In the period from April 16 to April 19, 2024, under the patronage of FIP and the recognition of FEPA, the World Philatelic Exhibition EFIRO 2024 was held at the National Library of Romania in Bucharest. The event, which covered an area of 2,000 sq m, was attended by a total of over 600 foreign exhibitors, over 20 postal services and 120 foreign employees, juries, experts and national commissioners. Among them were the Bulgarians Ivan Mechev, Spas Panchev, Janush Donev, Deyan Nikolovski, Orlin Todorov, Nikolay Nikolov, Boris Kalinkov and Prof. Dimitar Radenovski.The Romanian national postal company Romfilatelia has released a commemorative postal set, which includes three postage stamps, a perforated souvenir sheet, a first day cover and a special stamp folder for the sixth edition of the event. The three stamps and the perforated souvenir sheet present several events related to the history of Romania, Romanian postal services and philately.
The exhibition was also accompanied by sessions of the Judging Academy of the International Federation of Philately (FIP), four international seminars, the Congress of the International Association of Philatelic Journalists and the second World Fiscal Philately Exhibition.
Unfortunately, traditionally the Bulgarian participation in the event is minimal and is more or less the same as last year's exhibitions. There are no participants in most categories, and this is especially noticeable in Aerophilately, Astrophilately, Thematic Philately (all classes), Maximaphilia and others. I will not comment on the reason for this.
Bulgaria participated with one commissioner - the merchant Mr. Galin Kanev. Part of the jury was Mr. Boncho Bonev.
Results of the Bulgarian participation in EFIRO 2024:
Ivan Mechev, "Classical Bulgaria (1879-1886)" - gold medal (92 points),
Spas Panchev, "Eastern Rumelia and Southern Bulgaria" - big gold medal (95 points),
Janusz Donev, "Postal Stations before the Liberation" - gold medal (90 points),
Deyan Nikolovski, "Postal History of Bulgaria" - large vermeil (87 volumes),
Orlin Todorov, "Bulgarian Classical Postal Entities" - large vermeil (87p.),
Nikola Nikolov - "Moise Kamerman" - (73 items).
In the "Literature" class, Boris Kalinkov and Prof. Dimitar Radenovski received two Vermeil medals for the books "Varna" and "Belogradchik".
Ivan Mechev, "Classical Bulgaria (1879-1886)" - gold medal (92 points),
Spas Panchev, "Eastern Rumelia and Southern Bulgaria" - big gold medal (95 points),
Janusz Donev, "Postal Stations before the Liberation" - gold medal (90 points),
Deyan Nikolovski, "Postal History of Bulgaria" - large vermeil (87 volumes),
Orlin Todorov, "Bulgarian Classical Postal Entities" - large vermeil (87p.),
Nikola Nikolov - "Moise Kamerman" - (73 items).
In the "Literature" class, Boris Kalinkov and Prof. Dimitar Radenovski received two Vermeil medals for the books "Varna" and "Belogradchik".
