Two Christmas 1980 stamps, bearing 15c and 60c denominations, will be issued on 3 November 1980. The first Christmas 1980 stamp, bearing a 28c stamp denomination, was released on 1 October 1980.
The 15c stamp is for the concessional domestic postage rate for Christmas cards and the 60c stamp may be used on air mail letters to the United Kingdom and Europe.
Both stamps feature works from the National Gallery of Victoria. Both works form part of the Felton Bequest and are reproduced on the stamps by the kind permission of the Gallery.
Details
- Date of Issue: 3 November 1980
- Withdrawn Date:
- 14 November 1980 (FDC)
- 30 June 1981 (stamp)
- Designer: Bruce Weatherhead, Melbourne
- Printer: Asher and Co., Division of Leigh Mardon Pty Ltd, Melbourne
- Press: Four colour Roland-Rekord Press
- Process: Photolithography
- Colours:
- Paper: Litho chromo paper incorporating luminescence
- Watermark: None
- Perf:
- Sheet: 100
- Quantity:
Souvenir Pack
The three Christmas 1980 stamps (15c, 28c, 60c) will be available in a souvenir pack from 3 November 1980 for $A1.20. Technical and background information reagrding the stamps is printed on the inside cover of the pack.
First Day Covers No.147 (Official)
One first day cover, numbered 147, will be provided for the issue. (Cover No. 146 was provided for the 28c Christmas 1980 stamp, issued on 1 October 1980).
Unserviced covers, measuring 165 mm x 92 mm, will be available for $A0.13 each from 27 October 1980. Serviced covers, with the 15c and 60c Christmas 1980 stamps affixed and postmarked 3 November 1980, will be available for $A0.88 each from all first day of issue post offices, until 14 November 1980, provided stocks last.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES
Aerogramme
A 33c Christmas aerogramme will also be available from 3 November 1980. The aerogramme has a multi-coloured stamp area and an illustration panel featuring the Three Wise Men. It was designed by Marg Towt of Melbourne.
The aerogramme is being printed by photolithography at Mercury Walch, Division of Davies Brothers Limited, Hobart, Tasmania. The aerogrammes will also be die-cut and gummed at Mercury Walch. The stamp area is surrounded by a border of luminescence impregnated clear varnish. A strip (5 mm x 20 mm) of luminescence impregnated clear varnish is also placed above the multi-coloured illustration panel.
The Christmas 1980 aerogramme will be slightly smaller than previous aerogrammes. It measures 174 mm x 100 mm when folded. The new size aerogrammes – new definitive aerogrammes are being issued in January 1981 of the same size – are creased along the folding lines to facilitate folding.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES
Australian Stamp Bulletin
Australian Stamp Bulletin No.151 – November-December 1980
