Malta 1/2d Yellow-Green 'Half-Penny' Definitive

Malta · 1860 · 1/2d (Half Penny)

This is Malta's first postage stamp, a definitive issue featuring a simple design with the denomination 'HALF-PENNY' prominently displayed in the center. The stamp is printed in a distinctive yellow-green or buff color and was issued without perforations (imperforate). It was printed by De La Rue in London.

Issued under British rule, this stamp marked Malta's entry into the global postal system, replacing handstamps for prepayment of postage. Its simple, functional design is typical of early British colonial issues.