Ceylon 1d Blue on Bluish Paper, Queen Victoria

Ceylon · 1857 · 1d

This stamp features the 'Chalon Head' portrait of a young Queen Victoria, engraved by William Humphrys based on a painting by Alfred Edward Chalon. The design is set within an octagonal frame with intricate engine-turned patterns, a common security feature of the era. This was the first postage stamp issued by the British colony of Ceylon.

Issued on April 1, 1857, this stamp marked the introduction of prepaid postage in Ceylon, replacing a system of cash payments. It facilitated communication and commerce within the British Empire during the height of Victorian-era colonial expansion.