Ethiopia, First Postage Stamps, Lion of Judah

Ethiopia · 1894 · 1/4g

This stamp is part of the first series of postage stamps issued by Ethiopia, then known as Abyssinia. The design prominently features the Lion of Judah, a powerful symbol of the Solomonic dynasty and Ethiopian monarchy, wearing a crown and carrying a cross-topped staff. The denomination is shown in Amharic script, reflecting the nation's unique cultural identity.

Issued under the authority of Emperor Menelik II, these stamps marked Ethiopia's entry into the Universal Postal Union and asserted its sovereignty and modernity on the international stage.