Penny Stamps 1880

These Cyprus stamps date from 1 April 1880. They are postage stamps of Great Britain, featuring Queen Victoria’s head, over-printed for use in Cyprus, with a face value of one penny and two pence half penny (pronounced tuppence haipny).
The first post office under the British administration was opened at Larnaca on 27 July 1878. Further offices followed at Famagusta, Kyrenia, Limassol, Nicosia and Paphos in September 1878. The stamps of Great Britain were supplied to the various offices as they opened, and continued to be used until the Cyprus Administration assumed responsibility for the postal service on 1 April 1880.
British stamps were over-printed with CYPRUS and had values of a half-penny, a penny, two pence half penny, four pence, sixpence, and a shilling.
The currency was pounds, shillings and pence until June 1881 when it was changed to pounds, piastres and paras. 180 piastres equaled one pound. 40 paras equaled one piastre. The first Cyprus stamps proper were issued on 1 July 1881.

Cyprus | Cyprus Colony Military Occupation 1878 Images