Romania 1906 Semi-Postals

 Torcatoarea - Spinning Issue

The set  was issued January 1906 as the first of three charity issues showing Queen Elisabeth doing good deeds. 

On this first set the Queen is spinning in a national costume. The surtax on the stamps, dedicated to the charity "Torcatoarea" society, was +7 Bani on the lowest value (3 Bani) and +10 Bani on the other 3 issues (5, 10 and 15 B). The surtax was not shown on the stamps, however, instead the inscription "Timbru de Bine-Facere" was used (Charity stamps). 

On the bottom of the stamps is printed the motto "Dumnedeu sa ne duca mana!" (God guide our hand!) written in the Queen's handwriting, followed by her signature.

A total of 500.000 sets were printed in the Stamp Factory in Bucharest. The stamps were valid for postage till June 13 1907.

The design of this set (and the other 1906 charity issues) was a result of a contest in the "Arhitectura" magazine. 

Comparison of Genuine and Forged stamps

Common to all the forgeries

- The forgeries have perforation 11.25, while the original stamps have perf. 11.5 and 11.5x13.5

- The gum is much thicker and more even on the forgeries than on the genuine stamps.

- The stamp colors are different especially the 3 and 10 bani

- The details are lacking on the forgeries, especially in the handwritten section. Some letters are completely missing

- The hyphen between the A & P is missing

Specific Details - Genuine left, forgery right

Original (left) & Forgeries (right)

Note the obvious color differences

I have seen a notation that there is a possible 2nd forgery type

The quality is very poor with many details lacking

The hyphen is not missing

A key feature appears to be the signature letter joined to the frame line

Tesatoarea - Weaving Issue

The set was printed in the Stamp Factory in Bucharest for the benefit of the textile society "Tesatoarea". The surtax, which is not shown on the stamps, was +7 Bani for the lowest value, then +10 Bani for the other three values. 

Common to all forgeries:

- The letter N from ROMANIA has a characteristic shape

- The queen's quote and signature can be read in originals, but are illegible in forgeries

- The B of value digits differs a lot

- The weaving at the top left is incomplete

Specific Details - Genuine left, forgery right

Original (left) & Forgeries (right)

Only the 10 bani has an obvious color difference

This issue also has a possible 2nd forgery type but they appear to be scarce

Many line breaks and details lacking but generally a better copy

Mama Ranitilor - Nursing Issue

The set was printed in the Stamp Factory in Bucharest for the benefit of the social protection society "Polyclinica". The design shows Queen Elisabeth as nurse during the independence war of 1877, and this set is thus often referred to as "Mama ranitilor" (Mother of the wounded). 

Common to all the forgeries

- The first A in ROMANIA is much narrower

- The first 2 letters TI of TIMBRU are shorter than the others

- The small s above the signature has no cedilla

- The leaf above the value tablet is missing (key feature)

- The left cross has a dot in the center not in the genuine

Specific Details - Genuine left, forgery right

Original (left) & Forgeries (right)

The 3 bani forgery has a major color difference