Dull Rose | |
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Country of production | Ceylon |
Date of production | 23 April 1859 |
Printer | Perkins, Bacon & Co |
Perforation | No |
Depicts | Queen Victoria |
Notability | Most valuable stamp issued in Sri Lanka |
Face value | 4d |
Estimated value | £70,000 - £100,000 (mint condition) £4,500 (used) |
The Dull Rose is a Ceylonese (modern-day Sri Lanka) postage stamp that is considered to be the rarest and most valuable stamp issued in the country. [1] [2] 7000 stamps were issued on 23 April 1859, bearing a face value of four pence. [2] [3] Three others, the 8 pence (chocolate brown), 1 shilling & 9 pence (green), and 2 shilling & 9 pence were issued on the same date as part of a series. [2] These featured a left-facing depiction of a young Queen Victoria in an octagonal framing. [1] [2]
A mint condition original issue Dull Rose was sold for $71,875 at a Cherrystone Philatelic Auction in January 2008. [2] Very few mint condition stamps (about 10) are known to be in existence, valued at £70,000 - £100,000, while used ones are valued at about £4,500. [2] [3]
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