| Common Name: | Dull Rose |
| Country Of Production: | Ceylon |
| Face Value: | 4d |
| Depicts: | Queen Victoria |
| Notability: | Most valuable stamp issued in Sri Lanka |
| Printer: | Perkins, Bacon & Co |
| Perforation: | No |
| 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]