Reflections and Implications of Philately in the Promotion of Mining and Mineral Samples, Fossils and Gems in Romania (I): 1945-1960

Abstract

The natural heritage is defined and accepted as the set of physico-geographic and biocenotic (floristic, faunistic) components and structures of the natural environment, whose ecological, economic, scientific, biogenic, sanogenic, landscape, recreational and cultural-historic significance and value has a relevant significance for present and future generations. Constantly promoting philatelic themes that address the natural heritage, different philatelic associations and post office entities performs a series of postage elements in whose pictures we also find the Romanian industrial preoccupations over time. In this paper we propose an insight into the history of mining-philately and bring into discussion the first significant concerns in promoting mining activity and mineral samples, fossils and gems in Romania. In this context, the main objective of this paper is to identify, index and describe the main philatelic pieces issued in Romania (postal stamps, FDCs, occasional envelopes, postcards and maxicards etc), from the beginning of issuing in this field, namely the period 1945-1960.