For stamp collectors, every issue of postage stamps featuring the theme of ‘Birds’ is a source of joy and interest.
In response to the wishes of philatelists both in Romania and abroad, Romfilatelia and the Romanian Post are introducing into circulation on Friday, January 30th this year, the postage stamp issue entitled Roosters, consisting of four postage stamps, a First Day Cover, a perforated philatelic block, and a philatelic folder with a special product in a limited run printing.
The concept of the issue entitled ‘Roosters’ combines the artistic side – painting – with the scientific side, mentioning specific breeds, as follows:
On the postage stamp with the face value of Lei 5, there is a reproduction of the painting ‘A Rooster with Hens and Chicks’ by Dutch painter Albertus Verhoesen, created in 1855, depicting the Ardennaise breed.
The Ardennaise breed is an old, medium-sized breed originating in the Ardennes (Belgium/France), which at one point (during World War II) practically disappeared, but was later reselected.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 6.50 depicts the painting ‘Farmyard Fowls’ (circa 1827) created by John James Audubon. The breed depicted here is Pavlovskaya, with white specimens. The Pavlovskaya breed, or ‘Russian crested’ breed, existed at the time of the American ornithologist Audubon’s painting and had probably already been brought to America. It is an old, medium-sized breed, originating from Russia, rare at present, with a variable comb in roosters, sometimes flattened (the ‘rose’ type), sometimes of the ordinary type, and sometimes replaced by a crest of feathers.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 10 features the painting ‘Rooster and Hen’ by Finnish artist Ferdinand von Wright, created in 1867. – Hamburg breed.
The Hamburg breed is a medium-sized breed with a variable comb, originating in the Netherlands (despite its name), used for eggs and as an ornamental breed.
The postage stamp with the face value of Lei 14 reproduces the work entitled ‘A Cat Among Roosters’ by the Slovak-born painter Jakob Bogdani (who worked extensively in England, where he also died) circa 1710.
Various breeds are shown, with the rooster belonging to the ‘Old English Gamefowl’ breed (the old English fighting breed) originally selected for cockfighting, now bred for ornamental purposes. The breed is quite variable, with several standardized types, vivid colors, and often very small combs.
Romfilatelia thanks First Degree Scientific Researcher Luis Ovidiu Popa, Director of the ‘Grigore Antipa’ National Museum of Natural History, and museographer Alexandru Iftime, PhD, for their expert advice in the development of this postage stamp issue.
