Malta #13 Queen Victoria - 1885 1 Schilling Classic

Malta, a small island in the center of the Mediterranean, has been inhabited for 8000 years and its strategic location made it an important way station for trade ships. As a British colony, it served as headquarters for the British Navy in the two World Wars. This 1 shilling value, the first Maltese stamp issued for international postage, used the youthful portrait of Queen Victoria that she preferred throughout her long reign. (Malta #13)