Moldavian Bull's Head, 27 Parale

Romania · 1858 · 27 Parale

This iconic stamp features the head of an aurochs (bull), the coat of arms of the Principality of Moldavia, with a five-pointed star between its horns. The denomination '27 PARALE' is inscribed below the central design, and Cyrillic script appears above, translating to 'Porto Scrisorei' (Postage for a letter). The stamp is hand-printed on laid paper, giving each example a unique character.

Issued by the Principality of Moldavia before its union with Wallachia to form Romania, this was the first postage stamp for the region. Its simple yet powerful design and extreme rarity make it one of the most famous and sought-after classic stamps in European philately.