Bulgaria 1879 5 Centimes 'Small 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 in Cyrillic script at the bottom. The design, known as the 'Small Lion', is simple yet symbolic, marking Bulgaria's newly established postal autonomy.

Issued shortly after the Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878), this stamp signifies Bulgaria's re-establishment as an autonomous principality after centuries of Ottoman rule. It represents a key step in building the infrastructure of a modern state.