Egypt 1866 First Issue, 5 Paras

Egypt · 1866 · 5 Paras

This is the first postage stamp issued by Egypt, featuring a design with the Great Sphinx of Giza and a pyramid in the background. The denomination of 5 Paras is inscribed in Arabic script within a central oval, surrounded by intricate geometric patterns. The stamp was printed in Penasson, Alexandria, and marks the beginning of Egypt's postal history.

Issued under the authority of Khedive Ismail Pasha, this stamp replaced the services of foreign post offices operating in Egypt, signifying a major step in national sovereignty and modernization of the postal system.