United Kingdom 1881 1d Lilac, Die II

United Kingdom · 1881 · 1d

This definitive stamp features a diademed profile of Queen Victoria facing left, framed by an ornate rectangular border. Known as the 'Penny Lilac', it was printed in a single fugitive lilac ink on paper watermarked with an Imperial Crown. This was the most widely used stamp of the Victorian era, with billions printed over its nearly 20-year lifespan.

Issued as part of the 1881 Unified Issue, this stamp was a workhorse of the British postal system, paying the domestic letter rate for almost two decades. Its single fugitive ink was a security measure against cleaning and reuse.