Constantinople Issue, View of Hagia Sophia

Greece · 1923 · 1 Drachma

This stamp features a detailed depiction of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). The design is framed by ornate columns and includes the inscription 'ΚΩΝΣΤΑΝΤΙΝΟΥΠΟΛΙΣ' (Constantinople) at the top. It is part of a definitive series issued to commemorate the city's historical and cultural significance to Greece.

Issued in 1923, this stamp reflects the Greek 'Megali Idea' (Great Idea), an irredentist concept aiming to establish a Greek state encompassing all ethnic Greek-inhabited lands, including Constantinople. The issue followed the Greco-Turkish War and the subsequent population exchange.