Cyprus 1880 1 Penny Overprint on Great Britain Penny Red

Cyprus · 1880 · 1 Penny

This stamp is a Great Britain 'Penny Red' featuring Queen Victoria, overprinted with the word 'CYPRUS' in black capital letters. It was part of the first series of stamps issued for the island under British administration. The overprint was applied locally in Nicosia to existing stocks of British stamps.

Issued shortly after the British Empire took administrative control of Cyprus from the Ottoman Empire in 1878, these overprinted stamps mark the beginning of the British colonial postal system on the island.