Mauritius post office
1344×768 · AVIF · CC BY 4.0
The Mauritius 'Post Office' stamps, issued in 1847, are among the rarest and most valuable in the world of philately.
About this subject
The Mauritius 'Post Office' stamps, issued in September 1847, are among the greatest legends in philately. They were the first stamps issued by a British colony outside the United Kingdom, consisting of two denominations: a one-penny red (1d) and a two-pence blue (2d). Both feature a profile of Queen Victoria and the inscription 'Post Office' on the left border, an error later corrected to 'Post Paid' in subsequent issues. This difference makes the original stamps extremely rare. Only 500 stamps of each value were printed by the silversmith Joseph Osmond Barnard, and fewer than 30 examples are believed to survive today. One of the most famous pieces is the 'Bordeaux Cover', an envelope sent to France in 1847 franked with both stamps, discovered in 1898 and sold for millions of dollars at auction. The value of these stamps reflects not only their rarity but also their historical significance as precursors to modern postal systems in colonies. The term 'long-exposure' in the image tag may refer to a photographic technique to highlight details, but in a philatelic context, exposure is a metaphor for the prolonged study of these stamps' characteristics. The story of the Mauritius stamps captivates collectors and historians, being the subject of numerous articles and specialized books.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are the Mauritius 'Post Office' stamps so famous?
They are famous for being the first stamps issued by a British colony and for containing a printing error ('Post Office' instead of 'Post Paid'), making them extremely rare and valuable.
How many 'Post Office' stamps still exist?
Fewer than 30 examples of each denomination (1d red and 2d blue) are believed to survive worldwide.
What is the value of a Mauritius 'Post Office' stamp?
Their value can exceed millions of dollars. For instance, the 'Bordeaux Cover', an envelope bearing both stamps, sold for over 4 million dollars.
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