1883-84 ‘Lilac And Green’ Stamp Collection

Unpopular when first issued Victorian stamp collection that has increased in desirability over time

The 1883-84 ‘Lilac and green’ stamps were printed using fugitive inks that would wash away if immersed in water. This was intended to discourage people from soaking stamps off envelopes and reusing them. The lilac and green colours were the only two fugitive inks available at the time.

The Customs and Inland Revenue Act of 1881 required stamps to be valid as revenue stamps, thus the ‘Lilac and Green’ stamps were the first to unify postage and revenue rates. The Penny Lilac issued that year was inscribed "POSTAGE AND INLAND REVENUE" and the Lilac and Green stamps were inscribed "POSTAGE & REVENUE", whereas the previous 1880 stamps (known as the Provisional Issue) were only inscribed "POSTAGE".

On the 1st August 1883, the 9d stamp was the first to be released due to an urgent need for a stamp of this value. The other eight stamps were issued later on the 1st April 1884. The stamps featured a portrait of Queen Victoria’s head in profile, with lettering in the corners. The 1½d, 3d, 4d, 5d and 1s stamps were horizontal and the 3d, 4d and 5d stamps were vertical.

The 1884 Stamp Committee was formed to review and improve issued stamps and it was clear the dull coloured stamps were not popular. In reaction to this, the 1887 bi-coloured Jubilee stamps was released. The unpopular nature of these stamps has meant they are now difficult to source, resulting in the Stanley Gibbons catalogue value price rise for a fine used example of 122% over the past 20 years.

Key Issue Information:

• The ‘lilac and green’ stamps were the first to unify postage and revenue rates.
• They were printed using fugitive inks that would wash away when immersed in water in order to discourage people from attempting to reuse the stamps.
• The dull designs were unpopular at the time, which has meant they are scarce today and difficult to source.
• In 2015 the official Stanley Gibbons Catalogue value for fine used example of Lilac and Green stamps was £1,710 – a 122% increase over 20 years*
• All nine stamps housed in a Deluxe Presentation Folder with Certificate

*2015 Stanley Gibbons Catalogue price for fine used example