| Title: | ÖSTERREICH 1850-1918, Spezialkatalog und Handbuch (1850-1918 AUSTRIA Specialized Catalogue and Handbook) |
| Author: | Dr. Ulrich Ferchenbauer |
| Published: | 1990 (the 5th Edition) by Dr. Ulrich Ferchenbauer, Wien, Austria; 795 pages; |
Review by Mark Fromer, in "Romanian Philatelic Studies", Vol.4, No.1, 1980, page.6:
"Though this German-language handbook is only peripherally concerned with Romanian stamps, stationery ans postal history, many of its pages will be of great interest to the collector of these.
This book gives solid coverage of the stamps and stationery of the Austro-Hungarian Empire items themselves. Color, perforation, watermark, paper, type and plate varieties, not found in general catalogues, are covered in great detail.
The collector of Romania will especially concern himself with with the stamps and proofs of the Austrian military post (field post) general issues - which could be used in Romania - (pages 485-494) as well as those issues specifically for use in Romania (pages 506-508).
Areas serviced by Austrian post offices in the Levant included some in present-day Romanian territory (pages 511-565). The list of opening and closing dates of such offices will be most helpful to the postal history buff.
For similar reasons, the postal historian will be interested in the map of ports of call of the DDSG (Donau-Dampfschiffahrts-Gesellschaft or Danube Steamship Navigation Co.), its stamps and their reprints (pages 577-583).
The Kustendje (Constantza) local post stamp and mixed frankings possible with the issue, likewise fall into the Romanian field of interest (page 584).
Furtehrmore, Austria made a practice of printing instructions on postal stationery in the diverse languages of the local populaces of its empire. Lettercards, postcards, telegram receipts, customs notices, postal savings cards, etc. issued between 1871 and 1914 may contain inscriptions in Romanian alone or in conjunction with German and/or Ruthenian. These items (used in Bukovina) rightfully deserve a place in Romanian collections."