The 1866 Queen Victoria Official Issue – Without Watermark
On 1 August 1866 the first set of Official Stamps was issued by the Indian Post Office consisting of 3 values – ½a, 1a and 8as – printed on the 1856-1864 QV issue without watermark and 4 values – ½a, 1a, 2as and 4as – printed on the 1865-1866 QV issues with watermark.
The 1866 Queen Victoria Official Issue – With Watermark
On 1 August 1866 the first set of Official Stamps was issued by the Indian Post Office consisting of 3 values – ½a, 1a and 8as – printed on the 1856-1864 QV issue without watermark and 4 values – ½a, 1a, 2as and 4as – printed on the 1865-1866 QV issues with watermark.
The 1867-73 Queen Victoria Official Issue
Between 1867 and 1873 a new series of official stamps was issued consisting of 5 values (½a, 1a, 2as, 4as and 8as) all of which exists in different shades. The stamps were overprinted with a larger “SERVICE” than that of the 1866 issue.
The 1867 6as 8pies Queen Victoria Issue
In April 1867 a 6as 8pies value was issued. At the time this was the rate to the UK via the Marseille route and the stamp replaced the overprinted 6as fiscal stamps.