Mauritius post office

The Mauritius Post Office stamp, issued in 1847, is one of the rarest and most valuable pieces in world philately, known for the 'Post Office' printing error.

About this subject

The Mauritius Post Office stamp was issued in September 1847 by the British colonial authorities on the island of Mauritius. Two denominations were produced: a one penny orange-red and a two pence blue. The series was intended to read 'Post Paid', but due to an error by engraver Joseph Barnard, the first 500 units of each value bore 'Post Office'. This mistake made the stamps extremely rare.

Today, only 27 examples of the Mauritius Post Office are known, 15 of the penny and 12 of the two pence. One, the 'Bordeaux Cover', an envelope with both stamps, sold for over 4 million euros at auction. The rarity and historical error make this stamp an icon of philately, comparable to the US Z-Grill or the Swedish Treskilling Yellow.

Despite being an error, the stamp was used to frank mail on the island. Most surviving examples are in private collections, but some can be seen in museums such as the British Postal Museum in London and the Philatelic Museum in Mauritius. The design features the image of Queen Victoria, typical of colonial stamps of the time, but with the incorrect inscription that immortalized it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Mauritius Post Office stamp so valuable?

Its extreme rarity, with only 27 known examples, combined with the historical printing error and collector demand, results in multi-million dollar auction prices.

What was the error on the Mauritius Post Office stamp?

The inscription 'Post Office' was engraved instead of the intended 'Post Paid'. This error occurred in the first issues of 1847.

How many Mauritius Post Office stamps exist today?

There are 27 known examples: 15 of the one penny value and 12 of the two pence. Most are in private collections.