Prince Edward Island (1861-73) Country Guide
Prince Edward Island, PEI for short, first residents were the Mi’kmaq. The Mi’kmaq first lived here about 2000 years ago and called the Island ‘Epekwitk’, meaning “resting on the waves”.
French explorers were the first Europeans to visit and settle the Island. Jacques Cartier described the Island as “…the fairest land ’tis possible to see!” The French called the Island “Île Saint-Jean.’ To the British, who later occupied the area, the Island was known as ‘St. John’s Island.’ The Island was renamed in 1799 as ‘Prince Edward Island’ in honor of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, the father of Queen Victoria.
1604 – France claimed the lands of the Maritimes and established the French colony of Acadia.
1763 – The British claimed dominion over all of the Maritimes.
1798 – Great Britain changed the colony’s name from St. John’s Island to Prince Edward Island to distinguish it from similar names in the Atlantic, such as the cities of Saint John and St. John’s.
1873 – Prince Edward Island entered Confederation as Canada’s seventh province.
The Charlottetown Conference, one of the most significant political events in Canadian history, was held in PEI in 1864 to discuss the idea of Canadian union. The conference led to Canada officially becoming a nation in 1867. Prince Edward Island became a province of Canada in 1873 after negotiations that promised a continuous link to the mainland. At the time a US delegation lobbied for the island to become part of the United States.
The first stamps of Prince Edward Island were issued in 1861. The stamps are typographed, perforated 9, and they are printed on unwatermarked paper.
The Crown Colony of Prince Edward Island joined the Canadian Confederation in 1873, becoming the seventh province (or state) of the Dominion of Canada. Since then, Dominion of Canada postage stamps have been used within Prince Edward Island.
Between 1862 and 1868, the 1861 designs were reissued with smaller perforations and three new denominations were added, all in pence.
These new Prince Edward Island stamps were printed on white and yellowish papers. They have varying perforations ranging from 11 to 12.
Additionally, a 4 1/2 P stamp was issued on June 1, 1870. This stamp is engraved and perforated 12 and shows a different design, a more forward facing portrait of Queen Victoria.
In 1872, the colony changed the denomination values from Pence/Shillings to Cents/ Canadian Dollar, and hence new stamps were needed. These six decimal currency stamps were issued on January 1, 1872. These new stamps were printed on white and yellowish papers and are perforated 12 or 12 1/2.
There are numerous varieties to research. The Unitrade catalogs are a worthwhile investment should you wish to research more on the stamps of Canada.
PEI is the smallest Canadian Province and the Islanders are proud of it. Just three miles across at its narrowest. The east even sports its own fiddle music featuring tracks such as: Fiddlin’ Phil and The Haggis & The Birds Nest. Check it out if you can find it.
Why not visit the Canadian Potato Museum!
You may not associate PEI, or for that matter Canada, as a likely location for a museum that boasts “the largest exhibit of potato artifacts in the world” but there it is in all its glory. There you will find exhibits like the “Amazing Potato Exhibit!” and the “Potato Interpretive Center”.
At the least have your photo taken with the giant potato at the enterance. This giant potato is made of fiberglass and stands 14 feet high and is 7 feet in diameter.
PEI holds a place in my heart (and hopefully in my collection in the future) simply because my family settled in PEI ( Summerside, PEI), Canada from Germany. PEI stamps, especially the earlier issues are very expensive so I don’t see myself focusing on them anytime soon. My stamps aren’t the prettiest of stamps but they are what I have, can afford and I like them very much.