Mauritius post office

The famous Mauritius Post Office stamp of 1847 is one of the rarest and most valuable in the world, marking the postal history of the African island.

About this subject

The Mauritius 'Post Office' stamps were issued in September 1847, making them the first stamps issued by a British colony outside the United Kingdom. They were produced by Joseph Osmond Barnard, a watchmaker and engraver, who was commissioned to create a design featuring Britannia and a view of the island. The stamps came in two denominations: 1d (orange-red) and 2d (deep blue). The legend originally read 'Post Paid', but due to an engraving error, the first batches read 'Post Office'. This error makes them extremely rare; only about 26 copies of the 1d and 12 copies of the 2d are known to exist. They were discovered in the mid-19th century by collectors, and since then, they have become icons of philately, with some varieties selling for millions of dollars. The stamps were used to prepay postage for letters from Mauritius, and surviving covers are even rarer. In 2011, a block of four of the 1d 'Post Office' stamps sold for over $4 million. The story of these stamps is intertwined with the history of Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean that was a British colony at the time.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a Mauritius Post Office stamp worth?

Mauritius Post Office stamps are extremely valuable. In 2021, a 1d example was sold for about $1.5 million. Value depends on condition and rarity.

What is the difference between the Post Office and Post Paid stamps?

The original 1847 stamps had the inscription 'Post Office' due to an engraving error. Shortly after, the inscription was corrected to 'Post Paid'. The 'Post Office' stamps are much rarer and more valuable.

Where can I see a Mauritius Post Office stamp?

Most examples are in museums or private collections. The Mauritius Postal Museum and the British Museum have some. They rarely appear at auctions.