India Queen Victoria Bi-Color Issue

India · 1854 · 4 Annas

This stamp features a portrait of a young Queen Victoria, notable for being India's first bi-color stamp. The design, with the Queen's head in a red octagon set against a blue background, was technically challenging for its time, resulting in variations including the famous inverted head error. It was printed in Calcutta using lithography.

Issued in 1854 under the authority of the British East India Company, this stamp represents a significant advancement in printing technology within the British Empire's postal system. It was one of the world's first multi-colored stamps.