Romania/Rumania Silistra Scutit 1913 Frank Stamp

I've been trying to piece together a coherent explanation of this stamp, and I'm missing something in the translation. (Most of what I've found is on Romanian sites, and has to be run through Google Translate.)



It seems to relate to the Second Balkan War, and the turnover of Silistra from Bulgaria to Romania. The number on the right side is the number of a proclamation that may have made some mail exempt from postal taxes?

Anyone have the real story on this?

Also, as long as I'm asking, some of the images I've found on the 'net seem to look crisper than my example...is there some variability in the printings, or might mine be a forgery?

Thanks for filling in the gaps.

Forgery
1. small squares in corner design
2. no square in A of posta
3. unclear background above silistria fortress.

If you are still interested into the story behind this stamp you may find interesting details at this link:
http://www.revenues.ro/pagini/silistra_eng.php posted in October 2013.
I looked for this stamp in Kiriac catalogue from 1974 (most authoritative catalogue for Romanian stamps) but there are only 2 rows into it. The issue with this catalogue is that it was printed during the Communist Era and censorship applied to stamps too. Probably because this stamp is somehow related to Silistra (lost by Romania at the beginning of WWII) was the cause. However, at least is still mentioned as opposed to many stamps especially issued during the WWII while Romania fought against Soviet Union which are not mentioned at all.

SCUTIT means exempt from postal taxes. The women is an allegory - Romania with a broadsword in right hand and national flag in left hand. And Cernavoda Bridge on background.

These stamps were issued for the benefit of Cultural Society " Mircea and Carol I "
The correspondence with this stamp is very rare as the stamp was valid only between October-December 1913.

Full Romanian text on circle band : "SCUTIT-POSTA, ORDINUL Nr.23466-913. Voieste si vei putea ". "Dreptul nostru" ( free translation EXEMPT - POST , ORDER Nr......." Dare and you will succeed " "Our right ")

Thanks for the additional information.

It's good to see old threads come back around.

Piece from Earl Galitz regarding the Silistra Free Franks.

romaniastamps.com

...although I agree with March... that appears to be the Cernawoda Bridge, not a fortress.

Yes ,it is a forgery . But not for the reasons above . It is a poor quality printing that tells you it is a fake . Let me put up a real copy later ,watching the UFC fights tonight .

Thanks for keeping this thread alive...I haven't seen this stamp in years...looking forward to seeing more from ft.

Hi floortrader,

Nice example.

Thanks for sharing this though I think you were too dismissive of the points that Rod made regarding some of the errors in the forgery. :(

Nigelc --Yea ,your right .Sorry Rod .

Nigel, FT,

That's OK floortrader, Cheers.

We must constantly enquire. From your scan, it seems the 2 obvious flags, are the "square" (More probably Rhombus) in the "POSTA" and the background, above "allegory Romania" .

What gets me, the author of the above piece I submittted, claims it to be the fortress of SiIstra, yet with FT's scan it most certainly the bridge at Czernawoda. I wonder how he got it so wrong? Unless the bridge has some unknown to me connection.

Block at auct (2012)



Imperf pair auct as above.

If the previous wasn't enough,
The size of the squares in the corner designs.



For the record, "Catalogul Marcilor" offers just the very basic info, no image.

translation.

trademarks of the porto exemption
1913 exempt
large square format 36 x 35mm
with the unsubscribed inscription post the order
color print on white, thin transparent paper
lace B (11½)

I wonder if the design is the badge of the Mircea and Carol I Cultural Society?

The King Carol I Bridge was opened in 1895 and I imagine it was a source of pride.

Interesting idea Nigel.
Could not locate anything on Google.
The link by alis previous suggests this though.

Certainly a source of pride.

Anghel Saligny Bridge (Formerly known as King Carol 1 bridge)
aka "Bridge at Cernawoda"



Mircea and King Carol 1
Sc#234
Ruins of Silistra Fort.

Nice selection of stamps Rod.

The last one with the bridge seems particularly appropriate at this time as one of the last showing King Michael.

It still seems amazing to me that he lived another seventy years after this stamp was issued.