- Description
- Specifications
| Description: | Mauritius Island, 2 Pence 1847 |
| Country or State: | Colonial British Island of Mauritius |
| Year: | April 1990 |
| Face Value: | TWO PENCE |
| Subject/Theme: | Portrait of Queen Victoria (Queen of England) |
| Designer: | Joseph Osmond Barnard (original stamp) |
| Dimensions (B x H): | 36 x 40 mm |
| Composition: | Collection Article in 23 Carrot Gold (99.800% Au) |
| Emission: | 20'000 |
|
The Mauritius "Post Office" stamps was released on 21 September 1847 on the Colonial British Island of Mauritius situated in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. The original stamps contained the portrait of Queen Victoria (Queen of England) and were issued in two denominations: a red-orange background for the one penny stamp and on a marine-blue background for the two pence stamp. Their name comes from the wording on the stamps reading "Post Office", which was soon changed in the next issue to "Post Paid." They are among the rarest postage stamps in the world, and are of legendary status in the world of philately. The Mauritius "Post Office" stamps were the first stamps produced by the British Empire outside of Great Britain. The number of original stamps still existing are 27 pieces, 15 one penny stamps and 12 two pence stamps, the value of each stamp was estimated around $4 million in 1993. |
