Norway Postage Due Stamp, Numerals in Oval

Norway · 1889 · 12 øre

This is Norway's first postage due stamp, issued in 1889. The design features the denomination '12' prominently within a central oval, surrounded by ornate scrollwork. The text 'PORTO' at the top and 'ØRE' at the bottom clearly indicate its purpose for collecting insufficient postage.

Issued during the union between Sweden and Norway under King Oscar II, this stamp standardized the process for collecting unpaid postage, a common administrative development for postal services in the late 19th century.