SG 69 1856 (no corner letters)
Scan courtesy Elstree Stamps
Plate 1 (deep lilac)
next plate in 6d series
| Watermark | Emblems |
| Perf | 14 |
| Put to press | 29 Mar 1856 |
| Number issued | 32,040,000 |
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.