Treskilling Yellow (1855) — Sweden's Famous Colour Error
The Treskilling Yellow is a unique 1855 Swedish 3 skilling banco stamp that was mistakenly printed in yellow-orange instead of its correct blue-green colour, making it one of the most valuable stamps ever sold.
Treskilling Yellow, 1855. P.A. Sparre (design). Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Why the colour matters
Sweden issued its first postage stamps in 1855, designed by P.A. Sparre. Each denomination had its own assigned colour: the 3 skilling banco stamp was printed in blue-green, while the 8 skilling banco was printed in yellow-orange.
On at least one sheet, a 3 skilling stamp was struck in the yellow-orange colour reserved for the 8 skilling value, almost certainly because a damaged blue-green cliché was replaced with one cut from an 8 skilling plate. The result is a denomination printed in entirely the wrong colour — and only a single example is known to survive, which is why collectors call it the Treskilling Yellow.
History and auctions
The stamp was reportedly discovered by a Swedish schoolboy among family papers in 1885 and sold for a modest sum. Over the following century it passed through some of the most prominent collections in philately and became a celebrated rarity.
It has repeatedly set records at auction. A sale in 1996 reached around 2.88 million Swiss francs, and the stamp later changed hands again for figures reported in the millions. By price relative to its tiny size, it is often described as the most valuable object by weight in the world. Its authenticity has been examined and debated by experts, but it remains recognised as genuine and unique.
Estimated value
Believed to be unique, the Treskilling Yellow has repeatedly set world records, selling for sums in the millions. There is no fixed catalogue value — its worth is entirely auction-driven and depends on what a single buyer will pay for a one-of-a-kind item.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Treskilling Yellow so valuable?
It is believed to be the only surviving example of an 1855 Swedish 3 skilling banco stamp printed in the wrong colour — yellow instead of blue-green. Extreme rarity, fame, and a long auction history have pushed its price into the millions.
What colour should the 3 skilling stamp be?
The normal 1855 Swedish 3 skilling banco was printed in blue-green. The yellow-orange colour belonged to the 8 skilling banco, so the yellow 3 skilling is a colour error.
How many Treskilling Yellow stamps exist?
Only one is known, and it is believed to be unique. No other genuine example of the yellow 3 skilling has been found.
How much is the Treskilling Yellow worth?
It has sold for millions, including roughly 2.88 million Swiss francs in 1996, and has changed hands again for very high sums. As a unique item its value is set entirely by auction demand.
Has its authenticity ever been questioned?
Yes. Because it is so valuable and unique, experts have repeatedly examined and debated the stamp. Despite the scrutiny, it continues to be recognised as a genuine 1855 colour error.