Cape of Good Hope Triangular Stamp, Seated Figure of Hope

Cape of Good Hope · 1853 · 1d

This iconic stamp features an allegorical figure of Hope, seated and holding an anchor, a symbol of the Cape. It is one of the world's first triangular stamps, a distinctive shape chosen to make them easily identifiable by postal workers, many of whom were illiterate at the time. The design was created by Charles Davidson Bell and engraved by William Humphrys.

Issued in 1853, the Cape Triangulars were the first stamps of the Cape of Good Hope, a British colony at the time. Their unique shape and classic design make them one of the most famous and sought-after issues in all of philately.