Great Britain Philatelic Society

Why was the QV Jubilee 4.5d value of 1492 issued
Nick Amor

As far as I know, the basic use it was introduced for was to pay the second step parcel post rate:

http://www.gbps.org.uk/rates/inland/parcels-1883-1966.php

That would have allowed the lowest three rates to be paid with a single stamp, and all the rates to be paid with no more than two stamps.

It also paid the basic overseas registered letter rate -- 2½d postage + 2d registration -- and after 1897, when the parcel post steps no longer had ½d's in them, that would have been the main use. You do see a reasonable number of examples -- scarce rather than rare, perhaps.