Australia Philately: 1974 Sports

A series of seven 7c commemorative stamps featuring non-Olympic sports was issued on 24th July, 1974. The subjects are golf, Rugby football, cricket, lawn bowls, tennis, Australian football and surfing.

The stamps and their associated first day cover were designed by Mr. Arthur Leydin of Sydney. Actual artwork for the stamps was drawn by Mr. Des O’Brien of Sydney. The stamps were photogravure-printed by the Note Printing Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, on unwatermarked KP5D paper containing Derby luminescence, by the Rembrandt machine. The golf, cricket, tennis, Australian football and surfing stamps are in vertical format and measure 24.15 mm x 37.75 mm, and the other two are in horizontal format, measuring 37.75 mm x 24.15 mm (including perforations). Sheet content as issued is 100.

Collectors in Australia may purchase the stamps from philatelic sales centres for up to twelve months from the issue date while stocks last.

Details

Date of Issue: 24 July 1974
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: Arthur Leydin, Sydney & Des O’Brien, Sydney
Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Press: Rembrandt
Process: Photogravure
Cylinders: Printing order
- Flesh – Yellow – Blue – Black (Surfing)
- Flesh – Red – Blue – Black (Australian Rules)
- Yellow – Green – Grey – Black (Cricket)
- Flesh – Red – Blue – Black (Rugby)
- Flesh – Green – Mauve – Black (Bowls)
- Flesh – Green – Gold – Black (Tennis)
- Yellow – Green – Orange – Black (Golf)
Paper: Shoalhaven KP5D unwatermarked coated paper containing helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: Comb
- 14 x 14.75 (Rugby, Lawn Bowls)
- 14.75 x 14 (Football, Cricket, Golf, Surfing, Tennis)
Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5) divided by horizontal gutter.
Quantity:
- 7,248,000 (Rugby)
- 6,923,000 (Lawn Bowls)
- 7,190,500 (Football)
- 8,460,500 (Cricket)
- 7,550,500 (Golf)
- 8,520,500 (Tennis)