Mauritius definitives 1950

Like many smaller colonies, Mauritius had used De La Rue’s key and duty plates since 1910, to provide serviceable stamps at low prices. But they did nothing for the island. And while plate and colour variations appealed to specialists, there was nothing to attract the general collector.

Meanwhile, the island’s disparate population had begun to come together to seek more autonomy for the island and representation for themselves. After much negotiation, a new Constitution was granted in 1947 to take effect in 1948. It gave the vote to women, and abolished the property qualification for voters. This enfranchised all adults who could pass a simple literacy test and increased the electorate