Tunisia Coat of Arms, First Issue

Tunisia · 1888 · 1 Centime

This is the first postage stamp issued by Tunisia, then a French protectorate. The design features the coat of arms of the Bey of Tunis, which includes a lion holding a sword, a set of scales, and a ship, symbolizing power, justice, and commerce. The denomination is shown in both French (Centime) and Arabic script.

Issued under the French protectorate, this stamp marks the beginning of Tunisia's modern postal system, replacing earlier French offices. The use of the Bey's coat of arms acknowledged local authority while integrating the territory into the French colonial postal network.