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.
| No corner letters (SG 62-73) 1855-57 |
| Small, white corner letters (SG 75-91) 1862 |
| Large, white corner letters (SG92-137) 1865-83 |
| Large, coloured corner letters (SG138-163) 1873-83 |
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.
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