Nice stamp Eric, the Queen Victoria with Laureate was issued in 1851; there was another 3d, green on blue. And thanks for the history behind the stamp.
Purchased on Ebay yesterday.
The 1851-55 New South Wales series of stamps feature Queen Victoria not wearing the usual George IV Diamond Diadem, but rather a Laurel Wreath. Design by A.W. Manning from a sketch by W.T. Levine. The Laurel Wreath is associated with the Greek god Apollo. And the great poets and heroes of Greece would be thusly depicted. The idea lives on in terms such as Poet Laureate. And of course myriad stamps have laurel leaves in their design.
This Vicky appears to be based on the same William Wyon portrait (on a coin celebrating Victoria attending Guildhall in London) used for the Penny Black -- including the Chignon hair style. A depiction of a 15 year old princess that would remain unchanged on stamps for over 60 years for Great Britain and some of her colonies. In the Neoclassical style.
Cheers,
Eric
re: New South Wales Victoria Laureate 1852
Nice stamp Eric, the Queen Victoria with Laureate was issued in 1851; there was another 3d, green on blue. And thanks for the history behind the stamp.