Romfilatelia recalls the richness of the natural heritage of Romania by introducing into circulation a postage stamp issue dedicated to the species of pelicans living in our country, as part of a broader topic consecrated to protected wildlife from Romanian reserves.
The Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve celebrates this year its 25th anniversary, being one of Europe’s most important nesting areas for these birds.
The Danube Delta is the only delta in the world entirely declared a biosphere reserve and a UNESCO world
heritage site since 1991, sheltering an impressive number of pelicans from two species: the Great White Pelican
(Pelecanus onocrotalus) and the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus).
The five stamps of the issue Protected wildlife in Romanian reserves: Pelicans masterfully illustrate both species of these birds, which are declared natural monuments and are strictly protected under the Bern Convention on the Conservation of Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
On the stamps with the face values of lei 3.60 and lei 8.10 is represented the Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus), the symbol of the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. This is a big European bird species that nests in colonies in Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia.
The stamps with the face values of lei 5.00 and lei 9.10, as well as the stamp of the souvenir sheet with the same face value of lei 9.10 depict the Dalmatian Pelican (Pelecanus crispus), the second species of pelicans found
on our country’s territory. The Dalmatian Pelican has the current status of a globally vulnerable species, being
the largest of all species of pelicans, reaching up to 10-12 kg, measuring 160-180 cm and having a wingspan of
310-345 cm.
Technically, the issue is completed by a first day cover and a set of 4 maxicards, and as page composition were used the sheet of 32 stamps, the minisheet of 5 stamps + 1 label, the block of 4 stamps + 2 labels (in philatelic album) and the perforated souvenir sheet.
The special product of the issue is the philatelic album, created into a limited edition of 260 pcs. and equipped with the block of 4 postage stamps and the first day cover of the issue, having the first day postmark clearly imprinted in gold foiling. Both products are numbered from 001 to 260.
Starting with Friday, April 10th, 2015, the postage stamp issue Protected wildlife in Romanian reserves: Pelicans will be available in all Romfilatelia shops in Bucharest and countrywide.
Romfilatelia thanks the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, the Romanian National Commission for UNESCO, as well as the photographers Bogdan Ciungara, Silviu Matei and Daniel Petrescu for the documentary support granted in the achievement of this postage stamp issue.
For further information, please contact the Public Relation Office:
Tel: 021 / 337 24 42