Mauritius
Supplementary information
For the main Mauritius page click here
This page contains the following information relating to the revenue stamps of Mauritius:
- Bill of Exchange adhesives - images of all varieties including First, Second and Third of Exchange
- Printer's archive material relating to the production of Mauritius revenue issues:
A. Bill of Exchange
B. Inland Revenue
C. Insurance
D. Internal Revenue
Bill of Exchange adhesives
Images of all varieties including First, Second and Third of Exchange
A. 1869 (March) local issue
Images of all varieties including First, Second and Third of Exchange
A. 1869 (March) local issue
CLICK TO ENLARGE
B. 1869 (October) De La Rue sterling issue
CLICK TO ENLARGE
C. 1878 figures and words issue
CLICK TO ENLARGE
D. 1880 value in words only
CLICK TO ENLARGE
E. 1880-c1900 new colours and values
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F. 1904 Arms issue, value in seriffed font
CLICK TO ENLARGE - No image currently available for 35c Third of Exchange
G. 1904 Arms issue, value in sans-serif font
CLICK TO ENLARGE - No images currently available for 1r25c First or 25c, 35c or 40c Third of Exchange
Printer's archive material
Relating to the production of Mauritius revenue issues
Please note: many of the images in this section are taken from the websites of Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions and Christoph Gaertner auctions.
Relating to the production of Mauritius revenue issues
Please note: many of the images in this section are taken from the websites of Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions and Christoph Gaertner auctions.
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A. Bill of Exchange
AA4. Master die proof of head plate in black on glazed paper, countersunk on card |
AA4
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AA6/7
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AA8/9
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AA6. Master die proof of head plate in green for pence values
AA7. Master die proof of head plate in brown for shilling values
AA8. Master die proof of head plate in green for pence values, overprinted SPECIMEN
AA9. Master die proof of head plate in brown for shilling values, overprinted SPECIMEN
AA7. Master die proof of head plate in brown for shilling values
AA8. Master die proof of head plate in green for pence values, overprinted SPECIMEN
AA9. Master die proof of head plate in brown for shilling values, overprinted SPECIMEN
AA11
AA11. 5 rupees triplet essay with value in words, curved inscription to fit above and below
Queen's portrait, with annotation to indicate that the words OF EXCHANGE and value
were to be engraved on the die, with FIRST / SECOND / THIRD added as necessary
Note: although this essay has been listed as belonging to Mauritius, it seems to me more likely that it was for Ceylon since it resembles the issued stamps of that Colony and the denomination of 5 rupees was not used in Mauritius. The Bill of Exchange stamps of Mauritius have the value shown below the Queen's portrait, in a type of which no essay has so far been recorded.
Queen's portrait, with annotation to indicate that the words OF EXCHANGE and value
were to be engraved on the die, with FIRST / SECOND / THIRD added as necessary
Note: although this essay has been listed as belonging to Mauritius, it seems to me more likely that it was for Ceylon since it resembles the issued stamps of that Colony and the denomination of 5 rupees was not used in Mauritius. The Bill of Exchange stamps of Mauritius have the value shown below the Queen's portrait, in a type of which no essay has so far been recorded.
AA31
Decimal issue (value in words only) imperf plate proofs in issued colours, triplet with First / Second / Third of Exchange
AA31. 8r35c brown and blue
AA31. 8r35c brown and blue
AA41
AA41. 1878 Requisition book entry for new values 35c, 40c and 1r25c, bearing three triplet
strips of 5c (B41) with two bars cancelling original value, and sheet quantities and colours
marked alongside - 35c blue (150 sheets), 40c pink (200 sheets), 1r25c lilac (75 sheets),
annotated at foot "Each Sheet to be perforated, and to contain 30 Sets (1, 2 + 3)"
strips of 5c (B41) with two bars cancelling original value, and sheet quantities and colours
marked alongside - 35c blue (150 sheets), 40c pink (200 sheets), 1r25c lilac (75 sheets),
annotated at foot "Each Sheet to be perforated, and to contain 30 Sets (1, 2 + 3)"
AA51
AA51. De La Rue Appendix archive sheet for Req 89/1901 dated 25th Sept 1901, bearing
three colour trials inscribed First of Exchange Ten Cents, in deep blue (approved for 10c),
buff (approved for 65c) and orange (not approved)
three colour trials inscribed First of Exchange Ten Cents, in deep blue (approved for 10c),
buff (approved for 65c) and orange (not approved)
B. Inland Revenue
AB1
AB1. Handpainted essay for new key type bearing portrait of Queen Victoria and
inscribed INLAND REVENUE at sides, value 4 cents, dated 7th January 1889,
labelled B at top
inscribed INLAND REVENUE at sides, value 4 cents, dated 7th January 1889,
labelled B at top
C. Insurance
AC5
AC5. 1878 Requisition book entry (Req 4413) for 2r60c on 5s, identical to issued stamp
(I37), with sheet quantity (80 sheets) marked alongside
(I37), with sheet quantity (80 sheets) marked alongside
AC11/19
AC11/19 on complete De La Rue Appendix sheet
Perforated colour trials, printed using existing Internal Revenue head plate and new 13 cents duty plate incorporating the word INSURANCE
AC11. 13c purple and black (for 13c)
AC12. 13c purple and blue (for 26c)
AC13. 13c purple and green (for 39c)
AC14. 13c purple and carmine (for 52c)
AC15. 13c green and black (for 1r56c)
AC16. 13c green and mauve (for 2r8c)
AC17. 13c green and blue (for 2r60c)
AC18. 13c green and green (for 5r20c)
AC19. 13c green and carmine (for 10r40c)
Notes:
1. The above trials are known both as loose stamps (sold in the Christopher Gaertner auction of February 2009) and as a complete set stuck down on Appendix sheet as presented by De La Rue, each value having a different colour combination. Each trial on the Appendix sheet is initialled, which suggests approval, but these colours were not in fact used for the issued stamps.
2. A similar set but including all the different values in issued colours was also offered in the Gaertner 2009 sale, described as trials on unwatermarked gummed paper. However in my view it seems just as likely that they were issued mint stamps with faint watermark.
AC11. 13c purple and black (for 13c)
AC12. 13c purple and blue (for 26c)
AC13. 13c purple and green (for 39c)
AC14. 13c purple and carmine (for 52c)
AC15. 13c green and black (for 1r56c)
AC16. 13c green and mauve (for 2r8c)
AC17. 13c green and blue (for 2r60c)
AC18. 13c green and green (for 5r20c)
AC19. 13c green and carmine (for 10r40c)
Notes:
1. The above trials are known both as loose stamps (sold in the Christopher Gaertner auction of February 2009) and as a complete set stuck down on Appendix sheet as presented by De La Rue, each value having a different colour combination. Each trial on the Appendix sheet is initialled, which suggests approval, but these colours were not in fact used for the issued stamps.
2. A similar set but including all the different values in issued colours was also offered in the Gaertner 2009 sale, described as trials on unwatermarked gummed paper. However in my view it seems just as likely that they were issued mint stamps with faint watermark.
D. Internal Revenue
AD1
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AD2
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AD1. Stamp-size composite essay on white
glazed card, with Queen's head printed in lilac, frame and lettering hand-painted in deep violet, other parts of design in pencil AD2. Master die proof of head plate in black on glazed paper, mounted on card, dated 26th April 1869 AD5. Master die proofs for duty plates on glazed paper, mounted on card, dated 26th April (1s, 2s), 29th April (3s, 4s), 3rd May (2d, 3d, 4d, 6d), 5th May (8d, 5s, 10s, £1) AD6. Master die proof for 1d duty on glazed paper, mounted on card, dated Nov 4th 
AD6
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AD5
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AD16 and AD21
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Imperf plate proofs in issued colours, probably from the printer's imprimatur sheets
AD16. 8d bright blue and blue
AD21. 5s brown and purple
Imperf plate proofs in issued colours, handstamped SPECIMEN
AD43. £1 reddish lilac and brown
Decimal issue (value in words only) imperf plate proofs in issued colours
AD63. 25c bright blue and blue
AD16. 8d bright blue and blue
AD21. 5s brown and purple
Imperf plate proofs in issued colours, handstamped SPECIMEN
AD43. £1 reddish lilac and brown
Decimal issue (value in words only) imperf plate proofs in issued colours
AD63. 25c bright blue and blue
AD71/75 on De La Rue Appendix sheet
Perforated colour trials, printed using existing Internal Revenue head plate with 5 cents duty plate in different colours as recommended for various values
AD71. 5c purple and black (for 5c)
AD72. 5c purple and mauve (for 15c)
AD73. 5c purple and blue (for 25c)
AD74. 5c purple and green (for 50c)
AD75. 5c purple and carmine (for 75c)
Note: the above trials are currently known only as a complete set stuck down on Appendix sheet as presented by De La Rue. Each trial on the Appendix sheet is initialled, which suggests approval, but these colours were not in fact used for the issued stamps.
AD71. 5c purple and black (for 5c)
AD72. 5c purple and mauve (for 15c)
AD73. 5c purple and blue (for 25c)
AD74. 5c purple and green (for 50c)
AD75. 5c purple and carmine (for 75c)
Note: the above trials are currently known only as a complete set stuck down on Appendix sheet as presented by De La Rue. Each trial on the Appendix sheet is initialled, which suggests approval, but these colours were not in fact used for the issued stamps.
AD81
AD81. 1896 piece from De La Rue specimen sheet dated 17th June 1896, bearing two
colour trials inscribed Internal Revenue Fifty Cents, in olive-yellow (for 50c) and deep
violet (for 2r50c), annotated 'Delivery to your Inspector in 7 weeks' and 'Noted'
colour trials inscribed Internal Revenue Fifty Cents, in olive-yellow (for 50c) and deep
violet (for 2r50c), annotated 'Delivery to your Inspector in 7 weeks' and 'Noted'
AD86
AD86. 1898 De La Rue Appendix sheet for Req 85/98 dated Oct 21st 1898, bearing fifteen
colour trials inscribed Internal Revenue One Rupee, with head plates in olive-yellow,
sage-green, sepia, brick-red and blue-green and duty plates in blue, carmine and green
Note: none of the trials on this sheet is marked as approved, though the olive-yellow and blue combination was used for the new 3 rupee value in 1899.
colour trials inscribed Internal Revenue One Rupee, with head plates in olive-yellow,
sage-green, sepia, brick-red and blue-green and duty plates in blue, carmine and green
Note: none of the trials on this sheet is marked as approved, though the olive-yellow and blue combination was used for the new 3 rupee value in 1899.
AD91
AD91. Master die proof for THREE RUPEES duty on
glazed paper, mounted on card, endorsed 'Nov 17 -
60 leads' and dated (presumably for approval) 'Jan
14th 99'
