Queen Victoria, 1/2 Anna Blue, Lithographed

India · 1854 · 1/2 Anna

This stamp features a left-facing portrait of a youthful Queen Victoria, set within an ornate rectangular frame with corner embellishments. As India's first postage stamp, it was printed locally in Calcutta using lithography, resulting in variations in shade and impression. The design is simple yet iconic, marking the beginning of standardized postal services in British India.

Issued in 1854, this was the first postage stamp for all of British India, replacing various provincial systems. It standardized postal rates and facilitated communication across the vast subcontinent under the administration of the East India Company.