Dull Rose

Dull Rose
Country of production	Ceylon
Date of production	23 April 1859 (1859-04-23)
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]

See also

• List of postage stamps

References

1. "A glimpse of the earliest Ceylon stamps". Daily Financial Times. ft.lk. 29 April 2017. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
2. Ellawela, Dulshan (25 April 2018). "159th Anniversary of Ceylon's most Valuable Stamp, the "Dull Rose"". Daily Mirror. dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 3 June 2018.
3. Daniel, Shannine. "Treasured Stamps From Colonial Ceylon". Roar.lk. Retrieved 3 June 2018.