Description: The stamp features a finely engraved depiction of the Acraea hova butterfly, a species belonging to the Nymphalidae family. The illustration presents the insect with intricate brick-red and brown wings detailed with rows of dark marginal spots and delicate veining, creating a bold contrast against the soft green foliage in the background. The design is framed by a cream-colored border containing the value "0F40" in the top right corner and the scientific name "ACRAEA HOVA" centered at the top. The lower portion displays the country name "REPUBLIQUE MALGACHE" and the national motto "FAHAFAHANA - TANINDRAZANA - FANDROSOANA" (Liberty, Fatherland, Progress), while the vertical "POSTES" banner anchors the left side.
Circa: 1960
Condition: Unused - hinged
Notes:
The Acraea hova is endemic to Madagascar, meaning it is found nowhere else on Earth. It is notably larger than many other species in the Acraea genus and is historically significant to the island’s entomological records, having been described by the French naturalist Jean Baptiste Boisduval in 1833.
Like the other stamps in this set, this issue was released during the brief autonomous period of the "Malagasy Republic" within the French Community, just one month before the nation achieved full independence in June 1960. The use of "Republique Malgache" instead of "Madagascar" reflects this specific political transition.