British Indian Ocean Territory Stamps Appraisal

British Indian Ocean Territory 1973 Wildlife Postage Stamps

This is a collection of three commemorative postage stamps from the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), issued in 1973 as part of a wildlife definitive or special series. The stamps feature vertical orientations with perforated edges, printed on standard gummed stamp paper. Each stamp depicts different local fauna: the 50c stamp showcases an Upside-Down Jellyfish (Cassiopea andromeda), the Rs. 1.50 stamp features a spider (Nephila madagascariensis) on its web, and the Rs. 1 stamp illustrates a butterfly (Hypolimnas misippus) on flora. In the upper right corner of each stamp is the profile of Queen Elizabeth II in silver or grey, indicating the territory's status as a British Overseas Territory. The text 'BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY' is printed clearly at the bottom in a bold, black serif font. The printing quality is high, utilizing multi-color offset lithography with a distinct green-blue wash in the backgrounds. The stamps appear to be in Mint Never Hinged (MNH) or fine used condition, housed within a clear protective plastic philatelic strip. No visible foxing, creases, or heavy cancellations are present, preserving the vibrant greens, browns, and blacks of the biological illustrations. The year '1973' is vertically printed on the right side of each illustration, confirming the issue date.