Norwegian posthorn definitive stamps

Norwegian posthorn definitive stamps are an enduring postal series first introduced by Norway in 1872. Recognised as one of the longest continuously used stamp designs in the world, the motif depicts a posthorn surmounted by a crown. The earliest printings were produced in Kristiania by printers including P. Petersen, Chr. Johnsen, the Central Printing Works, and Chr. H. Knudsen. Subsequent printings were produced by Emil Moestue A/S, the Bank of Norway, and later Royal Joh. Enschedé in the Netherlands.

The initial series between 1872 and 1875 was denominated in skilling and featured a shaded posthorn with the country name "NORGE" in sans-serif lettering. From 1877, stamps were issued in øre, appearing in both shaded and unshaded versions across differing die sizes. In 1893, Roman lettering replaced the sans-serif text, initially showing a coloured spot inside the posthorn's upper ring beneath the crown until the die was re-engraved in 1909. Between 1937 and 1952, rotary photogravure printings were introduced, characterised by the removal of the vertical background lines behind the central design, and included a wartime "V" overprint in August 1941.

From 1962, the Bank of Norway produced steel-engraved series with wider posthorn tubing, an oval band formed of fine horizontal lines, and large numerals pattern-filled with fine white dots. Later issues expanded into higher kroner values, and multi-colour offset printings produced from 2001 by Enschedé featured the crown and posthorn in gold colour. Across the issue's long production, printings are classified by differences in shades, perforation gauges, and paper types, which encompass watermarked, unwatermarked, phosphor, coated, gummed, and self-adhesive varieties.