A 6c stamp commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Australian Air Force was issued on 9th June, 1971. It was designed by Mr. Ray Honisett, of Melbourne, a well-known aircraft illustrator, whose work includes commissions for the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. Mr. Honisett also designed the two first day covers issued by the Australian Post Office in conjunction with the RAAF stamp. Of the usual commemorative size of 25mm x 37.5mm, including perforations, the stamp was printed in sheets of 100 on coated paper incorporating helecon, on the Chambon photogravure press of the Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne. The design shows a De Havilland DH9a, one of the RAAF’s 1921 machines, and a flight of Australian-built Mirage jet fighters of No.76 Squadron.
Details
- Date of Issue: 9 June 1971
- Withdrawn Date:
- Invalidated:
- Designer: Ray Honisett, Melbourne
- Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia
- Press: Chambon
- Process: Photogravure
- Cylinders:
- Red – Blue (I) – Gold – Black (I) (printing order)
- Red – Blue (II) – Gold – Black (II) (printing order)
- Paper: Wiggins Teape coated paper incorportating helecon
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13.5 x 13.25 (comb)
- Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5) divided by vertical gutter.
- Quantity: 18,458,900
Sheet Numbers
First Day Covers No.25 & No.26 (Official)
On the first day of issue of the RAAF commemorative stamp, pictorial postmarkers were provided at five post offices situated on or adjacent to RAAF bases: at Point Cook, Vic., Richmond, N.S.W., Amberley, Qld., Pearce, W.A., and Edinburgh, S.A.
DEGRAVES/STREET/VIC 3000
ST KILDA ROAD/CENTRAL/VIC 3004
Philatelic Bulletin
Australia Post Philatelic Bulletin No.108 – June 1971
