Mini Review: Romania Catalogue

Recently purchased the "Catalogul Timbrelor Postale Romanesti" specialized catalogue authored by Lazar Carjan and Mircea Gheorghe Manacu. Specifically Volume 1 which covers the period 1858 – 1947. Published in 2006, the catalogue features 352 pages in full color. The reproduction quality of the stamps is very good, and there are numerous detail drawings (color and B&W) as well.

The book measures 9.5 x 6.75 inches, and features coated paper throughout. Purchased the catalogue to support recent research specific to the 1893 – 98 "King Carol I" series (Scott 117 – 131, and subsequent varieties). And I am not disappointed. In contrast to Scott's 15-stamp set, I estimate the Carjan catalogue lists at least four times that; including numerous watermark, perforation, paper type, and share varieties. Although I have only had the catalogue a couple of days have also discovered variations in stamp size.

The Carjan is printed entirely in Romanian. There is no English content at all, not even in the introduction or listing legend. Fortunately discovered of few online resources which include basic philatelic terms, colors, etc.

Intentionally purchased the Carjan catalogue versus the "Catalogul Marcilor Postale Romanesti" (1974) authored by Silvio Dragomir which many Romanian philatelists consider to "the Bible" as I wish to be able to compare and contrast the two catalogues.

Purchase made through an ebay dealer in Romania. Very satisfied with price, product quality, and delivery time.

Sounds good. Am I right in thinking that a grounding in Italian and/or French enables you to have a reasonable shot at Romanian (recognising that philatelic terms are a bit of a horror in any language)?

Hi Geoff.

Not in my opinion, but you may conclude to the contrary. Took six-week course in Romanian in college albeit many years ago. IMO Romanian was unlike any other language (Romance and Slavic) I had studied to that point. And conclude the same today.

While sentence structure may be similar to Romance languages, the vocabulary is very different. IOW, have yet to come across any cognates.

With that said believe the CPTR will prove to be a valued resource.

Aha. I must confess my chief experience lies in reading the labels of wine bottles!

Well, de-cant tell you otherwise.

Thanks Jim, Super.
FYI, With Romanian, if I have a Catalogue page of condensed Info,
I'll scan the page, and translate the image via Yandex.

Romanian is a Romance language, not incredibly distant from phonetic Latin. As I recall, Romania is the preferred spelling, as opposed to Rumania or Roumania, specifically to link the modern country to Rome.

Several of my Romanian friends have told me they consider French the easiest language for them to learn, due to its similarities to their language.

Hi
gmot- I can confirm, I learned French very easily 50 years ago at school as opposed to English (I use google translate to answer).
calstamp, rod222-I can help you with the Romanian translation or with the correctness of the English translation.
Surely I know more English than you Romanian.

Thank you Cupram.

I am looking to get a copy of the three-volume set of this catalog, if anyone has any leads on being able to buy a copy that will ship to the USA let me know. I checked ebay but the dealer who had it must not have any more copies.

Specific to Romanian philatelic items:

Have been very satisfied with selection, pricing, and delivery offered by an ebay seller named
norocel42.

Due to many travels in Mexico and South America, I did have a fair grasp of Spanish. When I was in Romania in 2011 for some hiking and sight-seeing, I found I could read many of the street and business signs due to the background in Spanish.

I said "did have a fair grasp...." I haven't been in South America since 2016. Such knowledge of a second language can depart quickly if not used.

Jim,
Translation of 1 page......barely a pass?
Could be helpful in certain cases.

Hi DJCMHOH
I think this is the catalog you are looking for.
It is a Romanian sales site (you have the address in the bar)
Only volume 1 at a selling price of 38 Euro.

Rod.

Thank you for posting the sample translation scan. Will try to run a few pages myself in a couple of weeks and advise you of the outcome.

Cheers.

Jim