Australia Philately: 1989 Birthday of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Australia Post will issue a single 39c stamp on 21 April 1989. The stamp commemorates the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

The celebration of the Sovereign’s birthday with a public holiday dates back to the first year of settlement. A holiday was declared by Governor Phillip for the birthday of King George III. Until 1936 the holiday coincided with the actual birth date of the reigning Monarch. However, the public holiday is now observed on 3 June (King George V’s birthday) or the nearest suitable day. In Western Australia the holiday is celebrated in October. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was born on 21 April 1926.

The 1989 stamp features a statue of Her Majesty by Adelaide sculptor, John Dowie, whose work is represented in a major public galleries around Australia. The sculpture was commissioned as part of the new Parliament House art programme and stands on the Public Terrace of Parliament House in Canberra. It was unveiled by Her Majesty during her visit to open the building in 1988. The statue is larger-than-lifesize and shows the Queen wearing the insignia of the Order of Australia. Members of the Order of Australia Association contibuted funds towards the commission.

John Dowie began the project in February 1987 when he visited London. He had five sittings with Her Majesty before returning to the Australia with a bust cast in plaster. The full length statue is based on the London bust. The finished statue was cast in bronze at the Meridian Sculpture Foundry in Melbourne.

Details

Date of Issue: 21 April 1989
Date Withdrawn:
- 4 May 1989 (First Day Cover)
- 31 August 1989 (stamp)
Designer: Sandra Barker, Australia Post Graphic Design Studio
Sculpture: John Dowie, Adelaide
Printer: Leigh-Mardon Pty Limited, Melbourne
Press:
Process: Photolithography
Colours:
Paper: CPL
Perf: 13.3 x 13 (comb)
Sheet: 100 stamps in two panes of 50 (R5 x 10) separated by vertical gutter.
Quantity: