Australia Philately: 1976 Christmas ’76

The Australian 1976 Christmas stamps of 15c and 45c values were issued on 1st November, 1976. The 15c stamp is the special postage rate introduced for standard size envelopes containing Christmas cards for delivery within Australia and endorsed “card only”; the rate applies only during November and December, 1976. The 45c rate is the air mail charge to Europe and United Kingdom for letters weighing up to 10 grams.

The 15c value which depicts the Madonna and Child was Mr Colin Medlycott’s prize-winning entry in Australia Post’s 1975 design competition. The design is derived from a detail of a work (415 mm x 265 mm) in red chalk by Simone Cantarini (1612-1648). The original drawing entitled “The Virgin and Child in the Clouds, Surrounded by Angels Making Music, Looking down on Saints in Adoration”, is part of the Albertina collection, Vienna. The 45c stamp features the following symbols: a bauble, a toy koala, a Christmas tree, a partridge and a sprig of holly: the stamp was designed by Miss Wendy Tamlyn, Sydney.

The stamps; aerogramme and souvenir pack will remain on sale at post offices until the end of December, 1976 and at philatelic sales centres for up to twelve months from the date of issue, providing stocks last.

Details

Date of Issue: 1 November 1976
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer:
- Colin Medlycott (15c)
- Wendy Tamlyn, Sydney (45c)
- Jonathan Milne, Melbourne (aerogramme)
Printer: Note Issue Department, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Press:
- Rembrandt (15c)
- Chambon (45c)
- Letterpress (aerogramme)
Process: Multicolour photogravure
Cylinders: Printing order
- Pale Blue – Bright Carmine I (appx. 50% of printing) (15c)
- Pale Blue – Bright Carmine II (appx. 50% of printing) (15c)
- Yellow Green – Brown – Blue Green – Bright Rose – Yellow Green Tint (45c)
Paper: Shoalhaven KP6T unwatermarked coated stamp paper incorporating helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: Comb
- 14.75 x 14 (15c)
- 13.25 x 13.75 (45c)
Sheet:
Quantity:
- 61,112,500 (15c)
- 5,275,000 (45c)

Subjects

15c Mother & Child
45c Christmas Ornaments

Aerogramme

A 25c Christmas aerogramme, designed by Mr Jonathan Milne of Melbourne, was also issued on the same day. The aerogramme depicts an angel in a panel on the left-hand side of the address face and Madonna and Child in the stamp area.