Belgium 1849 Epaulettes No. 1

Belgium · 1849 · 10c

This stamp, known as 'Epaulettes No. 1', is the first postage stamp issued by Belgium. The design features a portrait of King Leopold I in military uniform, notable for the prominent epaulettes on his shoulders, from which the stamp derives its popular name. The denomination of 10 centimes is inscribed below the portrait.

Issued on July 1, 1849, this stamp marks Belgium's entry into the postal reform movement that began with Great Britain's Penny Black. It simplified the postal system by allowing for prepayment of postage at a uniform rate.