Stamp booklets which were manufactured after the introduction in 1913 of a uniform stamp series for Australia contained only stamps of that category. However, during 1913, the earlier types of booklets continued to be sold until exhaustion of stocks.

These earlier booklets were of three main types: a £1 booklet containing 120 twopenny stamps, a £1 booklet containing 240 one penny stamps and a 2/- booklet containing 18 one penny and 12 halfpenny stamps. Each type, of course, existed in six sub-types by reason of the inclusion of stamps of the six regional series bearing the name of the respective States.

It had been decided in 1910 to discontinue £1 booklets of twopenny stamps. However, because stocks of this item were slow-moving, some years elapsed before supplies became exhausted. In some cases, the stamps were removed and sold separately to clear stocks. .

The £1 booklets containing one penny stamps, in their six forms, were in much greater demand and as only small stocks were held, it became practicable to introduce early. in 1913 a uniform£1 booklet containing 240 one penny stamps of the 1913 Kangaroo and Map design. However, the quantity manufactured was comparatively small as by 1914 the £1 booklet was on sale with a content of 240 one penny King George V stamps. .

The 2/- booklets containing stamps of the regional series were also replaced early in 1913. The first edition of the new class of booklets appeared early in the year and contained 24 of the 1d. Kangaroo and Map stamp. This was followed, later in the same year with a booklet containing 18 one penny and 12 halfpenny stamps of the same series. .

The next major change was the inclusion, in lieu of Kangaroo and Map stamps, of 18 one penny and 12 halfpenny King George V stamps. This booklet appeared early in 1915. The first edition was apparently printed in red on pink but covers of other colours, such as light buff and grey-green, and possibly others, were utilized for subsequent printings. .

A decision was made in October 1916 that in future the contents of 2/- booklet, should comprise only one penny stamps. However, considerable stocks of the current booklet (containing both halfpenny and one penny stamps) were on hand and were not disposed of by distribution from the Stamp Printer until 1917. Thus the new booklets, containing one penny stamps only, did not become available to the public until after April 1917. .

The covers of these booklets were printed in black on deep red in the first instance and other colour combinations doubtless occurred subsequently. In the same year, a change was made in the cover of the £1 booklet, at that time being printed in red on pink. The new cover, in the same style as before, was in black on red. This was a temporary measure, due to difficulties in regard to cover board supplies. By late 1917, the £1 booklet covers were being printed in black on pale pink. It should be mentioned that the same design, as had been in use prior to 1913 was still being utilized and booklets were still divisible into six types, distinguishable by the pictures of the respective General Post Offices of the six capital cities on the back covers. However, printings had varied in colour from time to time. The inside covers of these booklets were ruled with appropriately headed columns. As was the case from 1914, the £1 l booklets continued to contain 240 one penny King George V stamps. .

1½d. Postage, 1918
Due to postal rates being increased by a war tax of a halfpenny per article from October 1918, it became necessary to alter the contents of both 2/- and £1 booklets. .

At first it was planned that the former should contain 12 one penny halfpenny and six one penny stamps. Subsequently it was decided that they should contain 16 one penny halfpenny stamps, but this was not found practicable because of manufacturing difficulties. Eventually, it was decided to produce 2/3d. booklets to contain 18 one penny halfpenny stamps. These latter booklets were first distributed in January 1919. .

At this time also the familiar design of the £1 booklet was discarded and a smaller rectangular size was adopted. Contents were determined as 160 one penny halfpenny stamps. This booklet was first distributed early in 1919. .

The previous 2/- and £1 booklets, containing one penny stamps only, were also being maintained on sale at post offices but by reason of the new postal charges, they were in little demand. All stocks of these booklets were recalled from post offices in July 1919 and placed in reserve. Late in 1920 and early in 1921, by which time the letter rate had risen to twopence, these booklets were placed on sale again, either complete, or with the covers detached. .

The course mentioned to dispose of stocks of the 2/- and £1 booklets containing one penny stamps was extended also in 1921 to dispose of remainder stocks of 2/3d. and £1 booklets, containing one penny halfpenny stamps, which had been held in the Stamp Printer's stocks. .

Both the 2/3d. and £1 booklets contained, at first, the one penny halfpenny King George V stamp in black-brown colour and subsequently the same stamp in red-brown colour. Cover stock of several different colours was utilized. .

2d. Postage, 1920
Consequent upon the increase in the letter rate to two pence from 1st October, 1920, it was decided that 2/- booklets should contain 12 twopenny stamps and £1 booklets 120 of the same denomination, the latter to be in eight blocks of 15 stamps. These booklets became available generally by early 1921. The stamp therein was the twopenny orange King George V.

Late in 1921 when it could be seen that some revision of foreign postage rates would take place, efforts were made to have stocks of all booklets, particularly the 2/-, utilized as quickly as possible so that a new edition could be prepared. .

However, because of an unforeseen delay in the revision, the work could not proceed and to meet current demand it was necessary to issue a small supply of 2/- booklets with plain covers, in buff or pink, for a few weeks from February 1922. .

Late in March 1922 the printer was supplied with the requisite information to enable work on the new edition to be put in hand and booklets therefrom, containing the twopenny King George V stamp in red colour,were issued shortly afterwards. .

Extracted from APO Philatelic Bulletin Vol. 13 No. 5 April 1968.

(To be continued in Part 2) .