India Queen Victoria Official Stamp, 'On H.M.S.' Overprint
India · 1866 · 1/2 Anna
This stamp features the diademed profile of Queen Victoria, originally from the 1855 East India issue. It has been overprinted with the words 'On H.M.S.' (On Her Majesty's Service) in black ink, officially repurposing it for government use.
Issued under British rule, these were among the first official stamps of India, created by overprinting regular postage stamps to handle the mail of government departments.
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Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.
