1847 Mauritius "Post Office" Stamps

When a Governor's Wife Needed Party Invitations, She Helped Create the World's Most Valuable Stamps

In September 1847, on a small tropical island in the Indian Ocean, Lady Gomm - the wife of the Governor of Mauritius - needed stamps for invitations to an upcoming ball. Local watchmaker and engraver Joseph Osmond Barnard was tasked with creating the colony's first postage stamps. Whether by accident or intent, he engraved the words "Post Office" on the printing plate instead of the standard "Post Paid." That small distinction would transform these humble postal instruments into some of the most coveted and valuable objects in the entire collecting world.

Quick Value Summary

The History of the 1847 Mauritius "Post Office" Stamps

Mauritius, a British colony since 1810, was a thriving trade hub in the mid-19th century. The colonial administration decided to issue postage stamps following the example set by Great Britain's Penny Black in 1840. Mauritius became only the fifth territory in the world to issue adhesive postage stamps.

Governor Sir William Gomm authorized the stamps, and Joseph Osmond Barnard - a local watch and clock maker with engraving skills - was commissioned to create the printing plate. Barnard engraved both denominations onto a single small copper plate: the one penny value on the left and the two pence on the right.

Five hundred stamps of each denomination were printed. The one penny stamp was printed in orange-red ink, while the two pence came in deep blue. Both featured a profile portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, surrounded by text reading "MAURITIUS," the denomination, and the now-legendary words "POST OFFICE."

The stamps were issued on September 21, 1847. A significant number were immediately used on invitations to Lady Gomm's ball, which helps explain why so few survived - most were discarded with the invitations. Subsequent printings corrected the inscription to "Post Paid," making the original "Post Office" versions a distinct and limited issue.

Discovery and Rise to Fame

The stamps were unknown to the philatelic world until 1864, when Madame Borchard, the wife of a Bordeaux wine merchant, discovered copies of both denominations in her husband's business correspondence. She traded them to another collector, and through a series of transactions, the stamps eventually reached the legendary collector Philipp von Ferrary.

The Bordeaux Cover - an envelope bearing both the one penny and two pence "Post Office" stamps - became perhaps the most famous item in all of philately. It was sold at auction in 1993 by David Feldman for 4 million Swiss francs.

In 2016, the original copper printing plate used by Barnard sold at auction for €1,300,000, demonstrating the enormous value placed on anything associated with these stamps.

Identification Guide

Key Features to Look For

Inscription: The defining characteristic is "POST OFFICE" in the left panel. Later issues read "POST PAID." This is the single most important identification point.

Design Elements:

• Queen Victoria's portrait faces left in profile

• "MAURITIUS" appears at the top

• Denomination appears at the bottom ("ONE PENNY" or "TWO PENCE")

• The design is relatively crude compared to machine-engraved stamps of the era

• Each stamp shows slight irregularities consistent with hand engraving

Paper and Printing:

• Printed on yellowish wove paper

• No watermark

• Printed individually from the copper plate (one of each denomination per impression)

• Imperforate (no perforations - stamps were cut with scissors)

Colors:

• One Penny: Orange-red (can vary from bright orange to deeper reddish-orange depending on aging)

• Two Pence: Deep blue (also called indigo blue)

Dimensions: Approximately 20mm x 23mm

Known Surviving Examples

Only 26 "Post Office" stamps are known to survive today:

• One Penny: 14 known copies (12 used, 2 unused)

• Two Pence: 12 known copies (8 used, 4 unused)

Several are held in institutional collections, including the British Royal Philatelic Collection (which contains what is considered the finest unused Two Pence example, acquired by King George V in 1904 for £1,450 - a world record at the time).

Value by Condition

Given the extreme rarity of these stamps, "condition" takes on a different meaning than with most collectibles. Every surviving example is a treasure.

Factors Affecting Value:

• On cover vs. off cover: Stamps still attached to their original envelope command significantly higher prices

• Used vs. unused: Unused examples are rarer and more valuable for the Two Pence; for the One Penny, both are extremely scarce

• Margins: Wider margins around the stamp increase value

• Color intensity: Stamps with strong, unfaded color are preferred

• Cancellation clarity: Clear, readable postmarks can add historical interest

• Provenance: Previous ownership by famous collectors significantly impacts value

Price History Highlights:

• 1904: King George V purchased an unused Two Pence for £1,450 (then a world record)

• 1993: The Bordeaux Cover sold for 4 million Swiss francs

• Individual stamps from the "Post Office" issue have sold for 1.4 million Swiss francs and higher

• Values have only increased over the decades as no new examples have surfaced since the early 20th century

Authentication

Authentication of 1847 Mauritius "Post Office" stamps is a matter for only the most experienced philatelic experts in the world.

Key Authentication Considerations:

1. Expert Certification Required: Any claimed "Post Office" Mauritius stamp must be examined by recognized philatelic experts. The Royal Philatelic Society London and other leading societies maintain expertise in this area.

2. Provenance Is Critical: All 26 known examples have documented histories. Any "new discovery" would require extraordinary proof and would be a major event in the philatelic world.

3. Comparison with Known Examples: Experts compare claimed stamps against photographs and detailed measurements of all known examples.

4. Paper and Ink Analysis: Scientific testing of the paper composition and ink chemistry can help verify authenticity.

5. Forgeries Exist: Numerous forgeries have been produced since the stamps became famous in the 1860s. Early forgeries by Jean de Sperati and others are themselves collectible items.

6. Printing Plate Characteristics: Genuine stamps show specific plate characteristics consistent with Barnard's hand-engraved copper plate.

Where to Sell

If you somehow possess a genuine 1847 Mauritius "Post Office" stamp, you are holding one of the rarest collectibles on Earth.

Recommended Auction Houses:

• David Feldman SA (Geneva, Switzerland) - Has handled many of the most important "Post Office" Mauritius transactions, including the Bordeaux Cover

• Sotheby's - Major international auction house with philatelic expertise

• Christie's - Another leading international auction house

• Spink & Son (London) - Specialist philatelic auctioneers with deep expertise in classic stamps

• Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries (New York) - Premier American philatelic auction house

Private Sales:

• Major philatelic dealers may arrange private treaty sales for items of this magnitude

• Expect the process to take months due to authentication, marketing, and finding qualified buyers

Insurance and Security:

• Any genuine example should be insured for its full market value

• Store in a bank vault or equivalent secure facility

• Transport only with specialized art and collectibles couriers

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do they say "Post Office" instead of "Post Paid"? The exact reason remains debated. Some historians believe Barnard simply made an error, while others suggest he copied the wording from a sign he saw at the local post office. Regardless of the reason, the "Post Office" inscription made these stamps distinct from all subsequent Mauritius issues.

How many 1847 Mauritius "Post Office" stamps exist today? Twenty-six examples are known to survive - 14 one penny stamps and 12 two pence stamps. Several are held in museums and royal collections, making the number available to private collectors even smaller.

What is the most valuable "Post Office" Mauritius stamp ever sold? The Bordeaux Cover, bearing both denominations on a single envelope, sold for 4 million Swiss francs in 1993. Individual stamps have sold for over 1 million Swiss francs.

Could more "Post Office" stamps be discovered? While theoretically possible, it is extremely unlikely. The philatelic community has been actively searching for over 160 years. Any new discovery would be front-page news in the collecting world.

What is the difference between "Post Office" and "Post Paid" Mauritius stamps? The "Post Office" stamps were the first issue of September 1847, while the "Post Paid" stamps were the corrected second issue. While "Post Paid" stamps are also valuable and collectible, they are far more common (relatively speaking) and worth considerably less.

Who designed the 1847 Mauritius stamps? Joseph Osmond Barnard, a local watchmaker and engraver, hand-engraved the copper printing plate used to produce both denominations.

Why were so many used on party invitations? Lady Gomm, the Governor's wife, was hosting a grand ball and needed stamps for the invitations. The timing coincided with the stamps' release, so many of the 500 printed copies of each denomination were used for this single social event.

Can I see a "Post Office" Mauritius stamp in a museum? Yes. The British Royal Philatelic Collection holds examples, viewable by appointment. The Blue Penny Museum in Port Louis, Mauritius, also displays a One Penny and Two Pence stamp. Other examples are in institutional collections worldwide.

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