Belgium 10c Carmine Rose, Leopold I with Epaulettes

Name: Belgium 10c Carmine Rose, Leopold I with Epaulettes
Brand: Belgium

Belgium · 1849 · 10c

This stamp, known as the 'Epaulettes' issue, is the first postage stamp of Belgium. It features a portrait of King Leopold I, the first King of the Belgians, facing left and wearing a military uniform with prominent epaulettes. The design is framed by intricate scrollwork, with the denomination '10c' at the bottom.

Issued on July 1, 1849, this stamp marked Belgium's entry into the postal reform movement sweeping Europe, following Great Britain's Penny Black. It standardized postal rates and simplified the mailing process within the kingdom.

Printing Method

Engraved

Themes

royalty heads-of-state epaulettes

Catalog Numbers

sg1

scott1

michel1

Image: · License:

View on Wikimedia Commons

Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$150

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$100

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

$75

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

$40

Good(G)

Off-center or visible wear

$15

Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.