1863-65 Hong Kong

After the Penny Black debuted in 1840, many British colonies soon followed with stamps of their own – often featuring Queen Victoria’s portrait as a symbol of authority and unity across the Empire. From India and New South Wales to Mauritius and Hong Kong, her image appeared on dozens of early issues, creating a visual thread that connected distant corners of the world throug...  more

After the Penny Black debuted in 1840, many British colonies soon followed with stamps of their own – often featuring Queen Victoria’s portrait as a symbol of authority and unity across the Empire. From India and New South Wales to Mauritius and Hong Kong, her image appeared on dozens of early issues, creating a visual thread that connected distant corners of the world through the mail. These early colonial stamps helped lay the foundation for the global postal system we know today – and remain treasured pieces of philatelic history.