Montenegro, 1874 Prince Nicholas I

Montenegro · 1874 · 2 novčića

This is the first postage stamp issued by the Principality of Montenegro. The design features a right-facing portrait of Prince Nicholas I (Nikola I Petrović-Njegoš), who ruled Montenegro for over 50 years. The stamp is imperforate and printed in black on yellow paper.

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 during a period of Ottoman decline in the Balkans.