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1868-70 Prince Edward Island 4 Pence Stamp Scott #9 Mint LH (See Scans) Free Shipping

Full Description

This is an authentic colonial-era postage stamp issued by Prince Edward Island before it officially became a province of the Canadian Confederation in 1873 [1, 2].

Country/Origin: Prince Edward Island (British North America) [1, 12].
Year of Issue: 1868–1870.
Denomination: 4 Pence ("FOUR PENCE") [1].
Design: Features the left-facing profile portrait of Queen Victoria wearing a tiara, enclosed in an ornate frame [1, 3, 11].
Catalog Identification: Scott #9 [1, 2]. (Note: The accompanying handwritten note mistakenly lists it as "#9A", which actually designates a different 9-pence purple stamp from the era).
Color: Black [1, 3].
Paper Type: Yellowish/cream-colored wove paper [1].
Condition: Unused / Mint [1, 2].

Market Value & Valuation Breakdown

The current market value for this stamp generally ranges between $4.00 and $15.00 USD [1, 2, 5].

Grade / Condition	Estimated Retail Value	Description

Fine/Very Fine (Mint, Hinged)	$4.00 – $8.00 [1, 2, 5]	Off-center perforations, minor imperfections, or remnants of a stamp hinge on the back [1, 2, 5].
Very Fine (Mint, Never Hinged)	$10.00 – $15.00 [1]	Clean, balanced margins with undisturbed, original adhesive gum on the back [1].
Errors / Varieties	$30.00 – $50.00+ [3]	Rare printing varieties, such as the famous "FOUP PENCE" error (where the 'R' looks like a 'P') [3].

Why is the value relatively low for its age?

When Prince Edward Island joined Canada in 1873, the local post office invalidated its old colonial stamps [2]. Huge quantities of original, unissued "remainder" sheets were sold off intact to stamp dealers. Because a massive supply of pristine, unused stamps survived into the modern collector market, they remain highly affordable today despite being over 150 years old.

The back of the stamp in the image appears to be hinged.

Visual Indicators of Hinging

Based on standard philatelic visual identification, several clues on the back of this stamp point toward it being hinged:

Hinge Mark/Disturbance: There is a visible rectangular area or disturbance in the gum near the top center. This often indicates where a small piece of folded, gummed paper (a hinge) was once attached or still remains.
Gum State: A "never hinged" (NH) stamp would typically show a completely smooth, undisturbed original gum surface. The uneven texture and specific marks on this stamp suggest it was previously mounted in an album.