The two pence (2d) Tyrian plum is a postage stamp that was produced by Britain in 1910 as a replacement for the bi-coloured stamp which was in current use at the time. Its longer appelation was given as it bore the likeness of King Edward VII.
A hundred thousand sheets totalling 24,000,000 stamps were printed and delivered to the post office stores for distribution to Postmasters. The circulation of these new stamps was delayed whilst existing stocks of the current stamp were used up so that the change would take effect at one time and the amount of surplus stock of the old value would be kept to a minimum.
Following the death of Edward VII, it was decided not to go ahead with this new issue; almost all the stock was destroyed, and only a few examples survive.
EdwardVII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India.
EdwardVII and Queen Alexandra were crowned at Westminster Abbey on 9 August 1902.
Edward's life was dramatised in the 1975 British television series Edward the Seventh, also known as Edward the King or The Royal Victorians, and starring Charles Sturridge as the adolescent Edward, Timothy West as the adult Edward and Annette Crosbie as Queen Victoria.