Yellow Tre skilling

The yellow tre skilling is a spectacular variety first emission of postage stamp in Sweden. Existing in only one specimen, this stamp is among most expensive of the world: in 1996, it was sold for 2.875.000 Swiss francs (approximately 1,8 million euros).

The first Swedish emission

In 1855, Sweden emits its first postage stamps (notched): five values representing the weapons of Sweden and being marked: “SVERIGE” in top surrounded of the value in Arab numeral, “FRIMARKE” on the two sides, and “TRE SKILL B^co” for the facial value: 3 skilling banco (with 48 banco Skilling for 1 banco Riksdaler). Values and colors were the following ones:

3 skilling green
4 skilling blue
6 skilling gray
8 skilling yellow
24 skilling red.

As 1858 with 1870, the same one illustrated was used with six facial news expressed in öre (with 100 öre for 1 riksdaler).

The dimensions which the catalogs give to these stamps are high with an appreciation for the new specimens in perfect state or obliterated on letter.

3 skilling yellow

This stamp was found on a posted letter the July 13rd 1857.

Possible cause

The cause of the error of color of this specimen of the 3 skilling is not really known.

An error of color is possible: the printer would have printed sheets of 3 skilling with yellow ink. But, with 100 stamps per sheet, the error would have been certainly quickly noticed.

The most plausible explanation is the repair of a stereotype of a yellow plate of impression of the 8 skilling. The plates of impression consisted of 100 stereotypes to print sheets of one hundred stamps (10 in length and 10 in height). One of the hundred stereotypes of the 8 skilling could be worn or broke, and was involuntarily replaced by a stereotype of the 3 skilling.

Not only the error does not seem to be noticed with printing works, but the number of 3 skilling yellow printed is completely unknown. In spite of intensive research at the end of the 19th century and at the beginning of the 20th century, no other specimen was discovered.

Career of the stamp

In 1858, the stamps in öre are emitted, and the stamps in skilling are withdrawn from the sale. The 3 skilling yellow is discovered by a young 14 years German collector, Georg Wilhelm Baeckman, which examined old women Enveloppe S in the attic of his/her grandmother. A local merchant of stamps Heinrich Lichtenstein bought to him for 7 crowns.

The specimen changed several times of hand: in 1894, Sigmund Friedl sold it with the famous collector Philippe de Ferrari for the sum then very high of 4.000 Florin S. During the dispersion of the Ferrari collection in the years 1920, the Swedish baron Eric Leijonhufvud the receipt for 35.250 francs French, then Claes A. Tamm in 1926 per 1.500 pounds sterling. In 1937, the king Charles II of Romania bought it with the biddings for 5.000 books. In 1950, Rene Berlingen did not reveal the sum that he spent.

Starting from the Years 1980, the amounts of purchase for this single stamp flew away: sold with David Feldman for 977.500 Swiss francs in 1984, its price exceeded the million dollars of the United States in 1990. In 1996, it is sold again at Feldman for 2.875.000 Swiss francs.

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