November 25, 2013

0868 & 0878 ROMANIA (Suceava) - Frozen morning in Pleşa village


Posted on 20.11.2013, and 25.11.2013
"Pleşa, the most beautiful village in the whole world, as told me a man from there," wrote Marius on the first postcard, and I have no reason not to believe him, although I know that his skill as photographer plays a key role in the enhancement of the landscapes. Anyway, pour serenity in soul this picture of the hills guarding the  valley of the Humor brook, as the backs of some sleeping dragons, on one of the backs seeing the village's houses, and among them, bright, St. Anne's Church, consecrated by more than a century ago.

Pleşa is one of the villages of the Mănăstirea Humorului commune, known for the church of the monastery with the same name, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its history is related to emigration of the Polish Highlanders (gorals) from Čadca region (located on the border between Poland and Slovakia), who, attracted by the Bukovina's freedoms and wealth, were settled on the periphery of Cernăuţi (now Chernivtsi). But others had done the same thing before them, so that some of them asked in a petition in 1835 to approve the settlement within the domain Ilişeşti, south of Mount Pleş, name later transformed into Pleşa .


Following approval, 16 Polish families founded the colony Pleş, located along the Austrian military road. The number of inhabitants of Pleşa remained approximately constant from the foundation of the village to nowadays. In 1857 141 people lived in Pleşa, in 1880 - 217, in 1890 - 216, in 1900 - 210, in 1910 - 254, in 1930 - 259, in 1967 - 250, and in 1992 - 210, of who only a few declare other nationality than Polish.

About the stamps
On the first postcard
The stamp is part of the first set of the series Flowers’ Clock, about which I wrote here.

On the second postcard
The stamp is part of the second set of the series Flowers’ Clock, issued on June 21, 2013, which combines the image of a flower with an exhibit from the Nicolae Simache Clock Museum in Ploieşti.

 • the Anthericum ramosum (Anthericum ramosum L.), which blooming hour is 3 p.m., and a table clock, Japy Frères, Beaucourt, 1823-1849 (0.50 RON)
 • the Marvel of Peru (Mirabilis jalapa L.), which blooming hour is 5 p.m., and a table clock, Kienzle,Germany, 19th century, belonging to the historian Nicolae Iorga (1.20 RON)
 • the Jimson weed (Datura stramonium L.), which blooming hour is 6 p.m., and a pocket watch, Jacquemarts type, with repetition, Robert et Courvoisier, Geneva, 1790-1800 (1.40 RON)
 • the White campion (Silene latifolia Poir.), which blooming hour is 7 p.m., and a traveller’s clock with alarm and repetition, Austria, early 19th century (3.00 RON)
 • the Winged Tobacco (Nicotiana alata Link & Otto), which blooming hour is 8 p.m., and a chimney clock, anonymous factory, Paris, 19th century (3.10 RON)
 • the Common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis L.), which blooming hour is 9 p.m., and a miniature table clock, France, 19th century (4.70 RON)

References 
Episcopia Romano-Catolică de Iaşi - Official website

sender 1, 2: Marius Vasiliu (direct swap)
sent from Gura Humorului (Suceava / Romania), on 14.11.2013
sent from Gura Humorului (Suceava / Romania), on 21.11.2013
photo 1, 2: Marius Vasiliu

No comments:

Post a Comment