Dulshan Ellawela History With Stamps

the transparent protective covering, the stamp appears pretty unremarkable. A dull pink in colour, with the profile of the Queen Victoria’s head standing in the center, it even lacks the perforations which we are so used to seeing in stamps. this little piece of paper at all: it is nearly 159 years old, costs thousands of pounds, and is the sixth stamp to be issued in Ceylon.

Known among philatelists as the “Dull Rose”, this is the rarest and most expensive stamp“This one cost me £4000,” says Dulshan Ellawela, as he sits amidst his extensive collection of stamp albums. “A mint copy would cost thousands of pounds more.”twenty years of collecting stamps has kept him well informed about philately. In fact, he is even currently pursuing a Phd related to the subject, and has published a stamp catalogue showcasing Ceylonese stamps issued during its pre-independence period.

“This is Ceylon’s first stamp,” points out Ellawela, gesturing towards a nondescript purple-brown stamp. Issued in 1857, just 17 years after the world’s first postage stamp was out, it was valued at 6 pence and was used to send a half ounce letter from Ceylon to England.its history, culture, landscape and society, making philately doubly fascinating. Besides, stamp collecting is for everyone. Of course, you will probably never be able to get your hands on that mint copy of a Dull Rose, but there are probably thousands of stamps you can get hold of without burning a hole in your wallet.