India Queen Victoria Bi-Color Postage Stamp

India · 1854 · 4 Annas

This stamp features a portrait of Queen Victoria, printed in a distinctive bi-color combination of red and blue. The head was printed in blue from one stone, and the frame was printed in red from another, making it one of the world's first multi-colored stamps. The design is notable for its intricate frame and the classic profile of the young queen.

Issued in 1854, this was India's first bi-color stamp and a pioneering achievement in lithographic printing for its time. It was part of the first series of stamps issued for use throughout British India, replacing earlier regional issues like the Scinde Dawk.