Nature of rarity Few printed Face value 10 shillings | No. in existence Unknown
1530 printed | |
 | ||
Estimated value €3,000 (unused)
€4,000 (used) | ||
The Saint Paul 10s black is Malta's most expensive postage stamp. It was issued on 6 March 1919 and it replaced the 1899 10s stamp which had a similar design but with differences in the frame.
History
In 1899, four pictorial stamps were issued, with the highest value being a black 10 shillings portraying Saint Paul's shipwreck in Malta. This stamp was only valid for postage, and not for fiscal use except when overprinted with the word "REVENUE".
In 1913, a new stamp was prepared with the same design but with the inscription altered reflecting the fact that the stamp was also valid for fiscal (revenue) use. This was printed by De La Rue with a Multiple Crown CA watermark, and was ready by 1919. Since supplies of the 1899 stamp remained in stock, only 1530 copies were ordered (51 sheets of 30). It had been intended that the release of the new stamp should be delayed until supplies of the older one were exhausted. However, an oversight at the Valletta post office resulted in it being put on public sale on 6 March 1919. Due to the few copies printed, the stamps sold out within a couple of days.
In 1922 the stamp was reprinted on Multiple Script CA watermarked paper. Since more were printed, the stamp is not as rare as the 1919 issue, however it still catalogues at €350 mint and €650 used.