Bulgaria First Definitive Issue 'Large Lion'

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' (5 Santima) is inscribed below, with 'БЪЛГАРСКА ПОЩА' (Bulgarian Post) in Cyrillic script above. The design is simple yet symbolic, marking the nation's entry into the Universal Postal Union.

Issued shortly after Bulgaria gained autonomy from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, this stamp represents a key step in establishing national sovereignty and modern infrastructure.