THE VICTORIAN SERIES (Continued)

 Fifth Series:

During 1905, a new type of watermarked paper with the letter "A" significant of Australia in lieu of "V" for Victoria was introduced for the printing of all Victorian type Postage stamps. The first postage due stamps on this paper made their appearance in 1906.

 The form of watermark is illustrated at Fig. 6. However, as considerable supplies of the 5d., 1/–, 2/– and 5/– denominations on the earlier paper were held, the issues on the new Crown and "A" paper were limited to ½d., 1d., 2d. and 4d. denominations. A 5d. stamp was actually printed on the Crown over "A" paper but was not issued. The official collection contains a large block of this particular item. Within the group issued, because of new printings colour shades were again manifest and in addition a further perforation variety (subsequently noted) occurred. The separate Victorian postage due series was discontinued in July 1909 following the introduction of a uniform postage due series fur the Commonwealth.

Fifth Series: Type as Fig. 2. Letterpress–printed on paper watermarked as Fig. 6.

I. Perf. 12½ or 12 x 12½

(a) 1906.           ½d. rosine and pale green.

                        1d. rosine and green.

(b) 1906.           ½d. scarlet and pale yellow–green.

                        1d. scarlet and pale yellow–green.

(c) 1906.           1d. scarlet and deep yellow–green.

                        2d. scarlet and deep yellow–green

(d) 1907-8. Centre: dull scarlet. Frame pea green.½d., 1d., 2d., 4d.

 II. Perf. compound 12 x 12½ with 11.

1907 – 8            ½d. dull scarlet and pea green.

 THE NEW SOUTH WALES SERIES

When the New South Wales postal administration decided in 1890 to introduce postage due stamps, it not only adapted for local application the rules of the United States Post Office regarding the employment of such stamps but also based the New South Wales postage due stamp design upon the contemporary United States postage due stamp.

It will be seen when comparison is made between the United States stamp (Fig. 7) and the New South Wales design (Fig. 8) that the letters "U" and "S" in shields at the side in the former were replaced by small drawings of a kangaroo and emu respectively, and the words "penny", "pence", "shilling" or "shillings" as appropriate appeared in lieu of the value expressed in words in cents. Room was also made for the letters "N.S.W." at the base of the revised design.

 It was initially decided that there should be nine values, ranging from 1d. to 10/– and the relevant dies, engraved in wood, were prepared by A. Collingridge of Sydney for the New South Wales Government Printing Office, where all stamps for the Colony were being currently produced. Following consideration of proofs it was decided to print the series in a uniform green colour, the denominations to be 1d., 2d.,3d., 4d., 6d., 8d.,1/-, 5/- and 10/–. At this stage, the proposed 1/– denomination was omitted; subsequently the series was expanded by the addition of ½d and 20/- values. 

The impending issue of the initial series was announced on 13th December, 1890, and 1d., 2d., 3d., 4d., 6d. and 8d. stamps became available for use on 1st January, 1891. The 10/- and 20/- stamps were issued shortly afterwards. Approval for the inclusion of a 2d. stamp in the series was given late in 1891 and this stamp first became available on 21st January, 1892. A feature of the series was that a number of different perforating machines were used, thus creating many sub-varieties. A chalk-surfaced paper was introduced for several of the denominations in 1900 and this brought about apparent shade variations.

The stamps were printed from electroplates prepared from the original wood engravings and they were issued in sheets of 120, arranged in two vertical panes of 60 (6 x 10).

Postage Due Series (Fig. 8).

1891-92. Letterpress-printed on paper watermarked as Fig. 9. Shades of green.

Perf. 10: 1d., 2d., 3d^., 4d^., 6d., 8d., 5/-, 10/-, 20/-.

Perf. 11: 1d., 2d., 4d., 5/-

Perf. 12:  1d., 2d., 20/-.

Perf. 10 x 11: 1d., 2d.. 3d^., 4d.

Perf. 10 x 12: 1d., 2d., 10/-,20/-.

(f) Perf. 11 x 129 1d., 2d., 5/-

1900. Letterpress-printed on chalk-surfaced paper watermarked as Fig. 9. Shades of emerald green.

Perf. 11: 2d., 1d., 2d., 4d.

Perf. 12: 1d., 2d.

Perf. 11 x 12: 1d., 2d., 3d.

(To be continued)

Extracted from APO Philatelic Bulletin no 65, April 1964