Finland 1856 5 Kopecks Blue on Wove Paper

Finland · 1856 · 5 Kopecks

This stamp features the Finnish coat of arms, a crowned lion rampant holding a sword, set within a circular frame. The denomination '5 KOP' is inscribed at the bottom, with 'FEM KOP.' on the left and '5 KOPEEK' on the right, reflecting the multilingual nature of the Grand Duchy. The design is simple and functional, typical of the first issues of many countries.

Issued in 1856, this was the first postage stamp of the Grand Duchy of Finland, then an autonomous part of the Russian Empire. It marked the beginning of Finland's independent postal system and is a key piece of European philatelic history.