Authors

Alexandru-Cristian Voicu¹;  ¹ The National Institute for Study of Totalitarianism/The National History Museum of Romania, Romania

Discussion

The reign of King Carol II of Romania is significant not only from a political standpoint but also from a symbolic perspective, particularly in the way he employed his image to cultivate a personal cult and to legitimize his authority through philatelic art. This study aims to examine two interconnected dimensions: first, the monarch’s influence on the design and production of Romanian postage stamps during the 1930s; and second, the ways in which these stamps functioned as instruments of propaganda in constructing his cult of personality.
Far from being mere postal artifacts, these issues reflected a deliberate visual strategy through which Carol II sought to embody the modern Romanian state, illustrating the inseparable bond between political power, state apparatus, and royal imagery.
Carol II was himself an avid philatelist, possessing an extensive and carefully curated collection, as well as a profound understanding of the field. He used his royal authority to intervene directly in the decision-making process surrounding the creation of postage stamps, taking an active role in selecting illustrations, artists, and color schemes. Archival evidence indicates that the king frequently requested the Romanian Post to produce imperforate examples of each new issue for inclusion in his private collection. Notably, his first issue bearing his portrait, released in September 1930, featured denominations that did not correspond to postal tariffs, suggesting that these were not pragmatic or technical decisions, but rather symbolic acts designed to enhance royal representation.
Through these philatelic emissions, Carol II effectively transformed himself into the miniature emblem of the Romanian state. Departing from the traditional effigy used to depict Romanian monarchs, he adopted a modernized iconography, appearing in military, ceremonial, scouting, or civilian attire — to emphasize his connection to the nation and its people.
The postage stamps of the 1930s thus fulfilled a dual function. On the one hand, they served practical postal needs, even when certain face values far exceeded the necessary tariffs. On the other hand, they operated as instruments of visual propaganda, in line with a broader European trend wherein authoritarian and totalitarian regimes emerging after the First World War exploited imagery as a means of securing popular legitimacy.
Carol II’s carefully orchestrated system of personal imagery and royal symbolism intensified after 1938, following the establishment of his royal dictatorship. By ensuring the repeated circulation of his likeness across the country through postage stamp, the regime cultivated the perception of a “leader-monarch”, a stabilizing figure amid a period marked by political, economic, and social turbulence.