Malta Halfpenny Yellow, Queen Victoria

Malta · 1860 · ½d (Half Penny)

This stamp, known as the 'Halfpenny Yellow', was the first postage stamp issued by Malta. It features a right-facing profile of Queen Victoria, based on the 'Chalon Head' portrait by Alfred Edward Chalon. The design is simple, with the country name 'MALTA' at the top and the denomination 'HALF PENNY' at the bottom, printed on unwatermarked paper.

Issued under British rule, this stamp marked Malta's entry into the philatelic world. It was used for local postage for over two decades, making it a key piece of Maltese postal history.