Australia Philately: 1972 Rehabilitation

The Rehabilitation series of definitive stamps was issued on 2nd August, 1972, in denominations of 12c, 18c and 24c. The stamps will remain on sale for approximately a year, replacing the 12c Animal Science, 18c Fauna Conservation and 24c Animals Aid to Man stamps, which were withdrawn on 1st August, 1972. Although it was originally announced that the Animals series would be on issued for six months, 12c, 18c and 254c steps were continued in the postal rates structure which was introduced in October 1971, thus maintaining the need for stamps in these values.

To draw attention to the work of various organisations assisting the rehabilitation of physically and mentally disabled people, three areas have highlighted in the Rehabilitation stamps: the personal disability itself, re-training, and the environment. They were designed by artists of the Note Printing Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia, using photographs specially taken for the Post Office by Mrs. Barbara Ardizzone, of Sydney, at several rehabilitation centres in New South Wales.

The stamps were printed by photogravure ay the Note Printing Branch, in sheets of 100 on Wiggins Teape unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon. Each stamp is a two-colour print, from two cylinders. Stamp size is 25mm x 37.5mm.

Details

Date of Issue: 2 August 1972
Withdrawn Date (Philatelic Sales Centres):
- 14 March 1980 (12c, 24c)
Invalidated:
Designer: Artists from the Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, based on photos by Barbara Ardizzone, Sydney
Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Process: Multi-colour photogravure
Cylinders:
- Yellow-Ochre – Green (12c)
- Green – Orange (18c)
- Blue – Brown (24c)
Paper: Wiggins Teape – chalk coated with Helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: Comb
- 13.25 x 13.5 (18c)
- 13.5 x 13.25 (12c, 24c)
Sheet:
- Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R5 x 10) divided by vertical gutter. (18c)
- Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5) divided by horizontal gutter. (12c,24c)
Quantity:
- 19,832,000 (18c)