EFIRO 2004

INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION

 

            Bucharest hosted the International Stamp Exhibition EFIRO 2004 at the Parliaments Palate – Constantin BRÂNCUŞI Room, Philatelic Association and the National Philatelic Museum Halls during September 16-30, under the logo “Cultural advancement trough Stamps”. The exhibition was dedicated to the Universal Postal Union - UPU 23rd Congress, which celebrated its 130th Celebration from its foundation, in Bucharest, as Romania is one of its foundation members. There were 188 exhibitors (815 frames) and 27 Postal Administrations (54 frames). The exhibition also promoted the logo “a word in a stamp” and allied in the tradition of EFIRO exhibitions from 1932 and 1998, demonstrating Romanian philatelists love and passion for classical stamp and Romanian stamp history.

 

            The opening took place on September 16, 2004 under the attendance of Mr. Adrian NĂSTASE, Romanian Prime Minister; Mr. Thomas E. LEAVEY, General Director at UPU; Mr. Koh Seow CHUAN, FIP President; Mr. Dan NICA, Honorary President UPU Congress, who spoke in the opening ceremony.

 

            The rules made possible a general exhibition containing exhibits in all competition classes, as defined by the FIP rules, including open class and one frame class. The maximaphily and aerophilately / astrophilately classes were presented during special sessions, REMEMBER EUROMAX ’74 and AEROMFILA 2004. A special exhibition was organized in Brasov on the topic of “Fire and the Firemen” / POMPIERFILA X. There was special representation for cartophylic class, not officially recognized by FIP at the present time. The jury adopted a custom made set of rules on this occasion.

 

            The Grand Prize of the EFIRO 2004 “Dimitrie C. BUTCULESCU” was awarded to Mr. Constantin V. MILU (Romania) – “Romania 1857 – 1872. Classical postal history”. The Grand Prize of exhibition REMEMBER EUROMAX ’74 “George MATEESCU – Sinaia” was awarded to Mr. Nicos RANGOS (Cyprus) – “Le patrimoiane culturel des pays d’ Europe a travers des cartes maximus réalises entre 1901 – 1939”. The Grand Prize of the exhibition AEROMFILA 2004 “King CAROL the 2nd” was awarded to Mr. Vasile FLORKIEVITZ (Romania) – “Special flights and first flights Hungary”.

 

            Hors concurs of competition there was a special exhibit by Mr. Ulm SPINEANU (Romania) – “Romania 1858 – 1872” of the most valuable traditional philately collection. This exhibit received the special prize of the Communication, Technology and Information Ministry. The exhibit contains few special items, including the biggest Romanian philatelic rarities (the first issue - 1858), a letter marked by an 8 stamps block of 5 PARALE / 1865 CUZA blue, Noble grill complete applied to a pair of 20 PARALE / 1865 CUZA (letter fragment0, rural letters, Danube mail by the boat, annex 2 PARALE / 1867 – CAROL with sideboards in circle, thin paper (11 pieces), etc.

 

            On this occasion there were two symposia’s scheduled. One was dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the first maximaphily exhibition EUROMAX ’74. The other was dedicated to EFIRO 2004. Mr. Nicos RANGOS, the president of the Maximaphily FIP Commission was the main speaker.

 

            Among the most important events of EFIRO 2004 was release of two joint emissions: Romania – Belgium commemorating 10 years from the death of Belgian sculptor of Romanian origin Idel IANCHELEVICI and the second Romania – China marking 55 year anniversary of diplomatic relation between the two countries.

 

            EFIRO 2004 was a true success and a rehearsal for the World Philatelic Exhibition EFIRO 2008. Bucharest in 2008 will host the World Philatelic Exhibition EFIRO 2008 to celebrate the 150 years since the first Romanian stamps have been issued. At this event will be promoted the historical, cultural and values of Romanian people through stamps.  

           

                        Dan N. DOBRESCU, AEP

President of the Jury

 

 

 

Illustrations:

 

Opening ceremony of exhibition EFIRO 2004: Mr. Koh Seow CHUAN, FIP President, Mrs. Cristina POPESCU PDG of ROMFILATELIA, Mr. Leonard PAŞCANU president of Romanian Philatelic Federation, Mr. Adrian NĂSTASE Romanian Prime Minister, Mr. Thomas E. LEAVEY General Director at UPU, Mr. Dan NICA Honorary President UPU Congress, Mrs. Adriana ŢICĂU Minister of the Communication, Technology and Information Ministry                                                                         – see file foto.jpg

 

Inside of the exhibition EFIRO 2004                                                                 - see file foto1.jpg

 

Romanian postcard dedicated to the UPU 23rd Congress                                               - see file ps_fepa.jpg

 

Romanian postcard dedicated to Mr. Thomas E. LEAVEY                                  - see file ps_leavey.jpg