Romania Stamps
1939
With the signing of the Munich Agreement in 1938 which ceeded most of Czechosolvakia to Germany, King Carol II, King of Romania realised that the western powers of Britain and France were not going to support him if he stood up against Hitler. Romania and Germany signed an economic agreement in 1939 but this agreement did not protect Romania from German agression.
The Molotov-Ribbentrop pact (August 23, 1939) between Germany and the Soviet union further undermined Romania's position as it secretly ceeded Romanian Bessarabia and Northern Bukovina to the Soviet Union as well as Northern Transylvania to Hungary and Southern Dobruja to Bulgaria all of which were symapthetic to the Nazi's. Following the loss of these territories King Carol II was forced to adbicate in favour of his 18 year old son, Michael I (25th Oct 1921 to 5th Dec 2017).
Although Michael I was the king, power lay in the hands of Ion Antonescu who went on to join the Axis powers of Germany, Italy and Japan on 23rd Nov 1940. From early 1941 onwards Romania was a military dictatorship. When the Germans invaded the Soviet Union in June 1941 the Romanians joined the conflict alongside the Germans to fight the Soviets. The reward for their assistance was to regain control over Bessarabia and Northern Bucovina.
As the tide of the war turned in 1943 the Romanian resistance sought peace with the Allies and King Michael I went on to arrest Antonescu and form a new governemnt on 23rd Aug 1944. Romania had effectively switched sides with the Romanian Army now supporting the Red Army against Germany and Hungary.
Michel 569 to 582
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 10th Apr 1939. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf K14¼:13¾.
Carol I (20th Apr 1839 – 10th Oct 1914) was born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen and was the King of Romania from 1866 to 1914.
Michel Block 3
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 1940. This block measures 142 x 118mm. Not to be confused with the 1940 re-issue identified as Michel Block 9 which is identical except with a 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 583B
Mi 584B
Mi 585B
Michel Block 4
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 1939. This block measures 142 x 118mm. Not to be confused with the 1940 re-issue identified as Michel Block 10 which is identical except with a 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 583A
Mi 584A
Mi 585A
Michel Block 5
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 1940. This block measures 126 x 146mm. Not to be confused with the 1940 re-issue identified as Michel Block 11 which is identical except with a 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 586B
Mi 587B
Mi 588B
Mi 589B
Michel Block 6
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 1939. This block measures 126 x 146mm. Not to be confused with the 1940 re-issue identified as Michel Block 12 which is identical except with a 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 586C
Mi 587C
Mi 588C
Mi 589C
Michel Block 7
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 1940. This block measures 126 x 146mm. Not to be confused with the 1940 re-issue identified as Michel Block 13 which is identical except with a 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 590B
Mi 591B
Mi 592B
Mi 593B
Michel Block 8
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
Issued 1940. This block measures 126 x 146mm. Not to be confused with the 1940 re-issue identified as Michel Block 14 which is identical except with a 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 590C
Mi 591C
Mi 592C
Mi 593C
Michel 594 and 595
"Romanian Pavilion N.Y. World's Fair"
Issued 8th May 1939. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf 14¼:13¾.
Michel 596 and 597
"50th Death Anniversary of Michael Eminescu (poet)"
Issued 22nd May 1939. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf 13½:13¼.
Michel 598 to 608
"Ninth Anniversay of the
"Accession of Carol II"
"and The Boy Scouts' Fund"
Issued 8th Jun 1939. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf 13½:13¼.
Michel 609 to 614
"70th Anniversary of Romanian Railways."
Issued 10th Jun 1939. These stamps were printed typography on watermarked 7 paper, perf 14½:14.
