Queen Victoria, 1/2 Anna Blue, First Issue of India

British India · 1854 · 1/2 Anna

This stamp features a youthful portrait of Queen Victoria, facing left, within an ornate rectangular frame. Printed in a distinctive blue, it was the first stamp issued for use throughout all of British India, replacing the earlier Scinde Dawk issues. The design is simple yet elegant, characteristic of early Victorian-era philately.

Issued in 1854, this stamp marks the beginning of a standardized postal system across the vast territories of British India, a key development in the administration of the British Raj.