Trinidad and Tobago 1905-09 1d Official Stamp, King Edward VII

Trinidad and Tobago · 1905 · 1d (Penny)

This stamp features a portrait of King Edward VII, originally issued for definitive postage. It was later overprinted with the word 'OFFICIAL' in black serif capitals for use on government mail. The design is framed by an ornate border with the country name at the top and the denomination at the bottom.

Issued during the reign of King Edward VII, these 'Official' stamps were used by government departments to prepay postage, a common practice in the British Empire to control and account for official correspondence.