Mauritius — Stamps & Postal Service

Postal Service Overview

Mauritius Post is the Republic of Mauritius’ national postal operator. Mauritius holds a special place in philatelic legend: the 1847 “Post Office” stamps — where the engraver erroneously inscribed “POST OFFICE” instead of “POST PAID” — are among the world’s most famous and sought philatelic rarities. Only 26 examples of the 1d orange-red and 2d deep blue are known, almost all in major museum and philatelic collections. Mauritius began issuing stamps in 1847, making it one of the earliest in the British Empire and one of the very first in the world.

Notable Stamp Issues

The 1847 Post Office 1d and 2d — engraved by Joseph Barnard — are philately’s most romantic rarities, associated with the legend of Lady Gomm’s ball invitations. The 1848–1859 “Post Paid” issues followed. Mauritius’s 1859–1883 definitive series are classic Victorian British colonial stamps. Post-independence Mauritius (1968–present) has produced outstanding stamps on the Dodo (Mauritius’s extinct giant bird, the world’s most famous extinction), coral reef marine life, and the island’s multicultural heritage (Indian, Creole, Chinese, and French communities).

Collecting Tips

Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth catalogue covers Mauritius. The 1847 Post Office stamps are beyond virtually all collectors but essential history — the Mauritius philatelic museum has a display. Mauritius colonial stamps (1848–1968) are classic Commonwealth material across multiple reigns. The Dodo stamps from Mauritius are among the world’s most beloved extinct animal stamps — popular with natural history collectors. Mauritius’s coral reef fish stamps are outstanding marine thematic items. The Rodrigues sub-territory produces occasional separate stamps.

Part of the Africa Postal Directory.