Queen Victoria 16 Cents Lilac

Ceylon · 1885 · 16 Cents

This definitive stamp features the left-facing diademed profile of Queen Victoria, a common design used throughout the British Empire during her reign. The portrait is framed by an ornate oval, with the country name 'CEYLON POSTAGE' at the top and the denomination 'SIXTEEN CENTS' at the bottom. The stamp is printed in a distinct lilac color.

Issued in 1885, this stamp was part of a long-running series used for postal services in British Ceylon. The introduction of new denominations like this one reflected the evolving postal rates and commercial needs of the colony during the late Victorian era.