This year’s 5c Christmas stamp was issued on 23rd October, 1968. The approved design was by Mr. George Hamori, of Sydney, and shows a scene of the flat-roofed houses and olive groves of Bethlehem as it might have appeared at the time of the Nativity; on this is superimposed a Gothic window. The colours (in printing order) are: light blue background, dark green scene, red marginal lettering, and gold window. “AUSTRALIA” and “5c” are in green.
The stamp was printed by photogravure at the Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, on paper incorporating helecon, and was issued in sheets of 100. Stamp size (printed area) is 22 mm x 34.5 mm.
As was done last year, the stamp is being sold initially on a “request” basis, so that it may be used on greetings posted by surface mail to reach Europe and North America by Christmas. It will go on general sale as from 4th December. An air mail value Christmas stamp will not be issued this year.
Details
- Date of Issue: 23 October 1968
- Withdrawn Date:
- Invalidated:
- Designer: George Hamori, Sydney
- Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia
- Process: Photogravure
- Cylinders: Light Blue – Dark Green – Red – Gold (printing order)
- Paper: Wiggins Teape – chalk coated with Helecon
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13.5 x 13.25 (comb)
- Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R5 x 10) divided by horizontal gutter.
- Quantity: 112,919,000
Nine cylinders were used in the printings. The dark green was replaced early in the run, then two sets of four.
Sheet Numbers
First Day Cover (Unofficial)
PHILATELIC – RUSSEL STREET – VIC AUST
