British Guiana 1c magenta stamp issued

Background. In 1856, an anticipated delivery of stamps by ship failed to arrive in British Guiana. Consequently, the local postmaster authorized an emergency issue. The printers, who were publishers of the Official Gazette in Georgetown, produced three stamps. The 1c magenta was part of this series and was specifically intended for use on local newspapers, distinguishing it from the other denominations intended for letter postage.

Physical Description. The stamp is imperforate and printed in black on magenta paper. It features a sailing ship design along with the colony's Latin motto "Damus Petimus Que Vicissim" (We give and expect in return) in the center. It is regarded by many philatelists as the world's most famous rare stamp, with only one specimen known to exist.

Provisional Status. The issue was an emergency measure authorized by the local postmaster, E. Dalton, due to the non-arrival of official stamps. The printers Joseph Baum and William Dallas, publishers of the Official Gazette in Georgetown, were authorized to print the emergency issue. This context establishes the stamp's provisional nature and its origin in a specific local shortage.