Norway 4 skilling Coat of Arms, imperforate

Norway · 1856 · 4 skilling

This stamp features the Coat of Arms of Norway, a crowned lion rampant holding an axe (St. Olav's axe), centered in an oval frame. The denomination '4 SKILLING' is inscribed at the bottom, with 'NORGE' at the top and 'FRIMÆRKE' on the sides. This was the second postage stamp issued by Norway and the first to feature the national coat of arms.

Issued in 1856, this stamp followed Norway's first issue by only a year, establishing a new design standard that would be used for several subsequent issues. It represents the early development of the postal system in the union of Sweden and Norway.