1s surface printed stamp 1856-81

The 1s value was required because the postage to the USA and some colonies was 1 shilling, in addition it was also the registration fee

The Surface printed stamps were introduced in 1855 and replaced the high value (6d, 10d and 1s) embossed values of 1847-54. The low value line engraved stamps continued until 1879. The Surface printed stamps were printed by Thomas De La Rue & Co. The 4d value was first introduced in 1855 to prepay letters to France and the die was engraved by Jean Ferdinand Joubert de la Ferté (1810-1884) a refugee from Napoleonic France.

The surface printed stamps of 1855-83 form four distinct families.

SG is the Stanley Gibbons catalogue number. These stamps have different watermarks, plate numbers, colours as well as design changes. The plate number is usually incorporated into the design. The stamps overprinted 'SPECIMEN' were usually sent to the postmaster as an example.

For the 3d, 6d, 9d, 10d, 1s or 2s stamps with watermark emblem or spray the sheet is arranged in 12 panes of twenty stamps forming a sheet of 240 stamps, stamps with D, E, H or I in the SE corner will have a wing-margin. For Imperial Crown watermark sheet layout see here