King Leopold I with Epaulettes

Belgium · 1849 · 10c

This stamp, Belgium's first, features a portrait of King Leopold I, the country's inaugural monarch. The design, engraved by Jacob Wiener, shows the King in military uniform with prominent epaulettes, a detail that distinguishes it from later issues. The denomination is displayed in numerals at the bottom corners.

Issued in 1849, this stamp marks Belgium's entry into the postal reform movement that began with Great Britain's Penny Black. It standardized postage rates and simplified the mailing process within the newly independent nation.