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The Blue Penny Museum in Mauritius is an art and history exhibit


During one of my visits to the capital of Mauritius, Port Louis, I discovered one of the city’s historical gems, entirely dedicated to Mauritius. The Blue Penny Museum is Mauritius’ most famous museum, housing a valuable historical collection that showcases the island’s rich past. It will take you through the history of Mauritius, its colonial period and its development over time. While photography is not allowed inside, you should still go because it contains extraordinary collections that are a true testament to Mauritius’ historical and cultural diversity, presented in beautiful settings.

Mauritius Port Louis Museum

Opened in 2001, the museum was created with an unwavering focus on excellence in the selection of exhibits, written descriptions and the creation of interpretive aids. This museum allows you to travel back in time, to the era of the great Indian Ocean maritime exploration, and then to the three colonial periods of Mauritius. Continue your tour of the past with a journey to Port Louis in the 18th and 19th centuries.

What follows is a chronicle of the history of the postal service, starting with the first stamps produced in Mauritius, the world famous post office stamps. The museum tour ends with the lovely and tragic story of a fabulous couple, Paul and Virginie.

Highlights of the Blue Penny Museum

The Blue Penny Museum scoffs at two iconic post office stamps issued in 1847, considered two of the most valuable artifacts in the philatelic world. The surviving unused one-penny orange-red stamp and one of the four unused two-pence indigo stamps are among the most striking exhibits in the museum. The two pieces of philatelic jewellery are currently on display at the Blue Penny Museum.

Blue Penny Museum

Historical charts, stamps, paintings, sculptures, engravings and old documents are among the treasures of the Blue Penny Museum collection, reflecting Mauritian culture. The museum’s souvenir shop also has a unique range of high-quality Mauritian souvenirs, including specially designed posters, postcards, decorations and stationery.

Exhibits at the Blue Penny Museum

The Great Age of Navigation: This room offers a glimpse into the nautical realm of the Indian Ocean.

The Island Builders: The second room of the museum provides an extensive overview of the island’s colonial history.

Port Louis, a leading city: The third room has a series of historical photos and maps that will take you back to Port Louis in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Postal Adventures: The Museum Tour continues into a room that provides an overview of Mauritius postal history.

Engraving Memory Room: This area will give you more information about the origin of stamp engraving in Mauritius.

Paul & Virginie Room: Jacques-Henri Bernardin de Saint-Pierre’s classic Paul & Virginie is indelibly identified with Mauritius, the mythical romance of these two lovers is a masterpiece of international literature.

Blue Penny Museum Boutique

The shop at the Blue Penny Museum sells a variety of souvenirs. The museum’s shop features a full range of merchandise inspired by postage stamps from the Mauritius Post Office, the country’s most valuable cultural asset. The staff at the Bluepenny Museum Store in Port Louis are happy to assist visitors to the museum in choosing from the different items on offer. T-shirts, bookmarks, hats, soaps, pencils and key rings are inspired by Blue Penny and Red Vermilion, where stamp collectors can find them.

The museum’s shop also offers exquisite beech wood shelves, ship models, postcards, table mats, posters, reproductions of prints and engravings, as well as Mauritian handicrafts and a variety of books, all of which are rare treasures worth buying and sharing. Items at the Blue Penny Museum are inspired by the MCB’s historical collection. It is one of the most famous collections in the country and houses important works of art and history in Mauritius, including those exhibited in museums.

The merchandise at this boutique is a one-of-a-kind collection of original Mauritian souvenirs, carefully designed with an emphasis on quality and perfection.

Postcards: From Rs 30

Bradshaw Series: In the early nineteenth century, British artist Bradshaw created beautiful views of several parts of Mauritius. Must-Have Collections: The museum’s best works are Les Magasins L, reproduced by Thuillier; Paul et Virginie, escorted by Fidele and accompanied by Beaume; and Cumberworth, General Map of the Indian Ocean, painted by Van Linshoten and Van Langren . Paintings by Thuillier, Nash and Richard depict the Ruisseau du Pouce, the Place d’Armes and the French East India Company gardens. A set of ten greeting cards featuring native Mauritian wildlife and copies from the museum’s collection.

Post Office Collection

Two 1847 Mauritius Post Office stamps inspired this collection, which includes a wide variety of items. Priced at Rs 595 and Rs 495 respectively, there is a wide range of men’s and women’s polo shirts and T-shirts to choose from. For Rs 825, you can get a set of bath towel, towel and towel. The aerogrammes 50 rupee cufflinks sell for 400 rupees. Men’s wallet 450 rupees. 160 rupees for key ring. INR 250 for visitor cardholders. For Rs 150, you can get a notebook/sketch book.

Various posters are available at Rs 30 each. Fiebig’s series of four lithographs depicting panoramas sells for Rs 920. The museum sells individual lithographs of various masterpieces for Rs 345 each. 575 rupees, a mini print by Art 7 botanique or Paul et Virginie.

blue penny library

The Blue Penny Museum gives you access to books such as Cyclones Long – History of Hurricane Resilience; Sega, old and recent recommendations; La BoutikSinoi, a catalog of various photos representing traditional Chinese shops in Mauritius; Forward, Carrom, a The story of the game that remains a mystery; the treasure trove of endemic animals of Mauritius and Rodriguez, Lemuria, the lost continent of the Indian Ocean; 1,500 rupees postcards from the past; 19th century photographs from the collection of the Maurice d’Antan – Blue Penny Museum; The artist and the mayor; and Paul, Virginie, and Bernardine; a mythical tale.

The museum allows visitors, especially young people, to connect images with the history of Mauritius since its founding. So don’t miss this unique opportunity to broaden your and your child’s horizons while exploring Mauritius’ past. For students, the museum also organizes themed trips. Therefore, visits may be concentrated in a single exhibition space. The museum’s many showrooms allow for the study of several different themes and can be customized accordingly.

A typical visit lasts about an hour and will provide you with an overview of Mauritian history and culture in a modern and attractive setting, through extensive historical testimony about Mauritius and its capital, a stunning display of Port Louis and its heritage, and discoveries Collections of international significance, such as Blue Penny, the first edition of the novels Paul and Virginie, and statues sculpted by Prosper d’Epinay.

The Blue Penny Museum is one of those rare places where you can get a glimpse into the art and history of Mauritius. Therefore, it is a must-see for everyone interested in learning more about the country. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except Sundays and other holidays. From December 24th to 31st, the museum closes early at 2pm. At 4:30 pm, the exhibit room closes. At 4.30pm, the entrance to the museum and the boutique closes.





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