New Zealand 1855 'Chalon Head' Queen Victoria Imperforate

New Zealand · 1855 · 1d (One Penny)

This is New Zealand's first postage stamp, featuring the 'Chalon Head' portrait of Queen Victoria. The design is based on a painting by Alfred Edward Chalon, showing the Queen in her coronation robes. As the first issue, these stamps were printed in London by Perkins Bacon and are imperforate, meaning they had to be cut from the sheet with scissors.

Issued in 1855, this stamp marks the beginning of New Zealand's postal history, thirteen years after Great Britain's Penny Black. The 'Chalon Head' design became an iconic image used by several British colonies during this period.