India 1854 Queen Victoria, Four Annas, Inverted Head

Name: India 1854 Queen Victoria, Four Annas, Inverted Head
Brand: India

India · 1854 · 4 Annas

This iconic stamp features a portrait of Queen Victoria, printed in two colors: a red frame with a blue head. It is famous for being the world's first multi-colored stamp and for its prominent 'inverted head' error, where the central vignette of the Queen is printed upside down relative to the frame. The design is intricate, with detailed scrollwork surrounding the central portrait.

Issued under the authority of the British East India Company, this stamp was part of India's first postage stamp series. The inverted head error is one of the most famous and sought-after rarities in all of philately.

Printing Method

Lithography

Themes

royalty queen-victoria classic-era error inverted-head

Catalog Numbers

sg20a

scott6i

Image: · License:

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Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$200,000

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$150,000

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

$120,000

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

$85,000

Good(G)

Off-center or visible wear

$40,000

Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.