1910 King Edward VII 2d Tyrian Plum (Great Britain)
The 2d Tyrian Plum is perhaps the most famous unissued stamp in all of philately. A stamp prepared for public release, printed and ready to distribute, it was never officially sold due to the sudden death of King Edward VII on May 6, 1910. The handful of examples known to exist represent one of the great philatelic rarities of the 20th century, and the stamp's story is as dramatic as any in the hobby.
The Background
In 1909 and 1910, the British Post Office was preparing a revised stamp series for King Edward VII, updating the existing De La Rue-printed definitive series. The new 2d stamp was to feature a color described as "Tyrian plum," a distinctive deep reddish-purple shade that was intended to replace the existing 2d stamp in the series.
The stamp was designed, dies were prepared, and a full printing run was completed. Sheets were ready for distribution to post offices across Great Britain when King Edward VII died suddenly of bronchitis and heart failure on May 6, 1910. His son would ascend as George V, and a new series of definitives would need to reflect the new monarch's portrait.
The decision was made to withdraw and destroy the prepared Tyrian Plum stamps rather than issue a stamp bearing the portrait of a deceased king. The entire printing was ordered destroyed.
The Survivors
Despite the destruction order, a small number of examples survived. The precise circumstances of survival vary by example, but they typically fall into several categories:
Royal Collection examples: King Edward VII himself received stamps from the Post Office as a matter of course, and the Royal Philatelic Collection (now one of the world's great stamp collections, held by the British monarch) contains examples.
Post Office specimens: Examples marked "SPECIMEN" were retained by the Post Office for archive purposes. These SPECIMEN overprints are the most commonly encountered form.
Unauthorized survivals: A small number of examples without SPECIMEN overprints apparently survived through various means. These are the most controversial and most valuable examples.
Total known examples of the 2d Tyrian Plum number in the dozens at most, with unoverprinted used or mint examples numbering in single digits. Every known example is catalogued and documented in the philatelic literature.
Physical Characteristics
The stamp itself is standard in format for Edwardian British definitives: the characteristic portrait of Edward VII in profile, engraved, with the denomination and "POSTAGE & REVENUE" inscription. The Tyrian Plum color is a distinctive deep reddish-purple, sometimes described as wine-colored, that sets it apart from any other shade in the British series.
Paper: Crown watermark paper, standard for the De La Rue printings of the era. Perforation: 14, standard for the series. Design: Standard Edward VII definitive format.
Why the Tyrian Plum Matters
The stamp's significance goes beyond simple rarity. It represents a category that fascinated 20th-century collectors: the "would-be" stamp, prepared and ready but never issued. The Tyrian Plum occupies the same conceptual space as the US 1918 Inverted Jenny (actually issued but with error), but with the added drama of a royal death cutting short its existence.
British philately places enormous emphasis on rarity and historical significance, and the Tyrian Plum checks every box: government-produced, historically significant, technically rare, and associated with a moment of genuine historical consequence.
Market Values and Recent Sales
The 2d Tyrian Plum doesn't appear at auction frequently, precisely because there are so few examples and their ownership tends to be stable (major collections, Royal Philatelic Society members, institutional collections).
| Type | Estimated Value |
|---|---|
| SPECIMEN overprint, mint | $15,000 - $40,000 |
| SPECIMEN overprint, used (if known) | Premium |
| Unoverprinted example (mint or used) | $100,000 - $500,000+ |
| Royal Collection examples (not available) | Priceless/not for sale |
When genuinely unoverprinted examples appear at auction through Stanley Gibbons, Spink, or major international houses, they generate significant attention and can exceed these estimates considerably depending on condition and provenance.
Authentication Challenges
The Tyrian Plum's fame makes it a target for forgeries and misrepresented items. Several issues demand careful attention:
Color forgeries: Other stamps in similar shades have been presented as Tyrian Plum examples. Expert certificate from the Royal Philatelic Society London or the British Philatelic Association Expert Committee is essential for any serious purchase.
SPECIMEN overprint alterations: There have been instances of SPECIMEN overprints being chemically removed to simulate unoverprinted examples.
General forgeries: Period and modern forgeries of the entire Edwardian series exist.
No example should be purchased without a current expert certificate from a recognized philatelic expertising service. For British classics at this level, the RPSL certificate is the gold standard.
The Collector Market
The Tyrian Plum exists at the intersection of British classic philately and the broader world of significant rarities that attract collectors from across collecting disciplines. Provenance trails for known examples are typically well-documented.
For most philatelists, the Tyrian Plum is an aspirational item, something to read about, examine at exhibitions, and dream about. For the small number of collectors who can seriously compete for examples when they do appear, it represents one of the great prizes of British philately.
Related Items
Have This Item?
Our AI appraisal tool is coming soon. Upload photos, get instant identification and valuation.
Get Appraisal