Shah Nasr-ed-Din Qajar, First Portrait Issue

Iran · 1876 · 1 Shahi

This stamp features a portrait of Naser al-Din Shah Qajar, the fourth Shah of Qajar Iran, who reigned from 1848 to 1896. The design is simple, focusing on the monarch's bust within an ornate oval frame, with Persian inscriptions indicating the value and country. This issue is notable for its crude typography and perforations, characteristic of early Persian stamps.

Issued during the reign of Naser al-Din Shah, this stamp represents a period of modernization efforts in Persia, including the development of a formal postal system. The Qajar dynasty ruled Iran from 1789 to 1925.