Brazil 1890 – Southern Cross 

The above scan shows two copies of the 200 reis violet stamp (note differences in size and print quality) along with the highest-value member of the set, 1000 reis yellow. 

And the second-ever astro stamp is... the Southern Cross again, also from Brazil. This is a modified version of the 1887 Brazil design, in a range of values and colours. Three examples are illustrated here, from which the inconsistency of size and shape is apparent. These stamps were evidently hand-perforated in rows and columns, leading to a lack of uniformity in the height and width. The strength of the colours can also vary quite markedly. Mint or used copies of these can be found quite cheaply. The same stamps were reissued in 1899 overprinted with new values.