Rare Australia Post covers
Australia: Airmail 1931 | Australia in Space 2024 | Rare Covers | Souvenir Covers 1970-1997 | Souvenirs Covers 1997+ | WWF 50 Years |
Contents
- Origins
- Pre-1970 FDCs
- Rare covers
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Abstract: The following is an account of a personal journey by the writer in the world of postal covers, beginning in 1970 at the age of 14 and progressing through to the present day (2024). It presents a mish-mash of anecdotes and lists, revealing both precise knowledge during those first decades of collecting, culminating in the current confusion of a plethora of products, some of which are beyond classification.
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1. Origins from Penny Black to Captain Cook
Covers have always been part of stamp collecting, or philately, since the earliest days of the first stamp - the British Penny Black, issued on 1 May 1840. An associated cover dated 2 May 1840 is the first known use of a stamp in this manner. As a result, it was offered for sale at auction for £2.5 million due not only to its uniqueness, but also status as the first officially known and verified stamped and postmarked cover.
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| Penny Black on cover, 2 May 1840, valued at £2.5M. The first piece of mail sent using a postage stamp. |
Covers provide historical context in regard to the use of stamps. A simple envelope with a stamp attached, an address, and a postmark is usually a standard item in any collection, even if that collection is focussed solely on stamps. As a result, special covers have become prized over time, and their variety has expanded. Covers were initially in the form of standard personal or commercial covers as noted in the above example, expanding into covers specially produced for collectors by postal authorities and commercial entities. The primary example was the first day cover, issued in connection with the first day of issue of the stamp or series of stamps.
In Australia, the postal authorities were slow off the mark in issuing special covers to accompany the issue of new stamps, though local commercial firms such as Sigma, Royal and Wesley Cover Service helped develop the market. Two official, issue-specific first day covers appeared in 1937, followed by a special war-related cover in 1940. Between the end of World War II in 1945 (or from 1954?) and the end of 1969 the Commonwealth of Australia postal authorities - known as the Postmaster General's Department - issued a small number of generic covers (illustrated below) to accommodate a growing collector market.
Beginning in 1970, official first day covers and commemorative or souvenir covers appeared, with the latter often associated with special event and commemorative postmarks such as those associated with first flights, philatelic exhibitions or, for example, Olympic Games. Prior to 1970 the associated covers were not the product of the postal authorities. Even for events such as the 1956 Olympic Games held in Melbourne, the only 'official' covers issued were those by the Australian Olympic Committee. All of this changed on 16 March 1970 with the issue of the first of the ongoing series of official Australia Post issue-specific commemorative first day covers, celebrating the nation's participation in Japan's Expo '70 international exhibition.
The present writer, then aged 14, began collecting covers in earnest at this point. One of the reasons was their relative affordability, attractiveness, and variety. A basic collection of Australian decimal stamps was also started, but the covers were the most interesting, especially when the second release came around the following month. Two small and long commemorative (souvenir) covers were issued on 20 April for the Captain Cook Bicentenary stamp series and since then the annual number and variety of covers has continued to expand. The David Edwards Australian First Day Cover Guide website is a useful search tool for information of the covers issued up until 1984.
The present writer began collecting covers in 1970 with the Captain Cook Bicentenary series. Prior to this he had taken possession of his father's collection of covers from the early 1950s, when he had worked as a telegram boy at Austinmer and Bulli post offices. The present author subsequently grew up at Bulli, located on the New South Wales coast approximately 50 miles south of Sydney, and briefly following in his father's footsteps when he worked over the summer break of 1972 in a similar position at Bulli post office. However, going back to 1970 ..... Cook and the Endeavour had attempted a landing near Bulli on 27 April 1770, prior to their arrival at Botany Bay the following day. As a result, there was a special postmark issued at Bulli post office two hundred years later in association with the new stamp series.
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| Captain Cook Bicentenary stamps, Australia Post, 20 April 1970. |
A commemorative (souvenir) cover was specially issued to mark the passage up the east coast of Australia, and other related events. The author can remember, as a 14 year old, visiting Bulli post office on that day and purchasing a cover and a collection of the stamps in a stamp pack. It was a very exciting time, and the stamp issue was quite innovative and attractive - the stamps comprised a se-tenant strip of five 5c stamps, a 30c stamp, and a miniature sheet reproducing those stamps without perforations. The associated stamp pack was a handsome and informative fold out production in a plastic cover.
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| Captain Cook Bicentenary commemorative cover, Bulli, 27 April 1970. |
Eventually the author obtained a complete collection of the special postmarks on commemorative covers (subsequently referred to as souvenir covers, plus first day covers and, some half century later maintained a special interest in the collection of Australian souvenir covers. Some of these souvenir covers are rare, due to limited numbers printed and/or postmarked, whilst the decimal first days covers, which were generally issued in the thousands, are less so.
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2. Official Australian pre-1970 first day covers
The Australian postal authorities had a stamp and postmark focussed philatelic program prior to 1970. Special covers were only issued sporadically. The following is a brief listing of known official first day and generic covers issued prior to 1970. The first dates from 10 May 1937 and features the Australia Post Office Communications Hermes and Commonwealth Coat of Arms logo.
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| 10 May 1937 - dark blue (outline). |
This is the earliest known official first day cover. It was specifically prepared for the release of these two stamps, and was not generic like later covers. A second special illustrated first day cover was released by the Sesqui-centenary (150th anniversary of colonisation of Australia) stamp issue of 1 October 1937.
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| 1 October 1937 - green and black. |
The next official first day cover was related to the World War II local war effort, with a theme of Men Munitions Materials. It was issued on 15 July 1940 in association with a set of four stamps.
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| 15 July 1940 - black and red. |
No official first day covers would be released after this until 1970. In the interim two different generic such covers were made available. The first featured the official logo seen in 1937 plus a First Day Cover banner beneath. The earliest version known dates from 1954.
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| 1954-64 - black, teal and flax. |
This cover would be used over an extensive period for all new releases. It is an adaptation of the 1937 cover, printed in black, teal and flax. A variant in blue, black and firebrick red would appear from 1961.
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| 1956-64 - black, teal and red / fire brick. |
This logo and banner cover would remain in use through to 1964, though they appear to be quite rare, as during the late 1950s and early 1960s private covers became more readily available and, with their multicoloured, unique designs, were popular among collectors. The idea of a different cover for each specific stamp series issue became the norm. However, this was not adopted by the Australian postal authorities until 1970. In the interim, 1964 saw the issue of a new generic design termed the shield cover.
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| 1964 - brown (full coloured shield) - long cover. |
It was printed in two sizes - long or normal - and a variety of colours, either in outline or full, as follows:
- Brown (full) - long
- Fossil (full) - long
- Brown (outline)
- Grey (full)
- Grey (outline)
- Brown (outline) - long
- Grey (full) - long
- Brown (full)
- Blue (full)
- Grey (outline) - long
- Tortilla (full)
Printing dates are unclear with, for example, the four different long covers known between 1964-69, suggesting a phased roll-out.
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| 1964 - fossil (full) - long cover. |
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| 1964 - brown (outline coloured shield). |
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| 1964 - grey (full). |
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| 1964 - grey (outline). |
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| 1966 - Brown (outline) - long. |
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| 1966 - Grey (full) - long. |
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| 1966 - Brown (full). |
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| 1966 - Blue (full). |
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| 1966 - Grey (outline) - long. |
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| 1969 - tortilla (full). |
Some of the shield covers were used with the initial 1970 issues, but the special, unique covers were quickly adopted by collectors, in preference to the private covers. This continued through to the early 2000s, when a variety of new official covers entered the market, in addition to the traditional first day and souvenir covers. Some of these are referenced and described below. There are also links above to more detailed listings.
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3. Rare covers
The following is a list of rare official, Australia Post covers. It does not including postal numismatic covers (PNCs), of which there is a separate published catalogue, and so-called Prestige covers which often include attached metallic medallions, medals, badges and fridge magnets. Some of these covers have been issued in numbers as low as 100 (?50) and have been the subject of lotteries by Australia Post in order to obtain a copy. Once acquired, they are often then immediately offered for sale on the private market through sites such as eBay at exorbitant markups of 200-300%. The focus herein, however, is on simple covers, though since 2007 a large number have been classified as Prestige covers and often only released as part of the Impressions catalogue at the end of each year. Some have attached metallic and 3D stamps, metallic / foiled postmarks and embroided badges. Sydney Philatelics presents a comprehensive listing of Prestige FDCs. It is here that the confusion referred to above begins to appear. Differentiation is no longer simple, as it was when the only official covers were first day of issue of souvenir. In the present environment covers issues may have more than one classification. For example, a first day cover could also be a prestige cover and a commemorative cover and a postal numismatic cover. This can be seen in some of the following examples.
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2007
* 13 November 2007 - World Youth Day commemorative pre-paid envelope PPE - RRP$0.60. No official first day of issue postmarked cover available, as the cover did not require a postmark to be valid for usage. It was also issued in a Stationary Set containing four envelopes.
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2008
* 4 March 2008 - World Youth Day silver stamp cover - RRP$29.95. A second variety of World Youth Day first day cover was used for the special, limited edition, silver stamp and 9ct gold stamp. The cover was printed in purple and green ink.
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| Cover, with silver stamp and special metallic ink postmark. |
* 4 March 2008 - World Youth Day gold stamp cover - RRP$129.95.
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| Cover with gold stamp and special gold metallic ink postmark. |
These stamps were printed in editions of 500 for the gold and 5,000 for the silver, with print number recording on the front of the cover. The silver stamp cover retailed for $29.95, and the gold for $129.95. Though not listed in the Stamp Bulletin as such, the cover could be categorised as a Prestige cover as well as a first day cover. It was not a souvenir cover as these are not limited edition releases sold at a premium price.
* July 2008 - World Youth Day 2nd series FDC. Featured the five Memorable Moment set of instant stamps from this issue with the WYDSYD08 postmark. It was released in a set of seven covers with the daily set. This is an Australia Post (AP) cover FDC. It was produced by the Australia Post Philately Department and distributed to post offices and collectors with stamps affixed and FDI postmark applied.
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| First day cover, 26 July 2008. |
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2009
* 23 July 2009 - Letter to Mary, Melbourne 200 Club, Prestige cover - 200. Also issued in a non 200 Club version.
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2010
* 1 November 2010 - Melbourne Cup FDC silver stamp - 5000. RRP$29.95
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* 1 November 2010 - Melbourne Cup FDC gold stamp - 500. RRP$149.95.
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2011
* 1 November 2011 - Cadel Evans commemorative cover, in frame - ? RRP$89.95.
* 1 November 2011 - 50 Years World Wide Fund for Nature cover - 500. RRP$10.95.
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2012
* 1 November 2012 - Diamond Jubilee cover, silver foiled postmark - ? RRP$29.95.
* 1 November 2012 - WWI Prestige covers (5) - 10,000. RR$50
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2013
* 13 May 2013 - Australia - Israel Joint Issue FDC, Australia 2013 overprint - 150.
* November 2013 - Historic Railway Stations, tram ticket - 300.
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2014
* 1 November 2014 - Remember Me To All Prestige cover, gold foiled postmark - ? RRP$19.95
* 1 November 2014 - Sydney Emden cover, blue foiled postmark - ? RRP$10.95
* 1 November 2014 - First Air Mail souvenir cover set (6) - 200. RRP$49.95
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2015
* 1 November 2015 - Reign of QEII cover plus foiled postmark - 120. RR$149.95
* November 2015 - Lighthouse with themed coaster - 200.
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2016
* 2 November 2016 - Jeweled Beetles - 200. RRP$89.95
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2017
* 1 November 2017 - Trans Australian Railway collection, includes two souvenir sheets - 200. RRP$89.95.
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2018
* 1 November 2018 - End of WWI coin and cover set with silver foil stamp and red postmark - 120. RRP$159.95.
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2019
* 1 November 2019 - Centenary of First Flight England to Australia coin and cover, with gold stamp - 100. RRP$249.95. Issued as a set with a special medallion / coin. The set was selling for $1,600 on eBay during May 2024.
* 1 November 2019 - Centenary of First Flight England to Australia; set of postmarked covers along the route (14) - 200. Available via lottery. RRP$39.95
* 1 November 2019 - 50 Years Man on the Moon 3D cover with teal postmark - 250. RRP$119.95.
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2020
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2021
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2022
* 1 November 2022 - King of the Mountain 3D cover with foiled postmark - 150. RRP$119.95.
* 1 November 2022 - Queen's Jubilee cover with 4 gold stamps and foiled postmark - 250. RRP$199.95,
* 1 November 2022 - HRH Prince Philip cover with 3D stamp and blue postmark - 200. RRP$129.95.
* 1 November 2022 - Postcards to the Front x 3 with embroided badges and foiled postmarks - 150. RRP$99.95.
* 1 November 2022 - Country Women's Association x 4, embroided badges plus foiled postmarks - 150. RRP$99.95
* 1 November 2022 - Country Women's Association Prestige cover with foiled postmark - 250. RRP$29.95.
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2023
* 1 November 2023 - Poppies of Remembrance 3D stamp cover - 200. RRP$139.95
* 1 November 2023 - Sydney Opera House 50 Years medallion cover - 150. RRP $59.95.
* 1 November 2023 - Gold Age of Travel Posters souvenir cover with embroided badge and foiled postmark - 120. RRP$69.95
* 1 November 2023 - Australian Bird Count souvenir covers with embroided badges (4) - 150. RRP$99.95
* 1 November 2023 - Fairy-Wren covers (4) with gold stamps and foiled postmarks - 120. RRP$139.95
Australia: Airmail 1931 | Australia in Space 2024 | Rare Covers | Souvenir Covers 1970-1997 | Souvenirs Covers 1997+ | WWF 50 Years |
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Last updated: 9 October 2024
Michael Organ, Australia (Home)
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