Moldova Mail issues antique weaponry-themed stamps

Moldova's national postal service Posta Moldovei (Moldova Mail) issued on Tuesday two sets of stamps themed “Antique Weapons on Moldova's Territory. First International Exhibition. Budapest 2008”, Info-Prim Neo reports. The first stamp, priced at 1.2 leu, depicts weapons dating from the X-XIV centuries – an iron mace, an iron battle ax, and three arrowheads. The second stamp, priced at 4.5 lei, represents arms dating from the VIII-XIII centuries: an iron flail, an iron spearhead, and three iron harpoon points. The two sets were issued in 100,000 copies each. The author of the stamps is artist Vladimir Melnic. The two stamps represent medieval weapons from the personal collection of Petru Costin, on display from 12 August 2008 to 25 March 2009 at the Military History Museum in Budapest. The exhibition themed “Cold Steel Weapons, Harness Items and Working Tools”, dedicated to the National Day of the Republic of Moldova, was organized with the support of the National Archeology and History Museum of Moldova. The director of the museum, Eugen Sava, said at the launch ceremony of the stamps that the exhibition in Budapest has been the first international event of this kind to take place since the independence of Moldova, and expressed hope that it's not the last one. Petru Costin says that the weapons displayed in Budapest, approximately one thousand items, are just a small part of his collection, which is the richest personal collection of cold steel arms from Moldova. For over 40 years as a collector, Costin says he has developed his passion for weaponry since childhood. Deputy head of the Chisinau Customs Office, Petru Costin has dedicated his PhD candidate's dissertation to the Moldovan customs history, and his hobby has a part in his work too. In March, the National Archeology and History Museum of Moldova will host an exhibition of prince flags from Costin's collection.