King Leopold I with Epaulettes
Belgium · 1849 · 10c
This is the first postage stamp issued by Belgium, featuring a portrait of its first monarch, King Leopold I. The design, known as the 'Epaulettes' type, was engraved by Jacob Wiener based on a painting by Charles Baugniet. The stamp is imperforate, as was common for the earliest issues.
Issued just nine years after Great Britain's Penny Black, this stamp marked Belgium's entry into the new postal system, simplifying mail delivery and payment across the young nation.
Printing Method
Engraved
Catalog Numbers
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View on Wikimedia CommonsEstimated Values by Condition
Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
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