Training | A Brief History of Bulgarian Philately
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1. March 31, 1893. On this date a hundred years ago, a few enthusiasts founded the first philatelic society in Bulgaria in Plovdiv. The beginning was made.
2. On October 15, 1893, the society, which already had 50 members, published its own printed organ, “Voice of the Bulgarian Stamp Society.” This was the second philatelic magazine in Bulgaria after the monthly “Timbrophile,” published in 1891 in Panagyurishte by the enlightened and patriotic Bulgarian Atanas Kirilov.
3. Also in Plovdiv during these years, Hristo G. Danov published the first Bulgarian “Album of Stamps from Around the World”.
4. In 1893, at the World's Fair in Chicago, the Bulgarian merchant Samuel Blaustein displayed Bulgarian and foreign stamps at his stand - we learn this from Aleko Konstantinov's travelogue "To Chicago and Back."
5. Until 1921, no other philatelic societies were established, but in different cities of the country there were groups of collectors who corresponded with each other and exchanged postage stamps. However, a number of philatelic publications appeared: in 1909 - the magazine "International Review", with publisher and editor Vasil Apostolov from Sofia; 1911 - the magazine "La Bulgari", edited by Simo P. Simov from Pleven; 1920 - "Complete guide for collecting, preserving, evaluating and preserving destroyed postage stamps and a catalog of Bulgarian postage stamps up to 1921".
6. After World War I, interest in philately grew. In 1921, the philatelic society in Plovdiv was restored, and by 1927, 38 philatelic publications were published in different cities and for different durations: in Sofia – 14, in Pleven – 4, in Burgas, Plovdiv, Svishtov and Targovishte – 3 each, in Varna and Gorna Oryahovitsa – 2 each, and in Lom, Panagyurishte, Ruse and Tarnovo – one each.
7. In 1924, the first postal and philatelic book in our country was published - "History of the Post Office from the Earliest Times to the Present Day" - author Kiro Petrov.
8. In 1926, the first issue of the magazine “Postage Stamp” was published – initially as the “Organ of Bulgarian Stamp Collectors”, with editor Dimitar Iv. Goshev, then as the organ of the “First Bulgarian Philatelic Society in Sofia” and finally, in 1938, it became the organ of the Union of Bulgarian Stamp Enthusiast Societies with editor-in-chief Stefan Simov.
9. On November 27, 1925, a philatelic society was founded in Sofia with Boris Hadzhikalchov as chairman. Since June 1926, the society has been organizing weekly meetings for the exchange of postage stamps.
10. The first philatelic library was established in Sofia in 1927, when Boris Hadzhikalchov donated about 200 volumes of domestic and foreign philatelic literature to the society.
11. In 1928, the first youth section of the Sofia Philatelic Society was established.
12. The first philatelic exhibition in our country, organized in 1930, took place on the ground floor of Hristo G. Danov's publishing house in Sofia.
13. From 1937 to 1947, the magazine “Bulgarian Stamp” was published. Its editor and publisher was the philatelist and stamp dealer Simeon Charakchiev (1914-1993). He also wrote the catalog of Bulgarian postage stamps “Sima”, which was published until 1958.
14. On November 10, 1937, a new society was established in Sofia with the name “Balkan Club”, and on November 25, 1937, a group of scientists and public figures established the Scientific Philatelic Club – Sofia, with Prof. Rafail Popov, director of the National Archaeological Museum, as chairman.
15. In 1937, philatelic societies were founded in Gorna Dzhumaya, Stara Zagora, Vidin, Pazardzhik, Kazanlak and Veliko Tarnovo. The same year, the prominent Sofia philatelist Dimitar Goshev published the catalog “DIGE”.
16. The Founding Congress of the Union of Bulgarian Stamp Enthusiast Societies was held on June 16-17, 1938. Delegates from the three Sofia societies, as well as the societies in Veliko Tarnovo, Nova Zagora, Pazardzhik, Ruse, and Stara Zagora participated in the congress.
17. At the same time, societies existed in Gabrovo, Varna, Kazanlak, Dupnitsa, but they did not send delegates.
18. Vaclav Stari, a member of the Sofia society, participated for the first time in an international exhibition – “Bratislava 38” – and won 2nd prize and a silver medal.
19. On 7.2. 1943, the cooperative association “Postage Stamp” was established. Eight months later – on 31.X. 1943, the cooperative held its first auction in the hall of the “Slavyanska Beseda” community center in Sofia.
20. In 1946, Bulgarian Postage Stamp Day was celebrated for the first time with the active participation of the members of the Union.
21. From October 26 to November 1, 1947, the first international philatelic exhibition in our country was organized in Sofia. A postcard was issued and a special stamp was used.
22. In 1948, the Postage Stamp Cooperative issued the first official maximum cards with the stamps from the series “Distinguished Poets and Writers”. That year, the first maximum exhibition was organized in Sofia. This was the second exhibition in the world after the one in Dijon, France.
23. On the initiative of Simeon Charakchiev, a Scientific Institute of Philately was established in 1949. Elin Pelin was elected chairman. In 1968, this institute was restored, and in 1981 it was renamed the Scientific and Information Center for Philately. Since 2006, it has become the Philatelic Academy of the Union of Bulgarian Philatelists.
24. The first youth philatelic club in our country was established in the Palace of Pioneers in Sofia. The classes were held during the 1957-1958 school year and its leader was the capital's philatelist Miroslav Tokludzhanov. At the same time, Ivan Daskalov led philatelic classes with students in the city of Pleven and wrote the first textbook in Bulgaria, published in 1965.
25. From 1.1. 1959, the publication of the magazine “Philatelen Pregled” was restored, becoming an organ of the Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Union of Bulgarian Philatelists.
26. For the first time, Bulgarian philatelists participated in a world exhibition in Poland in 1960. They presented two exhibits: “Bulgaria – Classics” by Petko Karaivanov and “USA – Classics” by architect Grigor Mihaylov. Both exhibits were awarded bronze medals.
27. The first national philatelic exhibition “SOFIA 64” took place from October 3 to 18, 1964. 68 exhibits participated, placed on 260 exhibition boards.