Australia Philately: 1975 Prime Ministers

The third group in the Prime Ministers stamp series, covering six men who held the office during the thirties and forties, is being issued on 26th March, 1975. The first and second series, issued on 22nd October, 1969, and 8th March, 1972, respectively, depicted Prime Ministers from 1901 to 1929.

The six new stamps, all of 10c denominations, show the following; J.H. Scullen (Prime Minister 1929-1932); J.A. Lyons (1932-1939); Earie Page (1939); Arthur Fadden (1941) and J.B. Chifley (1945-1949).

The stamps were printed in multicolour photogravure by the Note Printing Branch of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, on unwatermarked paper incorporating luminescence, on the Rembrandt machine. Sizes (including perfs.) are 24.15 mm x 31 mm and post office sheet content is 100. The stamps and the official first day cover were designed by Mr. Brian Dunlop of Sydney.

The stamps are commemoratives and will be on sale at post offices for four weeks and for up to a further 12 months at philatelic sales centres.

Details

Date of Issue: 26 March 1975
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: Brian Dunlop, Sydney
Printer: Note Printing Branch, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Press: Rembrandt
Process: Mulitcolour Photogravure
Cylinders: Printing order
- Grey Brown Tint – Agate Tint – Greenish Blue – Blue Black (Arthur Fadden)
- Drab Tint – Sepia Tint – Scarlet Vermillion – Grey Black (J H Scullin)
- Grey Brown Tint – Grey Brown – Dull Yellowish Green – Indigo (J A Lyons)
- Drab Tint – Sepia Tint – Brown Lake – Grey Black (John Curtin)
- Grey Brown Tint – Drab – Olive Brown – Grey Black (J B Chifley)
- Stone – Sepia – Bistre Yellow – Grey (Earle Page)
Paper:
- KP6T unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon (PVA gum)
- KP5D unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon (gum arabic)*
Watermark: None
Perf: 14 x14.75 (comb)
Sheet: Printed in sheets of 100
Quantity:
- 12,495,000 (J H Scullin)
- 12,332,500 (J A Lyons)
- 11,437,500 (Earle Page)
- 11,740,000 (Arthur Fadden)
- 10,635,000 (John Curtin)
- 10,990,000 (J B Chifley)

After distribution, it was found that some reams of KP6T paper, so labelled, had included sheets of KP5D (gum arabic), and therefore there are some sheets of Prime Minister stamps on the latter paper. It is not possible to determine how many sheets are on KP5D. This paper, when viewed from the gummed side, shows a yellowish tinge due to the natural colour of gum arabic. The PVA gum on KP6T paper is virtually colourless and the back of the paper appears whiter than KP5D.