Niger Coast Protectorate, Queen Victoria

Niger Coast Protectorate · 1894 · 1d

This stamp features a left-facing portrait of Queen Victoria, the reigning British monarch at the time. The design is framed by an ornate border with the inscription 'NIGER COAST PROTECTORATE' at the top and the denomination 'ONE PENNY' at the bottom. The stamp is printed in a distinctive lilac and carmine color combination.

Issued under British colonial rule, this stamp represents the period of the Niger Coast Protectorate (1891-1900) before its amalgamation into Southern Nigeria. These stamps were essential for mail in a region vital for British trade, particularly in palm oil.