Missing Colours / Colors on Stamps

One of the most frequent requests we have, at our site for Australia Stamps Steve Irwin Stamps, for help on identifying stamps is on potential missing colours /colors from stamps. The individual hopes they have found a new missing colour that has not yet been identified or catalogued. Unfortunately, we have to disillusion the individual most of the time.

The chances of finding an unidentified missing colour is remote. Colours can be lost through fading in the sun or chemical treatment. Chemical treatment on used stamps, where there is no gum is very difficult to detect, especially without specialist equipment. Colours can also be faded in the sun either deliberately or accidentally. Individuals are often misled because one colour appears to be missing while the other colours look the same as the original; colours ranges fade differently; the red/orange range will often fade when blues and greens are not affected. See the example below where the orange tone seems to be missing from the right-hand stamp, with the yellow and greens looking the same as the original on the left - this has happened as a result of fading.

Stamps where the colours that have been changed subsequent to being printed are known as "colour changelings".

To summarise, that stamp you think is missing a color is much more likely to be the result of treatment or fading. However, if you are not convinced by my arguments and you want to "prove" your missing colour, what should you do?

1. Look at the stamp under a UV lamp (if you don't have one take the stamp to a local dealer and ask them to look at it for you). Signs of fading usually show under UV, the stamp will look "duller" than an ordinary stamp in the same situation. However, even if it doesn’t it still doesn’t prove it is a genuine missing colour.

2. The next step would be to send it to be expertised by an expert committee. In the UK there are several bodies who do this including the Royal Philatelic Society who charge £30 for this service. In the States, committees include the American Philatelic Society, who charge an initial $25 for this service (but needs to go through a member) or The Philatelic Foundation with an initial fee of $27. You need to pay the fees whatever the outcome, so you are probably wasting your money - but don't say I didn't warn you!


Genuine missing colours can make a very attractive and interesting collecting area. Missing colours are listed in specialist stamp catologues or in Pierron's Book or website on Modern Great Britain & Commonwealth Missing Colour Errors. An example of a genuine Australian missing colour is the missing grey on the 1986 36c America's Cup Triumph - pretty spectacular!