Early in 1916, the Postmaster-General's Department was giving consideration to a proposal that special newspaper stamps be provided, with denominations expressed in fraction-of a penny. On 13th April, 1916, the Treasury was asked to obtain the likely cost of such stamps from the Stamp Printer.

In furnishing this information on 18th April, 1916, the Commonwealth Stamp Printer also provided a group of essays for each of the denominations referred to in the earlier correspondence, viz., 1/10, 1/9, 1/8, 1/7, 1/6, 1/5, 1/4, 1/3 and 1/2 of 1d., and 1d.

 He advised that the plate used-for the outer frames of the current postage due series had been used for the essays and that if the general design was thought to be suitable, the words, "Postage Due", could be removed from the original die, "Newspaper Postage" substituted in lieu, and new plates made.

 However, the proposal was not advanced further. The forms of essays, shown in the accompanying illustration, in approximate natural size, are contained in the official collection of the Postmaster-General's Department, and are believed to be the only examples in existence.

Source: APO Philatelic Bulletin Vol 7, No 6 (June 1960)