Denmark 2 Rigsbank-Skilling Blue "Fire-Spitting Lion"

Denmark · 1851 · 2 Rigsbank-Skilling

This is the first postage stamp issued by Denmark, featuring the national coat of arms with three crowned lions and nine hearts, surmounted by a royal crown. The design is enclosed in a square frame with the denomination "2 R.B.S." in the corners. The stamp is printed in blue on yellowish, handmade paper with a watermark of a crown.

Issued on April 1, 1851, this stamp marked Denmark's entry into the postal reform movement sweeping Europe, simplifying and standardizing mail rates. It is a classic and highly sought-after issue from the early days of philately.