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Postage Stamps of the Early Federal Period 1901/1912-13 Part II |
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Continued from Part 1. 3. The Development of the Federal Stamp Pattern The trend to uniformity with regard to stamps evidenced itself almost from the inception of the Postmaster—General’s Department, being first exemplified by the action taken in regard to the postage due series. Prior to Federation, only New South Wales and Victoria made provision for the collection of deficient postage by means of postage due stamps. In the other colonies ordinary postage stamps were used for the purpose. This practice had to be altered as regulations under the 1901 Act provided for a uniform system for the collection of fees incurred by reason of deficient postage and included the requirement that distinctive postage due stamps were to be used by the Post Office throughout Australia. As postage due stamps could be utilized on a Commonwealth basis, and as other factors affecting postage stamps did not apply, no obstacle could be seen to the introduction of a single uniform series of postage due stamps. However, this principle was not at first adopted completely. The same type of postage due stamp was introduced in 1902 for sale in all States except Victoria, where the local series was allowed to continue until 1909, initially for the reason that in 1902 large stocks were on hand and it would have been uneconomical to destroy then. But from 1909, when the Victorian series was discontinued, the postage due stamps in use throughout Australia were of uniform pattern. The Department’s efforts to effect some standardization in the denominational ranges of the separate regional series were handicapped by the impediment of the different postal rate structures. Nevertheless, from 1902, many changes affecting values were made. These included discontinuance of surcharged stamps, such as the 7~d., 9d. and 12P. of the New South Wales series, and the introduction of various new denominations affecting all series. All changes made were considered necessary for ordinary postal purposes. As one example, the establishment of a Commonwealth rate of 9d. for telegram by the 1?O2 Act brought about the need for 9d. stamps in New South Wales and Queensland. A further field in which a degree of uniformity was brought about concerned the forms of watermarks in stamp paper. By 1902, the Postmaster General's Department had arranged for stamps of the Western Australian and Tasmanian series to he printed by the State Government Printer at Melbourne, who also printed those of the Victorian series. The change resulted in three regional issues appearing on the Victorian type of paper, but as postage stank s for use in New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia continued to be printed in those States, their colonial watermark patterns, which incorporated the initial of the Colony or State, remained unchanged. In an effort to avoid the usage of so many kinds of watermarked papers, it was decided in 1904 that all stamps should be printed on paper watermarked with the letter “A” under a crown. Unfortunately, as each of the four printers concerned was allowed to make his own arrangements to secure such paper, the actual forms of the designated watermark differed in each instance in the new paper stocks. Complete uniformity was therefore met attained. Immediately prior to Federation, Tasmanian and Western Australian stamps were being printed in England and those of the other four colonies in Australia. The Postmaster General’s Department considered, as a matter of urgency, that all stamps should be locally produced and by 1902 the stamp plates for Tasmanian and Western Australian stamps had been transferred to Melbourne and the three separate regional issues there printed. In South Australia, stamps had been printed for many years by a Stamp Printing Branch in the General Post Office. After Federation this Branch became a Commonwealth office and the officer-in-charge, Mr. J. B. Cooke, the Commonwealth Stamp Printer in Adelaide. While the Department did contemplate at one time having ether regional series printed in Adelaide, the ultimate decision resulted in the closing of the Adelaide establishment and the moving of Mr. Cooke and a large part of his equipment to Melbourne to fern a Stamp Printing Branch of the Commonwealth Treasury. From 1909, Mr. Cooke continued printing stamps of the South Australian series in Melbourne and at that time also took every from the Victorian State Government Printer, the production of the Tasmanian, Victorian and Western Australian series. It is important to notice that specifically because of his position as Commonwealth Stamp Printer in Adelaide, Mr. Cooke had been given the task in 1903 of making stamp booklets for sale in each State. He was furnished with supplies of 1d. and 2d. stamps of each regional issue and made up booklets which were sold for £1 each. During the period under review, some deviations from the general printing arrangements occurred. Sometimes, supplies of watermarked stamp paper normally used for a particular regional series were borrowed and used by a printer of one of the other series. Again, the 9d. stamp of 1903, earlier mentioned, and intended for use in its two versions in New South Wales and Queensland respectively, was actually printed in Melbourne on the Victorian paper. The postage due series used in all States except Victoria was printed in Sydney until replaced by the completely uniform 1909 series printed in Melbourne. It is convenient at this stage to consider the effect the report of the 1907 Stamp Board had upon the developing Federal stamp pattern. The Board was appointed “to consider and report on the best methods to be adopted to ensure a suitable issue of postage stamps that will be available for immediate use during the bookkeeping period and thereafter for use as an issue for the Commonwealth without distinction as to States”. At that point in time - late in 1907 - the report was not immediately very helpful. The first recommendation concerned the provision of a uniform stamp series but as this hinged on the bookkeeping clauses, it was not found practicable to proceed on the lines proposed. Other recommendations which concerned the character of the proposed issue - denominations, designs, paper, perforations, colour, sizes of stamps and the holding of a stamp design competition were also incapable of implementation for the same reason, although as will be noted later, they were substantially adopted a few years afterwards. The Board additionally recommended that postage stamp printing be carried out in the one office under the supervision of an expert stamp printer. At that time J.B. Cooke, the Commonwealth Stamp Printer (who was a member of the Board) was still located in Adelaide. Action taken on this part of the report in the following year culminated in his transfer to Melbourne. Other circumstances dictated that the New South Wales and Queensland series should continue to be printed in those States, a practice which continued until all regional series were discontinued. A further recommendation that the postage due series be standardized and based on the Victorian design was also adopted very soon after Mr. Cooke commenced stamp printing in Melbourne. Continued in part 3.
Reprinted from the APO Philatelic Bulletins - 1966/67
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Philatelic Stories 