Australia Philately: 1970 Famous Australians

The second stamp booklet in the Famous Australians series was issued on 16th November, 1970, and will remain on sale for approximately 12 months. The stamp subjects are the Duigan brothers, pioneer aviators; explorer Edward John Eyre; poet Adam Lindsay Gordon; and Governor Lachlan Macquarie. Following the format established with the first Famous Australians booklet and the Prime Ministers booklet, each subject is shown in a separate pane containing five 6c stamps and a “little tab”. Each booklet, containing twenty 6c stamps, is priced at $1.20.

The stamps each measure 20.25 mm x 24.05 mm, including perforations, although like all booklet stamps they are partially imperforate. They were engraved and printed at the Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne on unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon. Each stamp is a bicolour, having a paler lithographed background colour and the portrait and lettering in a darker recess print.

All four portraits were specially drawn for the stamp series. Artists at the Note Printing Branch prepared the Duigan and Gordon portraits; Mr. Alfred Cook of Sydney painted the Macquaire portrait; and Mr. Tate Adams of Melbourne prepared the Eyre portrait by medium of woodcraft.

Details

Date of Issue: 16 November 1970
Withdrawn Date: 15 May 1971
Invalidated:
Designer:
- Note Printing Branch, Melbourne (The Duigan Brothers & Adam Lindsay Gordon)
- Alfred Cook, Sydney (Lachlan Macquarie)
- Tate Adams, Melbourne (E J Eyre)
Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Process:
- Lithography (background)
- Recess (design)
Plates:
Paper: Unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: 14.75 x 14 x imperf (comb)
Quantity: 35,299,000

Subjects

6c John Eyre
6c Adam Gordon Lindsay
6c Lachlan Macquarie
6c Reginald C Duigan – John R Duigan

Booklets

First Day Cover No.17 (Official)

A special first day cover, priced 8c, will be on sale at all usual selling points as listed in the last issue of Stamp Preview. Normally, only complete booklets are sold. However, at those post offices selling the official first day covers, customers will also be able to purchase sets of four single stamps for 24 cents for affixing to covers. Serviced covers will be on sale for 32 cents during the remainder of the first week of the stamp issue, while stocks last. These covers will have a set of four single 6 cent stamps (one each of the four new stamps) affixed and postmarked on the first day of issue.

The official first day cover will be available for 8 centrs plus the cost of stamps affixed, which may be any of the three arrangements: –

(a) set of four single stamps on one cover – price 32c.

(b) set of four covers, each with one of the stamps affixed – price 56c.

(c) set of four covers, each with a full pane of the stamps affixed (including the title tabs) – price $1.52.