The history of the mail and stamps of Mauritius, a small island in the southwest Indian Ocean, is of great importance in the world of philately for a number of reasons. The two first postage stamps of Mauritius, issued in 1847, are legendary rarities. These were the first postage stamps issued in any part of the British Empire outside Great Britain. In addition, Mauritius is well known for its locally produced subsequent releases, the so-called “primitives”, which are also highly sought after by collectors.