Blue Penny Museum

Lonely Planet review

Whether or not you fully understand the philatelic obsession with the Mauritian one penny and two-pence stamps of 1847, the Blue Penny Museum is far more wide ranging than its name suggests, taking in the history of the island's exploration, settlement and colonial period. It's Port Louis' best museum, well lit and designed with a fantastic selection of maps, photographs and engravings from different periods in history, as well as a gallery for temporary exhibitions and a good shop.

The pride of the museum's collection are two of the world's rarest stamps: the red one-penny and blue two-pence 'Post Office' stamps. Issued in 1847, these stamps were incorrectly printed with the words 'Post Office' rather than 'Post Paid'. They were recalled upon discovery of the error, but not before the wife of the British governor had mailed out a few dozen on invitations to one of her famous balls!

These stamps now rank among the most valuable in the world. The 'Bordeaux cover', a letter bearing both stamps which was mailed to France, was last sold for a staggering US$3.8 million. In 1993 a consortium of Mauritian companies paid US$2.2 million for the pair of unused one-penny and two-pence stamps now on display at the museum. This is the only place in the world where the two can be seen together on public view. To preserve the colours, they are only lit up for 10 minutes at a time: every hour, on the half-hour.

On the ground floor you'll see the country's most famous work of art: a superbly lifelike statue by the Mauritian sculptor Prosper d'Épinay, carved in 1884. Based on Bernardin de St-Pierre's novel Paul et Virginie , it shows the young hero carrying his sweetheart across a raging torrent.