Egypt First Issue, 1866

Egypt · 1866 · 5 Para

This is the first postage stamp issued by Egypt, then an autonomous state within the Ottoman Empire. The design features an intricate pattern with the denomination '5 PARA' prominently displayed in the center, surrounded by Turkish text. The stamp was printed in Florence, Italy, by the Pellas Brothers printing firm.

Issued under the authority of Khedive Ismail Pasha, this stamp marks the beginning of Egypt's formal postal system, replacing the various foreign post offices that had previously operated in the country.