SG 63 1856 (no corner letters)
Plate 1
(carmine)
next plate in 4d series
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| Watermark | Medium garter |
| Perf | 14 |
| Put to press | 25 Feb 1856 |
| Number issued | 1,320,000 |
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.