Montenegro Prince Nicholas I, First Definitive Issue

Montenegro · 1874 · 2 novcic

This stamp features a left-facing portrait of Prince Nicholas I of Montenegro, who ruled the country for over 50 years. The design is simple, with the portrait framed by an oval and inscriptions for the country's name in Cyrillic and the denomination. It was the first postage stamp issued by the Principality of Montenegro.

Issued in 1874, this stamp marks Montenegro's entry into the Universal Postal Union and the establishment of its independent postal service, a key step in asserting its sovereignty within the Ottoman-dominated Balkans.