Postage stamps and postal history of Mauritius

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Mauritius.

Mauritius, a small island in the southwest Indian Ocean, is of towering importance in the world of philately for a number of reasons. Its first two stamps issued in 1847, the so-called "Post Office" stamps, are of legendary rarity and value. They were the first stamps issued in any part of the British Empire outside of Great Britain. The unique cover bearing both “Post Office” stamps has been called "la pièce de résistance de toute la philatélie" [ Roger Calves, quoted in David Feldman SA, "Mautitius: Classic Postage Stamps and Postal History" Switzerland (1993) p. 92. ] or "the greatest item in all philately". The cover was sold at auction, in 1993, for 5.75 million Swiss francs, the equivalent of about $4 million – the highest price ever paid for a single philatelic item. Mauritius, in addition, is well known for the subsequent locally produced issues known as "primitives," also prized by collectors.

Pre-adhesive stamps

Mauritius’ first post office was opened on December 21, 1772 when the island was under French rule. Mail was delivered internally and by ship to and from France and India. Great Britain took over the island on December 3, 1810, and continued the overseas mail service. The internal service apparently dwindled and terminated but was revived in 1834. A few pre-stamp markings, applied by rubber stamp, exist from the 1780s during the French administration, and more are known from the subsequent British period. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius: The Locally Printed Postage Stamps, 1847-59," London (1981), pp. 4-10. ] .

The Victorian period

In 1847, Mauritius followed Great Britain in issuing stamps carrying the image of the current regent of Great Britain, Victoria, which practice would be followed throughout the British Empire. Most of the early issues of Mauritius were locally designed and produced and have a distinct “primitive” character.

=The "Post Office" stamps =

On September 21, 1847, Mauritius issued two stamps, an orange-red one penny (1d) and a deep blue two pence (2d) [ Scott Cat. nos. 1-2; Stanley Gibbons Cat. 3-25 (various states of wear). ] . The words "Post Office" appear in the left panel, but were changed to "Post Paid" in the following issue, and are the source of the stamps' common name. The "Post Office" stamps are among the rarest stamps in the world, and are of legendary status in the world of philately.

Five hundred of each were printed from a single plate bearing both values, many of which were used on invitations sent out by the Mauritian Governor's wife for a ball which she was holding that weekend. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," pp. 15-18. ]

The stamps were engraved by Joseph Osmond Barnard, born in England on August 10, 1816, who stowed away on a ship to Mauritius in 1838. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," pp. 20-21. ] . The designs were based on the then current issue of Great Britain stamps (first released in 1841), bearing the profile head of Queen Victoria and issued in two denominations in similar colors: one penny red brown and two pence blue [ Scott Cat. nos. 3-4. ] . Although these locally-produced stamps have a distinct primitive character, they made Barnard’s “name immortal in the postal history of Mauritius” [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," p. 20. ] .

The words "Post Office" in the left panel were replaced in the following issue by "Post Paid." A legend arose later that the words "Post Office" had been an error. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," p. 19. ] The "Post Office" stamps and this legend are discussed in greater detail in the Mauritius "Post Office" article.

The "Post Paid" stamps and subsequent "primitives"

Following the “Post Office” stamps, Mauritius released several stamps also bearing Queen Victoria's profile, locally designed, and primitive in appearance.

In 1848, Mauritius issued the first denomination (two pence) of the "Post Paid" issue, one and two pence stamps closely similar to the "Post Office" issue also engraved by Barnard. The one penny orange was issued in 1854. [ Scott Cat. nos. 3-6; Stanley Gibbons Cat. 3-25 (various states of wear); Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," pp. 31-80. ]

In 1859, Mauritius released a third design, a two pence stamp very crudely engraved by Jules Lapirot, and known as the "Lapirot" issue. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," pp. 81-103; Scott Cat. No. 14; Stanley Gibbons Cat. 26-29 (various states of wear). ]

In 1859, the two pence blue was re-engraved by Robert Sherwin. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," pp. 104-114; Feldman, Mauritius: Classic Postage Stamps and Postal History (illustrated auction catalog), Switzerland (1993) p. 116; Scott Cat. no.14 ; Stanley Gibbons Cat. 30. ] The final local product was a one penny red and two pence blue lithographed by L. A. Dardenne in 1859. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," pp. 116-129; Scott Cat. nos. 16-17; Stanley Gibbons Cat. 31-34 (various shades).]

The “Post Paid” through the Sherwin issues were printed in sheets of 12 and stamp collectors have “plated” or reconstructed full sheets from individual or pairs of stamps, relying on small variations in the individual plates. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius."] The sheet size of the Dardenne issue is unknown. [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," p. 116. ]

To the end of the Victorian period

From 1859 to 1862, Mauritius issued several stamps in the "Britannia" design finely engraved by Perkins, Bacon & Co. and printed in London, [ Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," p. 32; Scott Cat. Nos. 9-12, 18-23. ] and previously used in Trinidad (1851) and Barbados (1852). [ Scott Cat. "Trinidad" and "Barbados." ] These stamps were issued during the period when Mauritius was also issuing locally produced stamps. From 1859 to 1902, Mauritius issued stamps typical of those of colonies of the British Empire, including a number of stamps depicting Queen Victoria in profile and stamps with Mauritius' coat of arms.

The Twentieth Century

The twentieth century issues of Mauritius, like those in other British colonies, generally depicted the current monarch, Edward VII, George V and George VI, and Elizabeth II, as well as Mauritius' coat of arms. In 1950, Mauritius began issuing more colorful stamps with images or scenes of local interest. [ Scott Cat. ]

Independence (March 12, 1968)

Mauritius achieved independence on March 12, 1968. Its stamps thereafter depicted colorful images relevant to the island, such as wildlife and plants, local scenes and important persons. The early stamps of Mauritius have been reproduced several times on commemorative issues. [ Scott Cat. ]

External References

*Hiroyuki Kanai, "Classic Mauritius," Stanley Gibbons, London (1981) ISBN 0852592515 -- an illustrated work on the author's famous Mauritius collection, including photos of reconstructed plates, postmarks and postal history.

*David Feldman SA, "Mauritius: Classic Postage Stamps and Postal History," Switzerland (1993), illustrated auction catalog including the Kanai collection (see above), with "Supplement" providing detailed information on plating positions of the "Post Paid" and the "Lapirot" issues in their different states.

References