (2023).
Romfilatelia thanks the representatives of the Romanian Royal Household and of the Peleș National Museum for the documentary support granted to the development of this issue of postage stamps.