The EFIRO (Romanian Philatelic Exhibition) tradition began with EFIRO 1932 (November 20th – December 5th 1932), international stamp show dedicated to the Romanian stamp jubilee and to the 70th anniversary of the unification of the two Romanian Principality Posts, an exhibition that was organized at the initiative of the “Philatelic tribune” magazine. Placed under the high patronage of the H.M. King Carol II, the exhibition was inaugurated Sunday, November the 20th, 1932, in the presence of H.M. King Carol II, at the Romanian Academy Foundation – “Ioan Dalles” Hall in Bucharest. In order to promote this exhibition an advertising franking machine was introduced in the post office from the Northern Railway Station. The invitations were sent by using a post card that contained the composition of the Organizing Committee. The first Romanian souvenir sheet was released and this was dedicated to this event (test sample, nominal value 6+10 lei, text: 12 Noembrie 1857 – 1932). This souvenir sheet (nominal value 6 + 5 lei, text: Noembrie 1932) was canceled with a special postmark from the EFIRO post office counter. Also, for promotional purposes, a green, blue and dark violet label was distributed free of charge for those who requested it. 40 collectors participated, the most remarkable collections being the ones belonging to: H.M. King CAROL II, Baron WITZLEBEN, George MATHESCU – Sinaia, Rudolf ZOSCSAK and Eduard COHEN. The Romanian Post was not present to this event, fact that was very badly perceived by the visitors.

15 years after the first edition, “Filatelia” magazine intended to organize in 1948 a new edition of EFIRO but that did not happen probably because of the political changes that took place at the end of 1947.

The EFIRO tradition was recommenced in 1998, by organizing the national philatelic exhibition EFIRO 1998 (17-30 September) at the Palace of Parliament – Constantin Brancusi Hall, exhibition that was dedicated to the 140th anniversary from the issue of the “Bull-head” Stamp in Moldova and to the 150th anniversary of the 1848 revolution. The exhibition benefited from the patronage of the Romanian President – Mr. Emil Constantinescu. 237 collectors participated, the most remarkable exhibits being included in the Gallery of Honour: Prince George Grigore CANTACUZINO, a.k.a. “The Nabob”; Mircea STANCIULESCU – “Romania 1858 – 1872”; Ulm SPINEANU – “Romania 1858 –1872”; Constantin MILU – “Romania 1600 – 1872, classical postal history”, and the one in the official class of the Romanian Post. The Grand Award EFIRO ’98 was granted to Mr. Hedy FAIBEL (Israel) – “prephilately and foreign post in the Danubian Principalities”. The Romanian Post issued on this occasion several items such as: “the Romanian Postal Stamp Day” – serial, booklet, perforated souvenir sheet, perforated souvenir sheet with special red ink postmark “the bugle”; the postal stationery set – code 093/98…096/98, code 104/98, 105/98, code 111/98….115/98 – dedicated to the personalities of the Romanian philatelic history.

From the 16th to the 30th of September 2004, took place in Bucharest, at the Palace of Parliament – Constantin Brancusi Hall, the national philatelic exhibition with international participation EFIRO 2004, dedicated to the 23rd UPU Congress and to the 130th anniversary of UPU foundation. The exhibition was under the patronage of Mr. Adrian Nastase, the Romanian Prime-Minister, being inaugurated on 16th of September in the presence of the 40 postal general directors, of the Director General of the U.P.U. International Bureau, the Chairman of FIP, ministers, and a numerous public. 120 collectors and 27 postal administrations participated as exhibitors, the following collections being awarded the gold medal: Constantin V. MILU – “Romania 1857 – 1872”; Simona DRAGOTEANU – “Transilvania de Nord 1944 – 1945”; Mircea M. DRAGOTEANU – “Hotel poste of Transylvania – Hohhe Rinne, Bistra, Magura”. The most valuable collection exhibited was the one of Mr. Ulm SPINEANU – “Romania 1858 – 1872”. Special notice should be made to the plaquette/medals issued on the occasion of EFIRO exhibitions, the items being reproduced on the postal stationery code 136/2004. (Dan N. Dobrescu, AEP)