Treskilling Yellow postage stamps are one of the most famous and valuable stamps in the world. These stamps were produced in Sweden in 1855, and they are known for their distinctive yellow color, which was a result of a printing error. Today, Treskilling Yellow stamps are highly prized by collectors, and they fetch millions of dollars at auction.
History of Treskilling Yellow
The story of Treskilling Yellow stamps began in 1855 when the Swedish postal service decided to issue a new set of stamps. Sweden issued its first postage stamps, in a set of five values depicting the Swedish coat of arms, with denominations ranging from 3 to 24 Swedish skillings.
The three-skilling stamp was normally printed in a blue-green color, with the eight-skilling stamp being printed in yellowish orange (banco yellow), and the ink used for the three skilling denomination was supposed to be a deep blue-green color. However, during the printing process, something went wrong, and the ink used for the three skilling stamps turned out to be yellow instead of blue-green. The exact reason for this error is not known, but it is believed that the printer accidentally used the wrong ink.
Despite the printing error, the stamps were still issued and put into circulation. However, the yellow three skilling stamps were quickly noticed by collectors, who realized that they were extremely rare. Only one sheet of the yellow stamps was produced, and it is believed that only one copy of the stamp is known to exist today.
The story of the Treskilling Yellow stamp became even more famous in 1886, when a young Swedish schoolboy named Georg Wilhelm Backman discovered a copy of the stamp in his grandmother’s attic. Backman was an avid stamp collector, and he immediately recognized the value of the rare stamp. He sold the stamp to a dealer in Stockholm for 7,000 Swedish kronor, which was a huge sum of money at the time.
Value of Treskilling Yellow
Since then, the Treskilling Yellow stamp has been sold several times, and it has set numerous records for the highest price paid for a single postage stamp. Here are some important events that lead to the increasing value of this very rare postage stamp:
- In 1992 the stamp was sold to Baron Eric Leijonhufvud. He bought it for approximately $5,000.
- In 1923 Claes A. Tamm acquired the stamp at a price two times greater than the previous value.
- In 1928, the stamp was sold to a lawyer named Johan Ramberg for £2,000
- In 1937 King Carol II of Romania purchased the stamp from Harmers for £5,000
- In 1950 it went to Rene Berlingen for an unknown sum
- In 1984, the yellow stamp made headlines when it was sold by David Feldman for 977,500 Swiss francs
- In 1990, Feldman re-sold it for over $1,000,000
- In 1996, Feldman sold it again for 2,880,000 Swiss francs
- In 1998 an unknown buyer from Copenhagen acquired the yellow stamp. The amount he paid for the stamp has not been disclosed
- In 2010 a group of investor bought the Treskilling Yellow for $2.3 million
- In 2013 a well-known Swedish politician has bought the rare stamp and continues keeping it in his collection.
Each successive sale was a world record price for a postage stamp!
The Treskilling Yellow stamp has become a legendary symbol of the world of stamp collecting. It is an object of fascination and desire for collectors all over the world, and it has inspired countless stories and legends. The stamp is often cited as an example of the importance of rarity in stamp collecting, and it is a reminder of the incredible stories that can be found in the world of philately.
The Treskilling Yellow postage stamp is a rare and valuable object that has captured the imagination of stamp collectors around the world. Its distinctive yellow color and legendary status make it one of the most sought-after stamps in the world, and its story is a testament to the enduring appeal of stamp collecting as a hobby. Whether you are a seasoned collector or a casual enthusiast, the Treskilling Yellow stamp is a fascinating piece of history that is well worth exploring. The number of stamps printed in the wrong color is still unknown, thus far, only one example of this very rage postage stamp has been found until today which makes this stamp one of the most valuable and rarest.