Malta first issued revenue stamps in 1899, when the island was a British colony. From that year to 1912, all revenue issues were postage stamps overprinted accordingly, with the overprinting being done either locally or by De La Rue in London. Postage stamps also became valid for fiscal use from 1912–13, so no new revenues were issued until 1925–30, when a series of key type stamps depicting King George V were issued. These exist unappropriated for use as general-duty revenues, or with additional inscriptions indicating a specific use (Applications, Contracts, Registers or Stocks & Shares). The only other revenues after this series were £1 stamps issued in 1941, 1948 and 1954. Postage stamps remained valid for fiscal use until at least the 1970s.