Romania Stamps
1940
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 615 and 616
"Balkan Entente (II)"
Issued 27th May 1940. These stamps Measure 28 x 33 and were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf K13½:13¼.
Michel 617 to 624
"King Carol II"
Issued 1st Jun 1940. These stamps Measure 28 x 33 and were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf 13¾:13¼.
Michel 625 to 630
"King Carol II - Ten Years on the Throne"
Issued 8th Jun 1940. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf 14½ x 13½ and Michel 627 to 629 Perf 13½.
Michel 631 to 638
"Youth organization "Straja Tarii"
"10th anniversary of King Charles II's"
"accession to the throne"
Issued 8th Jun 1940. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf 14½:14.
Unless otherwise noted, stamps Michel 639 to 1065 were valid until 14th Aug 1947
Michel Block 9
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
"With 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint"
Issued 1940. Not to be confused with the 1939 issue identified as Michel Block 3 which is identical except without the 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 639B
Mi 640B
Mi 641B
Michel Block 10
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
"With 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint"
Issued 1940. Not to be confused with the 1939 issue identified as Michel Block 4 which is identical except without the 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 639A
Mi 640A
Mi 641A
Michel Block 11
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
"With 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint"
Issued 1940. Not to be confused with the 1939 issue identified as Michel Block 5 which is identical except without the 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 642B
Mi 643B
Mi 644B
Mi 644B
Michel Block 12
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
"With 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint"
Issued 1940. Not to be confused with the 1939 issue identified as Michel Block 6 which is identical except without the 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 642C
Mi 643C
Mi 644C
Mi 644C
Michel Block 13
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
"With 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint"
Issued 1940. Not to be confused with the 1939 issue identified as Michel Block 7 which is identical except without the 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 646B
Mi 647B
Mi 648B
Mi 649B
Michel Block 14
"Birth Centenary of King Carol I"
"With 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint"
Issued 1940. Not to be confused with the 1939 issue identified as Michel Block 8 which is identical except without the 'PRO PATRIA 1940' Overprint.
Mi 646C
Mi 647C
Mi 648C
Mi 649C
Michel 650 to 665
"King Michael I"
Issued 1940/1942. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf K14¼:14 and K14¼:K13½. These stamps were re-issed in 1944 with watermark 8 as Michel 797 to 816.
Michel 666 to 679
"King Michael I"
Issued 1940/1942. These stamps were printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf K14¼:14 and K14¼:K13½.
With the exception of postage due stamps, from Michel 680 to 1092, original covers with valid cancels are rare. There are many examples of post dated cancels and false cancels on covers and letters.
Michel 680
"Death of Corneliu Zelea Codreanu"
Issued 2nd Nov 1940. This stamp was printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf K13½:K13¼.
Michel 681
"Romania's accession to the 'Triple Pact'"
Issued 1st Dec 1940. This stamp was printed photogravure on watermarked 7 paper, perf K14¼:13¾.
