Russia 1857 10k Brown & Blue Imperforate

Russia · 1857 · 10 kopecks

This is the first postage stamp issued by the Russian Empire, known as 'Stamp No. 1'. The design features the imperial coat of arms, a double-headed eagle, within a circular frame, with the denomination '10 коп.' (10 kopecks) below. The background is blue, and the central design is printed in brown.

Issued under Tsar Alexander II, this stamp marked Russia's entry into the postal union and standardized prepayment for mail delivery across the vast empire, replacing a complex system of cash payments.