Proclamation of Independence (Émir Béchir Chehab II) - 0.5 piastre

This definitive stamp commemorates the historic proclamation of independence on November 26, 1941 (Proclamation de l'Indépendance 26 Novembre 1941). The crisp red engraving features a portrait of Emir Bashir Shihab II (Émir Béchir II, 1767–1850), the influential ruler who led the Mount Lebanon Emirate in the early 19th century. This imagery conveys a powerful message of historical continuity, sovereign dignity, and autonomous legacy, linking Lebanon's contemporary statehood with its long-standing regional leadership. Within the national context, the issue positions the founding emir as a symbol of patriotic pride and the enduring quest for Lebanese self-determination.