STAMP NEWS AUSTRALASIA JANUARY 2009 EDITION VOL.56 Number 1

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1 STAMP NEWS AUSTRALASIA JANUARY 2009 EDITION VOL.56 Number 1

2 Australian Stamp Variations Details of the main variations in recent stamp issues Thank You You will appreciate that writing this column takes a lot of effort researching what Australia Post actually issues. Many of the variations listed here are not mentioned in the Stamp Bulletin or on the new Australian Stamps website. Particularly frustrating has been the multiple issue dates and the multiple perforations of many sets of stamps in I would like to thank all those people who have contacted me with feedback, information and samples as they have helped make this column as accurate as possible. I would like to particularly mention Australia Post staff who have tried to find production records relating to some stamps. Others that have provided valuable information include Stamp News readers, fellow stamp society members, dealers, catalogue editors, Stampboards.com members and those who regularly visit my website or purchase my ASV Catalogue. I am constantly updating the New Issues page on my website as I receive new information. If a stamp variation is not mentioned there I don t know about it! I am particularly interested in 2008 perforation variations. Many issues had multiple (unpublished) perforations last year. Please check your stamps and let me know if you find any differences from my 2008 New Issues list. Recent examples from readers include: The different perforation (14.6 x 13.9) of the one koala reprint of the $1.35 Gorges stamp. Australia Post s production records indicated that it hit the streets sometime in May The different perforation (13.9 x 13.9) of the 50c Ulysses Butterfly reprint issued on 28 th July The Heavy Haulers self-adhesive stamps with the reduced image size and white border. The Up, Up and Away / Aviation joint issue block of four. If you know of any variations, particularly in reprints, Souvenir Stamp Sheets and booklets I would love to hear about them Stamp News

3 David Mallen Annual Collection As you know the 2008 Collection of Australian Stamps contains one of every new design, usually as a gummed stamp. It does not contain every stamp issued in the year. If it did it would cost well over $2000. The only reason many collectors buy the Collection is to get the special sheetlet. What do you do with the rest of the stamps and the book? I have seen the empty books on sale for $1. The special sheetlet for 2008 was a Gold Medallists sheetlet that contained a se-tenant block of the 14 gummed stamps + 6 red tabs. To get all 10 variations you would have had to buy 4 Collections at a cost of $ Beijing 2008 Olympic Games Australian Gold Medallists Variations 10 Cost $ Issue Date 10 th November 2008 Stamp Value & Design 14 x 50c Australian Gold Medallists Perforations 14.3 x 14.3 Block 14 x 50c + 6 tabs Sheetlet 14 x 50c + 6 tabs Tabs 50c Trickett tab on right 50c Swimming (Women s 4 x 200m relay) tab above 50c Ginn & Free tab above 50c Crawshay & Brennan tab above 50c Swimming (Women s 4 x 100m relay) tab below 50c Snowsill tab below 50c Page & Wilmot tab below 50c Hooker tab on left 5 Favourite Films Five of Australia s favourite films were depicted on ten stamps issued on 3 rd November. The gummed stamps were in a se-tenant strip of five stamps across the sheet. The two sheet panes were separated by a gutter containing icons from film production. The self-adhesive stamps were available in 6 booklets and 6 chequebooks one for each film and a mixed one for a total cost of $693. There was also a roll of 100 self-adhesive stamps. This set of stamps will be complemented in December with the release of a special embellished self-adhesive sheetlet and presentation stamp pack. This pack will be given to each attendee at the Australian Film Institute s (AFI) Awards Ceremony on 6 th December. Australia s favourite film is to be announced at the Ceremony. Favourite Australian Films Variations 7 Cost $13.75 Issue Date 3 rd November 2008 Stamp Value & Design Perforations Self-adhesive Stamps 55c Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 55c The Castle 55c Muriel s Wedding 55c Lantana 55c Gallipoli Gummed stamps: 14.6 x 13.9 Self-adhesive stamps: 11.5 x 11.2 (IDC simulated perforations) Strip 5 x 55c se-tenant strip Gutter 10 x 55c (film production icons in the gutter) 55c Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 55c The Castle 55c Muriel s Wedding 55c Lantana 55c Gallipoli Stamp News - 25

4 Australian Stamp Variations More ANZACS 50c ANZAC stamps issued in November, 1½ months after the letter rate increase to 55c! Of course, they must be for use on Christmas mail. The stamps were in two special minisheets. One marking the 90 th Anniversary of the End of World War One; the other Honouring the Discovery of the HMAS Sydney. We now have 9 minisheets featuring the ANZAC stamps originally issued in April. The previous 7 minisheets contained stamps with 14.6 x 13.9 perforations. These 2 had 13.9 x 13.9 perf stamps in se-tenant block and strip formats. The setenant strip of 4 stamps was new. (The original sheet stamps were also perf 13.9 x 13.9, so this was not new.) Two new and two old separate ANZAC minisheets were presented in a special Australia & War commemorative stamp pack. A special WWI joint pack containing the Australian and a New Zealand minisheet was also available. See the June issue of Stamp News for details of the original release on 16 th April and the October issue for the other special 26 - Stamp News

5 David Mallen Australian Light Horse minisheet released on 14 th May at the Israel World Stamp Championships. There were a total of 29 variations for the ANZAC issue at a cost of $ ANZAC Minisheets Variations 3 Cost $6 Issue Date 3 rd November 2008 Stamp Value & Design Perforations 13.9 x 13.9 Blocks, Strips & Pairs Minisheets 50c Veterans marching 50c Laying of wreaths 50c Playing of the Last Post Se-tenant strip: 2 x 50c Laying of wreaths & 2 x 50c Playing of the Last Post 90 th Anniversary of the End of WW1 2 x 50c Laying of wreaths & 2 x 50c Playing of the Last Post Honouring the Discovery of the HMAS Sydney 2 x 50c Veterans marching & 2 x 50c Laying of wreaths Stamp Variations Month Full details of all the variations issued on or after 14 th November have been held over until next month. At the time of writing I have not even received the Impressions 2008 catalogue. By the time you read this, hopefully you have got your catalogue. If not, the webpage may now be available at com.au/impressions. Footnote: The cost quoted in the above summary tables is the minimum cost to obtain one of each variation. Many variations are only available in sheetlets or booklets containing multiple stamps and are often sold above face value. The cost does not Author of the ASV Catalogue Web: asv.cat@bigpond.net.au 7 Rodney Close, Wheelers Hill, VIC, 3150 Ph: Visit my website for new issues, updates and stamp variations for sale include the cost of single gummed sheet stamps when issued. Scan the QR code with your mobile cell phone to go to the ASV home page. Find out what Australia Post actually issued last year in my ASV 2008 Catalogue. STAMP, COIN & PHONECARD FAIRS Last Sunday each month from 9am to 3.30pm (December - Third Sunday) Jaycees Hall, Silver Grove, Nunawading, VIC Melway map 48 E10 First Sunday each month 9am to 3.30pm Ukrainian Hall 3-11 Russell St, Essendon, VIC Melway map 28 G4 Buying/Selling 5/- Sydney Harbour Bridges Mint Unhinged... Buy $1125 Sell $1395 Mint Hinged... Buy $395 Sell $495 CTO Used... Buy $215 Sell $265 Postally Used... Buy $320 Sell $395 All prices subject to stock requirements/availability and are subject to change without notice. Call for latest information. Buy/Sell Multiples, Covers etc. call to discuss Kevin Morgan Stamps & Coins 107 Station Street Ferntree Gully Vic Ph: kmorgan@centurynova.com.au Stamp News - 27