The Austrian Post in Romania

Bibliography

The Austrian Consular & Military Post in the Romanian Principalities.
(Including DDSG & Lloyd Private Posts and the Hungarian Successional Consular Post).

Historical:

The Austrian Imperial Post:

Its activity started in 1732 with the Sibiu (in Transylvania) - Craiova (in Wallachia) postal relay. It continued (after an interruption between 1739-1783) as a special consular post. In Bucharest, the Austrian postal service started around 1785. Its postmarks were found on mail between 1811-1853.

The Austrian Military Post (November 1854 – 16.04.1857):

Austrian troops peacefully "garrison" the principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia. Originally intended to handle just soldier mail the military were obliged to handle civilian mail following the demise of the Russian courier services. Cancels consist of a approximately 23mm single circle cancels with the K.K. FELFPOSTAMT No.1 (Bucharest), K.K.OST.F.P.CRAJOVA (Criaova), K.K.F.POST 11 (Roman) etc. with a central two line date (day, month). Cancels are seen on both stampless letters and letters with 1850 stamps of Austria affixed

The Austrian Consular Post (16.04.1857 - 31.03.1869):

Here is the list of the consular offices: Alt-Orsova (in Austria), Bacau, Berlad, Bottushan, Braila, Bucharest, Buzeu, Calafat, Campina, Corabia, Craiova, Focsani, Folticeni, Galatz, Giurgevo, Gura Jalomitza, Guravoja, Ismail, Jassy, Kalaras, Oltenitza, Piatra, Piquet, Pitesti, Ploesti, Rimnik, Roman, Slatina, Stirbey, Tecuciu, Turnu Magurelle, Turnu Severin, Vaslui, Zimnitza (in Romania); Czernavoda, Hirsova, Kustendje, Ostrov, Sulina, Tulcea (offices in Turkish Dobroudja, which were in use until 1879). Cancels are seen on Lombardo-Venetian stamps of the 1863 and 1864 issues, then on Austrian Levant stamps of the 1867 issues.

A convention signed with Austria on 1.07.1869 ended the Austrian postal facilities in Romania.

The Starostie Agencies (...1837 - 31.03.1869):

The Starostie agency was a consular unit, a type of sub-office which the Austrian consular authorities utilized in smaller townships. Entrusted to Austrian nationals residing there, the agencies handled mail. The actual transport was undertaken by Romanian postal entrepeneurs via the "Austrian Post bag". In towns where, after the Crimean War, consular post offices were opened, the Starostie agencies were closed: BAKEU and BARLAD on 3.07.1859, PLOYEST on 1.04.1858, ROMAN in 3.07.1858. The other agencies were closed on 31.03.1869.

The Hungarian Consular Post in Romania:

On the eve of the creation of Austria-Hungaria, as a result of the 1867 compromise, there were 12 Imperial post offices in Romania; on 1.05.1867 six of these (FOKSCHAN and GALATZ in Moldavia, BUCHAREST, GIURGEVO, IBRAILA and PLOJESTIE in Wallachia) were handed over to Hungary to be administrated by the postal directorate of Hermannstadt / Nagzszeben / Sibiu. The remaining six post offices (BAKEU, BERLAD, BOTTUSCHAN, JASSY, PIATRA and ROMAN, all in Moldavia) were placed under the Austrian postal administration of the postal directorate of Lemberg. The consular posts were dissolved in 1869.

The DDSG:

the DDSG ("Donau - Dampfschiffahrts - Gesellschaft") issued its own stamps, and established more agencies along the Romanian side of the Danube: Braila, Bucharest, Galatz, Giurgevo, Ismail, Turnu Severin and in Dobroudja (at that time part of the Ottoman Empire): Kustendje, Sulina, Tulcea.

The Lloyd Company:

The Lloyd Company established also agencies in Braila and Galatz.

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STAMP CATALOGUES:

The Austrian Military Post Offices used between Nov.1854 - 16.04.1857 the stamps of the first austrian issue (1850). These are listed in all catalogues to the respective place at "AUSTRIA".

The Austrian Consular Offices in Romania used between 16.04.1857 - 31.03.1869 the Lombardo-Venetian stamps of the 1863 and 1864 issues, then the Austrian Levant stamps of the 1867 issues. These stamps are catalogued as follows (the offices from the Turkish Dobroudja were in use until 1879):

The DDSG Post used special stamps catalogued as follows:

BOOKS:
  1. Grosses Handbuch der Abstempelungen von Altösterreich und Lombardei - Venetien - Edwin Müller, Stephan Meyer, 1925. (Ger***): pages 217-218 and 221-223.
  2. Moldau-Walachei (Rumänien), die fremden und einheimischen Posten bis 1875 - H. and B. Birnbach, Berlin 1930. (Ger***).
  3. The Danube Steam Navigation Company - E.F. Hurt & Denwood N.Kelly, State College, P.A. 1950, U.S.A. (Eng***).
  4. Handbook of the Pre-stamps of Austria - Edwin Müller. (Eng**): pages 84-94.
  5. Handbook of Austria and Lombardo-Venetia Cancellations on the Postage Stamp Issues 1850; 1858-59; 1860-61; and 1863-64 - Edwin Müller, Marc Fitch, 1961. (Eng/Ger***).
  6. Austrian Post Offices Abroad, part I-VII - Tchilinghirian & W.S.E. Stephen (+ Keith Tranmer). (Eng***): the classical, peerless work on this subject.
  7. Stampilele postale folosite în Tările Române pînă în anul 1881 - Gr. Racoviceanu, Bucuresti 1963. (Rom***): the Austrian Imperial Post- pages 93-98; the DDSG Post- pages 98-102; the Lloyd Post- pages 103-104.
  8. Handbuch der Feld- und Militärpost in Österreich - Alfred Clement, 1964. (Ger***): volume I, Chapter 14 (Die Besetzung der Donaufürstentümer un der Aufmarsch gegen Russland) pages 147-156.
  9. UMBERTO DEL BIANCO - Il Lloyd Austriaco e gli annulli maritimi dell'Austria-Ungheria, Volume II (La Linee del Levante, L'attivita' postale sul Danubio e le rotte tra la Turchia e l'Austria), Milano, 1978, 478+VIII pages (Ita***).
  10. The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World -S.Ringström & H.E. Tester, 1981. (Eng): DDSG at pages...38-46...

ARTICLES:
  1. Geklärte und Ungeklärte Fragen bezüglich der fremden Posten in den Donau - Fürstentümern - W.J. Witzleben, Rudolf Zoscsak, WIPA Exhibition booklet, attached to Die Postmarke 30 June 1933, Wien. (Ger): a first attempt to write about the Austrian Starostie Agencies.
  2. Neues von der österreichischen Feldpost in den Donaufürstentümem- Rudolf Zoscsak, Sammler-Woche nr.17/18, Wien, 5 September 1942. (Ger).
  3. Die österreichische Konsular Postämtern in Moldau und Walachei - Ludovic Dengel, B.B.Z. no.5/1943. (Ger).
  4. Posta austriacă în Principate - Gr. Racoviceanu, Rev.Soc.Fil.Române, nos.4-6, April-June 1944. (Rom): describes two letters with Starostie markings (Kimpina and Ployest).
  5. Die Altbriefe des Donaufürstentüms Walachei - Rudolf Zoscsak, Deutsche Altbriefsammler Verein, 121. Rundbrief, October 1954. (Ger).
  6. Posta Austriacă în Tările Române - Eduard Konya, Filatelia no.3/1959. (Rom).
  7. Posta austriacă în Dobrogea în secolul trecut - T. Jikeli, Filatelia no.1/1962, p. . (Rom).
  8. Agentiile "Starostie" si stampilele lor - Ludovic Dengel, Filatelia, no.6/1962. (Rom).
  9. Despre obliterările vechilor Agentii DDSG din Tările Romîne - Dimităr Mincev, Filatelia no.6/1963. (Rom**): a survey of the DDSG postmarks from Romania.
  10. ? - H. Germmscher, Sammler Express, sem.II/1963. (Ger).
  11. 1855: Der Feldpost-Stempel von Rimnik - F.J., Die Briefmarke no.77, November 1964, Wien. (Ger).
  12. Răsfoind arhive - Ion Pătrascu, Filatelia no.1/1970. (Rom).
  13. Noi contributii cu privire la agentiile "Starostii" - Ludovic Dengel, Filatelia no.10/1970, p.4. (Rom**): two new cachets of the 'Starosties' agencies.
  14. Bukarest in der Walachey. Cele mai vechi stampile postale folosite în Bucuresti - Nicolae Tripcovici, Filatelia no.12/1970. (Rom).
  15. Contributii la cunoasterea serviciului postal al 'Agentiei Starostii' austriece din Craiova - D. Passalega, Filatelia no.12/1971. (Rom).
  16. Cu privire la stampila 'Galacz', Filatelia no.8/1975, p.7 (Rom*): details on the 'Galacz' postmark (an answer to a question of Horst-Dieter Scherrer, from Filatelia no.3/1975, p.13).
  17. ? - Hugo Künzi, Il Nuovo Corriere Filatelico, Florenza, 1976. (Ita**): an interesting letter with multiple franking, mailed from Czernawoda through the DDSG post (article reviewed in Filatelia no.10/1976, p.17).
  18. Magyar Posta Romániában, 1867-1869-ben - Nagy Ferenc, Philatelica no.1/1977, p.30. (Hun).
  19. Este acesta cel mai vechi document filatelic din Tara Românească (Muntenia) ? - Marcel Sapira, Filatelia no.4 /1977, p.14. (Rom*): a letter arrived 27.10.1850 from Wien to Bucharest: is this the earliest date of the BUKAREST postmark ?
  20. Primele stampile postale folosite în Moldova si Tara Românească - Pompiliu Voiculet-Lemeny, Filatelia no.1/1978, p.11. (Rom*): about the 'MOLDAU' postmark.
  21. On Foreign Posts in Moldavia and Walachia - Nicolae Tripcovici, RPS no.4/1978, pp.2-3. (Eng**): the article treats some lesser known aspects as: two new types of the "BUKAREST in der WALACHEY" postmark; mixed markings Austria/Moldavia; the deviation of the Constantinople-Vienna route during the 1820's uprisings in Walachia; the enigma of the "MOLDAU" postmark; the postmark "K.K. OST. F.P. RIMNIK".
  22. Date noi privind Agentiile "Starostii" - Iulian Constantin, Filatelia no.8/1979, p.6. (Rom*): illustrates a Starostie marking from Turnu-Severin (but not postally used). Welcome comments were made by Norbert Blistyar in Filatelia no.3/1980, p.12.
  23. La posta consolare austriaca in Moldavia e Valacchia - Nicolae Tripcovici, Il nuovo Corriere Filatelico no.26, December 1979. (Ita).
  24. Posta Austriaca la București - Silviu Dragomir, Almanah Filatelia 1980, p.74 (Rom*): a "BUKAREST / 3 APR." postmark used as arrival cancel in 1853.
  25. Handwritten Cancellations on Austrian Stamps Used in the United Principalities - Ladislau Rothman, RPS no.1/1980, p.1. (Eng*): a 10 Soldi stamp cancelled with handwritten a Galatz.
  26. Hungarian Consular Post in Romania: a Postal History Anomaly - Abdul G. Khan, RPS no.1/1980, pp.8-10. (Eng***): a synthese of the activity in the six post offices which were transferred towards the Hungarian postal administration between 1867-1869 (Fokschan, Galatz, Bucharest, Giurgevo, Ibraila, Plojestie).
  27. Austrian Imperial Posts in Bucharest - Silviu Dragomir (Reprinted from Stamps, July 21, 1979), RPS no.1/1980, p.11. (Eng*): a "BUKAREST / 3 APR." postmark used as arrival cancel in 1853 (translation of the article from Almanah Filatelic 1980).
  28. Mixed Franking in Moldavia and Walachia - Nicolae Tripcovici, (Reprinted from SPA Journal, March 1980), RPS no.3/1980, p.20. (Eng*): two external Vienna-Vaslui 1859 and Constantinople-Galati 1864 covers with mixed franking (Romanian & Austrian stamps) from Fritz Heimbüchler's collection.
  29. The Problematic Austrian Field Post Office Markings - Gabriel Sassower, RPS no.4/1980, pp.6-7. (Eng***): a summary of the opinions on the controversial "discoveries" of Rudolf Zoscsak (of the Austrian postmarks from KAINENI, PIATRA F.P, K.K.RIMNIK and SCHTIRBEY).
  30. Din nou despre Agentiile "Starostii" - Iulian Constantin, Filatelia no.11-12/1980, p.13. (Rom**): new data regarding the administratively used "Starostie" markings.
  31. Use of the "Porto" Markings by Austrian Posts in the Romanian Principalities - Norbert Blistyar, RPS no.1/1981, pp.5-6. (Eng**): a "PORTO" marking on external cover from Walachia to Austria, 1863, plus additional comments to N. Tripcovici's article from RPS no.3/1980 (see above).
  32. The Starostie Agencies of the Austrian Posts in the Danubian Principalities - Ludovic Dengel, RPS no.2/1981, pp.11-12. (Eng***): a summary of all available informations to date about this lesser known subject.
  33. Cîteva observatii privind stampilele liniare cu dată, folosite de posta austriacă în Bucuresti - Norbert Blistyar, Filatelia no.3/1981, pp.7-8. (Rom**): a review of the Austrian linear postmarks from Bucharest.
  34. Dated Linear Postal Markings Used by the Austrian Posts in Bucharest - Norbert Blistyar, RPS no.3/1981, pp.7-8. (Eng**): a review of the Austrian linear postmarks from Bucharest (the English version of the above article from Filatelia 3/1981).
  35. A Letter from Galatz to Venice 1842 - George Pataki, RPS no.4/1981, p.11. (Eng*).
  36. The Problematic Austrian Field Post Office Markings - Gabriel Sassower, Austria no.59/1982. (Eng): an update of the author's article from RPS no.4/1980 (see above).
  37. What is the "DA=FA" Marking ? - Ladislau Rothman, RPS no.2/1983, p.6. (Eng).
  38. A Complex Constantinople-Galatz Postal Route - Luciano De Zanche, RPS no.2/1983, p.6. (Eng).
  39. Austrian Post Offices Abroad. Danubian Principalities, Dobroudja and a few Related Matters - Gabriel Sassower, RPS no. 3/1984. (Eng).
  40. Posta austriacă în Principatele Române - Em. Munteanu, Almanah Filatelia 1984, pp.101-104. (Rom*): a general survey of the historical of the Austrian presence in Romania
  41. Despre postele austriece în Principatele Române - Norbert Blistyar, Filatelia no.7/1985, p.8. (Rom***): a reviewing of the arguments pro and versus the simultaneous functioning of the Austrian consular and military post services.
  42. Danubian Principalities: Observations on the Austrian Occupation during the Crimean War - Gabriel Sassower, The London Philatelist no.1-2 (January-February) 1987. (Eng***): the first part of a synthesis based on reasearches in the British archives and informations from contemporary British newspapers (reviewed in Filatelia no.5/1987, p.18).
  43. Danubian Principalities: New Facts about the Austrian Military Date Stamps used at Fokshan during the Crimean War Occupation - Gabriel Sassower, The London Philatelist no.3-4 (March-April) 1987. (Eng***): the second part of the above article (reviewed in Filatelia no.8/1987).
  44. Mehr zum Thema Starostie - Gabriel Sassower, Der Rumäniensammler, April 1987. (Ger).
  45. Desfintarea "Agentiilor Starostii" austriece din România - Dumitru Passalega, Filatelia nr.3/1988, p.3. (Rom***): first-hand informations about the closing of the Austrian "Starostie" Agencies.
  46. Au fost două stampile "MOLDAU" ? - Pompiliu Voiculet Lemeny, Filatelia no.3/1988, p.4. (Rom*): the author presumes that there were two different 'MOLDAU' postmarks.
  47. Österreichische Konsulatspost in Rumänien. Anmerkungen zum Stempel MOLDAU von 1811 - Fritz Heimbüchler, Der Rumäniensammler no.69. (Ger*): a fine letter with a MOLDAU postmark.
  48. Nu au existat două stampile "MOLDAU" ! - Leonard Pascanu, Filatelia no.8/1988, p.11 + Filatelia no.9/1988, p.18. (Rom***): the documented answer to the presumtion published in Filatelia no.3/1988 (see above): there was a single MOLDAU postmark !
  49. Ultima zi cunoscută de utilizare a postei austriece în România - Leonard Pascanu, Almanah Filatelia 1988, p.113. (Rom*): the description of a cover received in Bakeu on 18.03.1869 - probably the "last day" of the Austrian post in Romania.
  50. O frumoasă piesă prefilatelică - Mircea Braga, CF no.3/1990, p.3. (Rom*): a 1811 cover with a 'Bukarest in der Walachey' postmark.
  51. Danubian Principalities. Clarifications relating to the Austrian Starostie establishements - Gabriel Sassower, The London Philatelist, June 1990, pp.123-130. (Eng***).
  52. CMPR'84 si cîteva "scăpări" la posta DDSG - Marinel Chiriac, CF no.22/1992, p.6. (Rom*): an errata to the DDSG chapter from the CMPR'84 Romanian catalogue.
  53. Levantul, perspectiva postala asupra regiunii - O.D. Cummings, The London Philatelist no.1219/October 1994. (Eng).
  54. Posta Imperiului Austriac în Levant - Mihail Popovici, Filatelia no.1/1995, p.6. (Rom**): an annotate review of Mr. Cumming's article from "The London Philatelist" (see above) with discussion on the 'Bukarest in der Walachey' postmarks.
  55. 'JASSY' cu lauri - o stampilă rară de postă consulară -Mihail Popovici, Filatelia no.7-8/1995, p.16. (Rom*): about the postmark 'JASSY' with laurels.
  56. Guerre de Crimée. Pendant que chargeait la brigade légère, la Roumanie moderne se préparait à naitre - Michaud Didier, Timbroscopie no.137/August 1996. (Fra).
  57. ? - Gabriel Sassower, Der Rumänien Sammler, April 1987. (Ger).
  58. Un giuvaer putin cunoscut al istoriei noastre postale - Liviu N. Cristea, CF no.84-85/March-April 1997, p.3-4. (Rom**): an external PORTO letter sent in 1862 from Câmpulung Muscel to Sibiu (in Transylvania), through the Austrian office from Bucharest.
  59. O nouă stampilă "PORTO" - Dan Grecu, CF no.86-87/May-June 1997, p.7. (Rom*): another external PORTO letter sent in 1866 from Râmnicu Vâlcea to Lugos (in Banat), through the Austrian office from Bucharest.
  60. Posta militară de campanie austriacă în Principatele Române în timpul Războiului Crimeii - Mihail Pascanu, Partea I: Filatelia no. 4/1997; Partea II: Filatelia no. 7-8/97; Partea III: Filatelia no.11/97; Partea IV: Filatelia no.1/98, (Rom***): a synthesis of near all available informations about this subject (see below Gabriel Sassower's completions).
  61. Posta militară Austriacă în Principatele Române 1854-1857 - Gabriel Sassower, Filatelia no.7-8/1998, pp.4-5. (Rom***): completions to the above series of synthese articles, based on author's original articles from "The London Philatelist" 1987 (which were omitted from Mr. Pascanu's comprehensive bibliographical sources list).
  62. The Danube Steam Navigation Company (Erste K.K.pr. Donau Dampfschiffahrt Geseeschaft - First Imperial Royal Privileged Danube Steam Navigation Company) - Anonymous [Dick Frost], Stamps of Hungary no. 140 / March 2000, pp.11-17. (Eng***).
  63. NORBERT BLISTYAR - Poșta austriacă de campanie în timpul Războiului Crimeii. Prezența ștampilei Feldpost No.4 la Sibiu, CF no.130 / Ian.-Feb.2004, pp.4-6 (Rom).
  64. AUREL MAXIM - Poșta militară austriacă de campanie din Moldova în timpul 'Războiului Crimeii' (1853-1856), Filatelistul Feroviar no. 3(36) / Aug.2004, p.15-21 (Rom***): The Austrian Fieldpost in Moldavia during the Crimean Campaign. This is the first of a series of excellent articles written by a most remarcable researcher, based exclusively on unpublished archival naterial !!!
  65. AUREL MAXIM - Poșta Agenției Cezaro-Crăiești a Austriei în Moldova (până la 1825), Filatelistul Feroviar no. 4(37) / Nov.2004, p.18-23; no. 2(39) / May 2005, p.8-14; no. 3(40) / Aug.2005, p.1-7 (Rom***). See the remark above.
  66. HEDY FAIBEL - Starostiile austriece în Principatele Dunărene, Filatelia No.11(595), Nov.2005, p.2-3 (Rom).
  67. AUREL MAXIM - Poșta Agenției Cezaro-Crăiești a Austriei în Moldova (1826-1869): Filatelistul Feroviar no.4(41) / Nov.2005, p.23-30; no.1(42) / Feb.2006, p.9-19 (Rom***). See above.
  68. GABRIEL SASSOWER - Starostiile austriece în Principatele Danubiene, Filatelia No.1(597), Jan.2006, p.3-4 (Rom).
  69. The Mail of The First K.K. Privileged Danube Steamship Travel Company (D.D.S.G), AUSTRIA No. 160 / Winter 2007, pp. 26-32; Reprinted from APS Journal, vol.2, issue 4 - translated here from Ferchenbauer's Spezialkatalog of 2000, pages 1281-1292 (Eng).

Bibliography
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