Romania postage stamps year 1870 – 1900 Prince Karl I

Romania postage stamps year 1870 – 1900 Prince Karl I Used lot

Between 1870 and 1900, Romania issued several postage stamps featuring Prince Karl (Carol) I, who became the ruling prince (Domnitor) in 1866 and was proclaimed King Carol I in 1881.

Romania Postage Stamps Featuring Prince Carol I (1870–1900)

Design and Appearance:

• Early stamps from the 1870s show Prince Carol I with a beard, depicted mostly in profile or three-quarter views.
• The stamps were engraved by S. Sander and printed imperforate.
• The portrait of Prince Carol I is the central motif, often framed in an oval or decorative border.
• Colors varied widely, including carmine, yellow, blue, ultramarine, prussian blue, red, brownish, and combinations such as blue/red.

Key Issues:

• The 1870–1879 series includes denominations such as 5B, 10B, 15B, 25B, and 50B, with multiple color variants and paper types (including striped paper).
• These stamps were imperforate and printed without watermarks.
• Notable catalog numbers include Scott 29 to Scott 34 for the 1870s issues.
• In 1881, after Romania became a kingdom, stamps began to depict Carol as King rather than Prince, but the earlier issues remain significant for the period when he was Prince.

Historical Context:

• Carol I was from the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen family and was appointed Domnitor in 1866.
• Romania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877–78, and Carol I was crowned king in 1881.
• His reign marked a period of modernization and national consolidation.