Mauritius 'Post Office' 2d Blue

Mauritius · 1847 · 2d (Two Pence)

This stamp, known as the 'Blue Mauritius', is one of the first two stamps issued by the British colony of Mauritius. The design features a left-facing profile of Queen Victoria and the inscription 'POST OFFICE' on the left panel, which was changed to 'POST PAID' on subsequent issues. It was engraved by Joseph Osmond Barnard and printed locally in Port Louis.

Issued in 1847, these were the first stamps produced in any part of the British Empire outside of Great Britain itself. The 'Post Office' inscription was an error, allegedly based on Barnard's misunderstanding of instructions, making the initial 500 copies of each value exceptionally rare.