A mint hinged stamp is an unused stamp with a stamp hinge still attached to the reverse or with a visible hinge trace on the original gum.

Common catalogue and marketplace notation: * or MH (mint hinged).

A hinged stamp can be distinguished from a mint never hinged example only by examining the reverse. A stamp hinge is a small piece of gummed paper formerly used to attach stamps to album pages or approval books.

Stamp hinges are still sold today, although they are normally used only for used stamps or stamps that are already hinged. In earlier decades even pristine mint stamps were commonly mounted with hinges, which today can reduce their value significantly.

A hinge or hinge trace generally does not affect the visual appearance of the printed side of the stamp. For this reason, many collectors are happy to buy hinged examples, which can be considerably cheaper than mint never hinged stamps.

Removing a hinge can be risky. Some hinges detach easily, while others adhere firmly to the gum. If removal is attempted carelessly, the paper may become thinned or even torn. Such thinning is often referred to by collectors as a “thin”; when held to the light, the affected area appears more translucent than the surrounding paper.

When buying an older stamp described as mint never hinged, especially one issued before the 1960s, it is always advisable to inspect a good photograph of the reverse. Images taken under oblique light often reveal hinge traces and other gum disturbances much more clearly.