Mauritius -Lufthansa Inaugural Flight, Mauritius Frankfurt

Mauritius, a small island in the Indian Ocean, is of towering importance in the world of philately. Though the first post office opened during French rule in 1772, the first two postage stamps were not issued until 1847 after the island had come under British control. They were the first postage stamps issued in any part of the British Empire outside Britain and are of legendary rarity and value.