1867 Newfoundland 1-Cent Violet Prince of Wales Stamp: A Collector's Deep Dive

Newfoundland philately occupies a unique corner of the stamp collecting world. The colony, which didn't become part of Canada until 1949, issued its own distinctive stamps from 1857 to 1947, and these issues are among the most beloved and studied in all of British North American philately. At the heart of this collecting area sits the 1867 1-cent violet Prince of Wales stamp (Scott #23), a piece with genuine historical significance, recognized beauty, and lasting collector appeal.

Historical Background

Newfoundland's 1860s stamp program reflected the colony's growing economic confidence and administrative sophistication. The 1-cent denomination was introduced in the 1867 issue to meet specific postal rate requirements, particularly for local or printed matter postage.

The design depicts Edward, Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII who would reign from 1901 to 1910. In 1867, he was 25 years old and had already made a famous North American tour in 1860 that included stops in Newfoundland, which partly explains the design choice. The portrait is based on an established engraving that was used across multiple Newfoundland denominations during this period.

The stamps were printed by the American Bank Note Company using a high-quality recess (intaglio) printing process that gives these stamps their characteristic depth and clarity compared to many contemporary issues.

What Makes This Stamp Collectible

Several factors combine to make the 1867 1-cent violet a desirable philatelic item:

Color Varieties: The "violet" shade designation encompasses a range of actual printing colors from pale lilac to deep purple-violet. Shade specialists find the variety within this single denomination endlessly interesting. Some shades catalog significantly higher than others.

Perforations and Paper: The 1867 issue includes both perforated and imperforate varieties, and the specific perforation gauge (typically 12) was often inconsistently applied during this era, creating collectable variations.

Historical Timing: 1867 is the year of Canadian Confederation, though Newfoundland notably did not join. Stamps from this precise year carry a symbolic weight in the broader narrative of British North American postal history.

Condition Rarity: Quality examples are significantly scarcer than catalog numbers suggest. Many surviving copies are heavily cancelled, poorly centered, or have faults from early handling and storage.

Current Market Values

Values vary considerably with condition, shade, and whether a copy is used or unused:

Condition/Type	Approximate Value
Used, average quality	$15 - $60
Used, very fine centered	$100 - $250
Unused (no gum)	$75 - $200
Unused (original gum, hinged)	$150 - $400
Unused (OG, NH)	$350 - $800
Exceptionally centered, rich shade	$500 - $1,500+
Major shade varieties	Catalog premium up to 3x

Scott catalog values are a starting point, not an end point. Dealer prices for choice examples routinely exceed catalog, and expertly certified copies of the better shades command significant premiums at auction.

Condition Standards for This Issue

Understanding Victorian-era philatelic condition standards is essential for collectors of this material:

Centering: The most critical factor. For this series, "very fine" centering means the design is well-centered within the perforations with reasonable margins. "Fine" means slightly off-center but acceptable. Many copies are only "good" or below, with perforations cutting into the design.

Original Gum: Stamps from 1867 have had 150+ years to have their gum disturbed. Genuinely unhinged copies are scarce and command premiums. Heavy hinging, hinge remnants, or regumming are common issues. Regumming (applying new gum to present a better appearance) is a known problem in this era.

Cancellation (for used copies): Light, clear cancellations that don't obscure the portrait are desirable. Pen cancellations, manuscript cancels, and heavy manuscript defacements reduce value. Dated town cancellations from 1867 itself add historical appeal.

Faults: Thins (from hinge removal), creases, tears, and stains are common in this material and significantly reduce value. All faults must be disclosed in reputable philatelic commerce.

Expertization

For copies valued above $200, expertization by a recognized authority is strongly advisable. The American Philatelic Expertizing Service (APEX) and the Royal Philatelic Society of Canada (RPSC) both expertize this material. Issues to watch for include:

• Regummed copies presented as original gum

• Reperforation to improve the appearance of damaged margins

• Cleaned or repaired faults

• Shade misidentification (attempting to present a common shade as a catalogued rarity)

• Forgeries (less common in this issue than in some other classic areas, but known)

Shade Varieties Worth Knowing

The violet 1-cent of this issue comes in several distinct shades that experienced collectors distinguish:

Pale Violet: A softer, lighter printing. More common. Bright Violet: Medium intensity, the classic version of the stamp. Deep Purple-Violet: The richest, most saturated variant. Rarest and most sought after by shade specialists.

Comparison against known reference copies or color charts is the reliable way to identify shades. Photographs, especially scanned images, are not reliable for shade determination.

The Broader Newfoundland Collection

The 1867 1-cent violet fits within the broader 1860s-1870s Newfoundland issues, which together form one of the most coherent and attractive collecting areas in North American philately. Complete sets from this period in fine condition are increasingly difficult to assemble, which benefits the value of individual key stamps.

Newfoundland stamps from this era are particularly popular with:

• British North America specialists

• Canadian philatelists building pre-Confederation collections

• Collectors focused on engraved classic issues worldwide

• Postal history enthusiasts who seek covers bearing these stamps

Postal History Uses

The 1-cent denomination in 1867 Newfoundland was used primarily for newspapers and printed circulars under specific rate structures. Finding this stamp used on an intact envelope or cover dramatically increases its appeal and value. A dated 1867 or 1868 cover bearing this stamp in attractive condition could be worth multiples of a single used copy.

Final Thoughts

The 1867 Newfoundland 1-cent violet Prince of Wales stamp is the kind of classic issue that rewards patient, careful collecting. The material is genuinely old, historically significant, and beautiful in its engraved craftsmanship. Finding a choice example takes effort, but that's precisely what makes the pursuit worthwhile. Whether you're building a comprehensive Newfoundland collection or simply want a stunning pre-Confederation piece for a thematic or display collection, this stamp earns its place in any serious philatelic holding.

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