Many collectors are passionate about the first Mauritian stamps. They are among the most sought-after stamps and letters in the world. This article covers the letters Mauritius collectors dream of the most.
The Postal Department of Mauritius has a rich history, dating back to its establishment during the French colonial period in 1772 by Pierre Nicolas Lambert, the King’s printer. Lambert provided inland mail delivery once a week to his subscribers along with his newspaper, and also handled overseas mail, ensuring timely delivery of letters from abroad for a fee.
When the British took control of the island in 1810, the postal system was in a poor state, with limited overseas service and almost nonexistent inland mail service. Pressure from local newspapers, including Le Cernéen, led the British to revive the postal system in 1834. An experimental postal service between Port Louis and Mahebourg was launched in May 1834, which proved to be successful and was expanded to thrice weekly in January 1835.
The introduction of postage stamps in 1840 by Sir Rowland Hill revolutionized postal systems worldwide. Mauritius followed suit and issued its own postage stamps on September 21, 1847. Engraved and printed in Port Louis by Joseph Osmond Barnard, only 500 orange-red One Penny and 500 deep blue Two Pence denominations were produced. These stamps are now among the most sought-after and famous in the world.
Of the 1,000 Post Office stamps issued in 1847, only a few examples have survived. It is estimated that fifteen examples of the One Penny and twelve of the Two Pence stamps are still in existence, with most now housed in permanent museum collections. In 1993, a consortium of leading Mauritian companies purchased a set of two unused stamps, which are on display in a museum in Port Louis.
While the Post Office stamps of 1847 are the most famous and expensive stamps from Mauritius, there are other equally renowned stamps from the country as well.