Malta's own postage stamps have been in circulation since 1860. In 1860, Malta issued its first postage stamp, while the country was still a British colony. This yellow half penny stamp was issued in a variety of perforations and shades of color until 1885, when the first separate Malta series was issued. This postage stamp only paid for mail within the island, and was the standard postage rate for island mail weighing less than one ounce until 1943. To send mail outside the island, English stamps had to be affixed until 1885.