Six cent and 30c postage stamps and a 10c aerogramme were issued on 2nd November, 1970, to mark the fifieth anniversry of the formation of QANTAS Airways.
The stamps were designed by Mr. George Hamori, of Sydney. Both designs contrast a modered Qantas Boeing 707 with the first aircraft operated by the company – an Avro 504, powered by a Sunbeam Dyak engine. The Hamori aerogramme design also features a Qantas Boeing 707.
The stamps were printed by photogravure at the Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne. Both stamps are of the usual commemorative size, 37.5 mm x 25 mm, including perforations, in sheets of 100 on unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon. The aerogramme was printed by letterpress, and the red-orange background of the stamps area has helecon ink.
The stamps were available from post offices for approximately two weeks, and the aerogramme a little longer.
Details
- Date of Issue: 2 November 1970
- Withdrawn Date:
- Invalidated:
- Designer: George Hamori
- Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
- Process: Multi-colour photogravure
- Cylinders:
- Blue – Gold – Red – Black (6c)
- Green – Gold – Red – Black (30c)
- Paper: Wiggins Teape coated unwatermark Derby luminescence*
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13.25 x 13.5 (comb)
- Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5) divided by horizontal gutter.
- Quantity:
- 20,109,000 (6c)
- 6,956,400 (30c)
The Philatelic Bulletin No.105 quotes “unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon” (pg.28) and “Wiggins Teape coated unwatermark Derby luminescence” (pg.33).
Subjects
Aerogramme
Mr. Hamori has also designed the commemorative aerogramme and the official first day cover. The aerogramme features a new stamp design showing a Boeing 707 in flight with the Sydney International Air Terminal building in the lower background. The stamp is deep orange in colour. The printing on the aerogramme is black in place of the existing blue, but the style of the form and the paper remains unchanged.
Souvenir Pack
A souvenir stamp pack containing the two QANTAS anniversary in an album mount, a colourful and informative folder and a greeting card will also be on sale at all post offices from 2nd November, 1970; priced 36c.
First Day Cover No.16 (Official)
The offcial first-day cover has been specially designed by Mr. Hamori to complement his stamp designs. The covers, which incorporate a facsimile of Mr. Hamori’s autograph, will be on sale at the larger post offices, priced 8 cents each. Serviced covers, i.e. marked for the first day of issue, will be available for the remainder of the first week of the stamps issue, priced 44c, while stocks last.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES