The Evolution of Postage stamps and postal history of Eastern Rumelia

Eastern Rumelia's postage stamps and postal history are a fascinating area of study. The region, which existed from 1878 to 1885, had a unique set of postal needs that were met through a series of stamps and postal arrangements.

The first postage stamp issued in Eastern Rumelia was in 1879, featuring a design with a portrait of Alexander Batenberg, the region's ruler. This stamp was used to send mail within the region.

Eastern Rumelia's postal system was closely tied to that of the Ottoman Empire, with many stamps featuring Ottoman designs and motifs. The region's postal history is a reflection of its complex and often tumultuous relationship with the Ottoman Empire.

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Eastern Rumelia, a province in the Ottoman Empire from 1878 to 1908, is remembered by philatelists for its unique postage stamps.

The first stamps of Eastern Rumelia were issued in 1881, with new stamps specifically printed for the province sent from Constantinople.

These stamps featured design elements from existing Ottoman postage stamps, with the Greek inscription Ανατολική Ρωμυλία (Anatolian Rumelia) above the "Emp. Ottoman" and French and Bulgarian inscriptions of the name in small letters along the left and right sides.

The stamps were printed in Constantinople, and most of the types are quite common, but perforation variations can be scarce.

In 1884, a 5 paras stamp and a ten paras stamp of a second issue of this design, with changed colors, were issued.

Higher denominations for the 1884 issue were prepared, but not issued.

The stamps of Eastern Rumelia were also overprinted with the Bulgarian lion image in 1885, with prices ranging from US$6–200.

The province used Bulgarian stamps from 1886 on.

Here's a list of the main types of Eastern Rumelia stamps:

The stamps of Eastern Rumelia are a fascinating area of study for philatelists, with many variations and overprints to collect and analyze.

South Bulgaria issued several classic era stamps, including Scott #35, which is valued at $73 for an unused stamp.

The country also produced several sets of stamps, including Bulgaria Scott# 128-129, 130-133, 135-137 & 153-157, which were mint and complete.

In 1885, South Bulgaria released a 10-Eastern Rumelia Lion 5 Paras stamp.

The 1885 Eastern Rumelia (South Bulgaria) 1 pi ovp mint hinged Scott Cat 25 stamp exists.

A 1885 Eastern Rumelia (South Bulgaria) 20 para ovp mint hinged Scott Cat 32 stamp, also known as SG Cat 31, was released.

The 1885 Eastern Rumelia (South Bulgaria) 10 pa ovp MH Scott Cat 39 stamp, or SG Cat 41, is a notable issue.

An accumulation of Eastern Rumelia (South Bulgaria) stamps from 1881-4 includes several mint hinged stamps.

A specific Eastern Rumelia (South Bulgaria) 10 pa ovp mint hinged Scott Cat 31 stamp, also known as SG Cat 30, exists.

There is also an Eastern Rumelia/South Bulgaria accumulation of MH/Used stamps, including Sc 15-18, which totals 14457 stamps.

Bulgaria issued several complete sets, including Scott# 420-433, 469-480, 491-492 & 493-499, which were mint never hinged.

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Eastern Rumelia was an autonomous province in the Ottoman Empire from 1878 to 1908, under Bulgarian control since 1885. It's remembered by philatelists for issuing postage stamps from 1881 on.

The first stamps were overprinted Turkish stamps sent by the Turkish government in 1880, but the Eastern Rumelian government refused to issue them due to dissatisfaction with their presentation. A compromise was reached, and new stamps specifically printed for Eastern Rumelia were sent from Constantinople in 1881.

The stamps of Eastern Rumelia were produced for a short period, making them scarce and resulting in many false reproductions available on the secondary market. The 1881 and 1884 issues featured the Turkish Empire's standard crescent designs, with the region's name printed in multiple languages and scripts.

The Bulgarian issue of overprinted or hand-stamped stamps of Eastern Rumelia featured the Lion of Bulgaria in green or indigo ink, with two types of overprints: a simple image of the Lion of Bulgaria and a framed image of the Bulgarian Lion with "Bulgarian Post" in Cyrillic alphabet.

Here are some key facts about the stamps of Eastern Rumelia:

The history of postage stamps in Eastern Rumelia is a fascinating one. Russian forces and their allies won the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, freeing Bulgaria from Ottoman control.

The Treaty of San Stefano declared the autonomous Principality of Bulgaria in 1878, but the Treaty of Berlin of the same year split off a southern portion of Bulgaria as the Eastern Rumelia province within the Ottoman Empire.

The Ottoman Empire ruled over the southern region for several years, issuing several overprinted and new stamps for the province. These stamps were a testament to the Empire's control over the region.

In 1885, Bulgaria started a revolution with the help of locals, gaining control over most of the region and renaming it South Bulgaria. This marked a significant turning point in the history of postage stamps in Eastern Rumelia.

The Ottoman Empire's stamps for Eastern Rumelia were overprinted with the Bulgarian Lion emblem for the region. These stamps included the Rumelian stamps of 1881 and reprints of 1884.

The overprints later evolved to include "South Bulgaria" in Bulgarian Cyrillic and enclose the lion image within a frame.

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The postal system in Eastern Rumelia was quite impressive, with a network of post offices established along the main roads and railways.

In 1879, the first post office was opened in Plovdiv, the capital city of Eastern Rumelia.

Letters were transported at a relatively fast pace, taking about 2-3 days to reach their destination.

The postal system was well-organized, with a clear system of classification and pricing for letters and packages.

Postage stamps were introduced in 1879, featuring the coat of arms of Eastern Rumelia.

The postal system played a crucial role in facilitating communication and trade between the region and the rest of the world.

By 1885, the postal system had expanded to include over 200 post offices across Eastern Rumelia.