Australia Philately: 1971 Aboriginal Art

A series of four definitive stamps featuring aboriginal art subjects was issued on 29th September, 1971. The values and subjects are 20c Bark Painting, 25c Body Decoration, 30c Cave Painting, 35c Grave Posts.

The 20c, 25c and 30c stamps replace the equivalent values in the Floral Emblems series. The 35c is a new demonination.

The stamps and two associated official first day covers were designed by Mr. John Mason, of Melbourne. The stamps were photogravure printed by the Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, in sheets of 100 on unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon. The 20c and 25c in horizontal format, measure 37.5 mm x 25 mm, and the other two, in vertical format, measure 25 mm x 37.5 mm (including perforations).

Mr. Mason worked from original material made available by the National Museum of Victoria and the Melbourne Cultural Centre. Mr. A.L. West, Curator in Anthropology at the National Museum of Victoria, and Mr. F.D. McCarthy, Principal, Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, Canberra, gave valuable assistance in the project.

Details

Date of Issue: 29 September 1971
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: John Mason
Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia
Process: Photogravure
Cylinders: Printing order
- Blue – Orange – Brown – Sepia (20c)
- Blue-Grey – Indian Red – Sepia – Black (25c)
- Blue – Orange – Green – Indian Red (30c)
- Yellow – Blue – Red – Black (35c)
Paper: Wiggins Teape unwatermarked paper coated paper incorporating Derby luminescence
Watermark: None
Perf: Comb
- 13.5 x 13.25 (20c, 25c)
- 13.25 x 13.5 (30c, 35c)
Sheet:
- Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 10) divided by vertical gutter. (20c, 25c)
- Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5) divided by horizontal gutter. (30c, 35c)
Quantity: