Bulgaria First Issue 'Large Lion' 5 Centimes

Bulgaria · 1879 · 5 Centimes

This is the first postage stamp issued by Bulgaria, featuring the national coat of arms, a rampant lion within a crowned mantle. The denomination '5 САНТИМА' is inscribed below, and 'БЪЛГАРСКА ПОЩА' (Bulgarian Post) is written in Cyrillic script above. The design is simple and symbolic, marking the nation's entry into the Universal Postal Union.

Issued shortly after Bulgaria gained autonomy from the Ottoman Empire following the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78, these stamps represent a key step in establishing national sovereignty and modern infrastructure.