Australia Philately: 1975 Christmas

The Australian 1975 Christmas stamps of 15c and 45c denominations were issued on 29th October, 1975. The 15c Christmas stamp was issued to meet the need for large quantities of this denomination following the special postage rate introduced for the standard size envelopes containing Christmas cards for delivery within Australia and endorsed “card only”; the rate applied only during November and December, 1975. The 45c rate is the airmail charge to Europe and the United Kingdom for letters weighing up to 10 grams.

The 15c valued depicts the Three Wise Men approaching Mary and the crib, was designed by Mr. Des O’Brien of Sydney. The 45c stamp is a visual adaption of a text from the Gospel according to St. John (1:5) “And the light shineth in darkness”. The stamp was designed by Mr. Jonathan Milne of Melbourne.

A 25c aerogramme, designed by Mr. Peter Huveneers of Sydney, was also issued on the same day. The aerogramme also incorporates the Three Wise Men motif.

A souvenir pack containing both the 15c and 45c values is available for 70c and an official first day cover was also produced for the issue. The stamps, aerogramme and souvenir pack will remain on sale until the end of December, 1975, and at philatelic sales centres for up to twelve months, providing stocks last.

Both stamps were printed by multicolour photogravure by the Note Issue Department of the Reservce Bank of Australia, Melbourne, on unwatermarked paper containing luminescence. Sheet content, as issued, is 100 in each case. The 15c value was printed on the Rembrandt press and measures 24.15 mm x 37.75 mm. The 45c stamp was printed on the Chambon machine and measures 37.5 mm x 25 mm. The areogramme was printed by letterpress, with helecon in the orange areas.

Details

Date of Issue: 29 October 1975
Withdrawn Date: 31 December 1975
Invalidated:
Designer:
- Des O’Brien, Sydney (15c)
- Jonathan Milne, Melbourne (45c)
- Peter Huveneers, Sydney (aerogramme)
Printer: Note Issue Department, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Process: Multicolour photogravure
Press:
- Rembrandt (15c)
- Chambon (45c)
- Lettepress (aerogramme)
Cylinders: Printing order
- Olive-Yellow – Flesh Tint – Vermillion – New Blue – Black (15c)
- Purple – Greenish Blue – Silver – Black (45c)
Paper:
- Shoalhaven KP6T unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon (15c)
- Shoalhaven KP5D unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon (45c)
Watermark: None
Perf: Comb
- 14 x14.75 (15c)
- 13.75 x 13.25 (45c)
Sheet:
Quantity:
- 58,900,000 (15c)
- 2,097,500 (45c)