Mauritius year 1950/1980 Lot MNH/ Used stamps

Mauritius has a fascinating history when it comes to postage stamps. Let’s explore some key points:

Pre-Adhesive Stamps:
Before the famous “Post Office” stamps, Mauritius had no official stamps during the French rule. The British took over the island in 1810, and the internal mail service was revived in 1834.
Some pre-stamp markings exist from both the French and British periods1.
The Legendary “Post Office” Stamps (1847):
On September 21, 1847, Mauritius issued its first postage stamps: an orange-red one penny (1d) and a deep blue two pence (2d).
These stamps are known as the “Post Office” stamps because the words “Post Office” appear in the left panel.
Engraved by Joseph Osmond Barnard, these stamps are among the rarest in the world and hold legendary status in philately.
Only 500 of each value were printed from a single plate, and many were used on invitations for a ball hosted by the Mauritian Governor’s wife1.
Colorful Stamps from 1950 Onward:
Starting in 1950, Mauritius began issuing more colorful stamps featuring local scenes and images.
The definitive series of 1950 was issued during King George VI’s reign, but a new series was required in 1954 following Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the British throne1.
You can explore Mauritius stamps from different years on platforms like StampWorld.
Mauritius remains a captivating destination for stamp collectors, thanks to its rich philatelic history!