Great Britain postage stamp year 1880 5d INDIGO SG169 Used
The 5d Indigo (SG 169) is a scarce and distinctive value from the 1880-1881 Provisional Issue.
Here is a summary of the key features for the Great Britain 5d Indigo stamp:
🟣 Great Britain QV 5d Indigo (SG 169)
This stamp belongs to the Provisional Issue that came immediately before the definitive “Unified” (or “Lilac and Green”) issue. It was printed by De La Rue.
| Feature | Detail |
| Stanley Gibbons (SG) No. | SG 169 |
| Denomination | 5d (Fivepence) |
| Color | Indigo (A deep bluish-purple or violet-blue) |
| Year of Issue | 1880 (Often referenced as 1880-1881 Issue) |
| Monarch | Queen Victoria (Standard “Sideface” portrait) |
| Watermark | Imperial Crown (The watermark used for this specific provisional set, Wmk. No. W6) |
| Perforation | 14 (Standard for the surface-printed issues) |
| Printing Method | Surface-Printed |
| Plate Number | This value was printed from a single Plate (Plate 1), so no plate number variety exists for this stamp. |
🌍 Historical Context
The 5d Indigo was created to pay the new postage rate for heavier mail, particularly to countries like India and China, which required a double rate for one-ounce letters at the time, making it a key stamp for postal history collectors.
💰 Valuation Note
The 5d Indigo, SG 169, is considered a desirable stamp.
An unmounted mint (U/M or MNH – Mint Never Hinged) example is considerably scarcer, with catalog values typically much higher, sometimes exceeding £600-£700 for a perfectly centered copy.
A fine used example often has a catalog value in the range of £175 (or equivalent currency).
A mounted mint (M/M) example (with a hinge remnant) can have a catalog value starting around £250 and up.
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