Greece 1861 First Hermes Head, 1 lepton, brown

Greece · 1861 · 1 lepton

This is the first postage stamp issued by Greece, featuring a profile of the Greek god Hermes, the messenger of the gods. The design, known as the "Large Hermes Head," was created by the French engraver Albert Désiré Barre and printed in Paris. The stamp is denominated at 1 lepton and printed in a distinctive brown color.

Issued in 1861, this stamp marks Greece's entry into the Universal Postal Union and the standardization of its postal system, reflecting the nation's modernization efforts after gaining independence from the Ottoman Empire.