Australia Philately: 1976 Australian Explorers

A series of six 18c commemorative stamps featuring Australian explorers was issued on the 9th June, 1976. The explorers depicted are John Oxley, Hume and Hovell, W. C. Gosse, P. E. Warburton, John Forrest and Ernest Giles. Each of the explorers is depicted against a background which shows a portion f the country they traversed.

The stamps and the two associated first day covers were designed by Mr. Brian Dunlop of Sydney. The stamps were printed by photogravure by the Note Issue Department of Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne, on unwatermarked paper containing luminescence, on the Chambon machine. Each of the stamps measures 37.5 mm x 25mm. Sheet content is 100.

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

Details

Date of Issue: 9 June 1976
Withdrawn Date:
Designer: Brian Dunlop, Sydney
Printer: Note Issue Department, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Press: Chambon
Process: Photogravure
Colours: Printing order
- Brown Ochre – Cobalt – Reddish Brown Tint – Black (Ernest Giles)
- Stone – New Blue – New Blue Tint – Black (John Oxley)
- Buff – Venetian Red – Blue – Grey Black (P. E. Warburton)
- Grey Green Tint – Sage Green Tint – Grey Olive Tint – Ochre – Grey Black (John Forrest)
- New Blue Tint – Vermillion Tint – Yellow Ochre – Brown Olive – Black (W. Gosse)
- Dull Yellowish Green – Buff – Rose Red – Grey Black Tint – Black (Hume and Hovell)
Paper: Shoalhaven KP5D unwatermarked coated stamp paper incorporating helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: 13.25 x 13.5 (comb)
Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5), separated by vertical gutter.
Quantity:
- 18c – 10,797,500
- 18c – 10,025,000
- 18c – 10,265,000
- 18c – 10,830,000
- 18c – 10,485,000
- 18c – 10,680,050