Australia Philately: 1976 National Stamp Week

On the opening day of the National Stamp Week – 27th September, 1976 – an 18c stamp and a miniature sheet comprising four perforated 18c stamps (each stamp showing a progressive colour step of the photogravure process of printing) were issued for approximately two weeks sale at post offices. The stamp and miniature sheet will remain on sale at Australia Post philatelic sales centres for up to twelve months, providing stocks last. Each of the four stamps in the miniature sheet is valid for the prepayment of postage.

The issue breaks new ground in Australian philatelic history; it is the first time that an Australian stamp has been specially designed to celebrate the hobby of stamps; it is also, only the third miniature sheet to be issued by Australia. Miniature sheets were previously issued on 29th October, 1928, to commemorate the International Philatelic Exhibition held in Melbourne and on 20th April, 1970, to mark the Cook Bicentenary celebrations.

A stated, each stamp in the miniature sheet illustrates a progressive colour step in four-colour photogravure printing – the printing process most frequently used by Australia Post’s stamp printers, the Note Issue Department of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne. For the purpose of identification of the country of origin, and the denomination it has been necessary to print Australia and 18c in dark brown on each of the stamps. The illustration area of the top of the left stamp of the miniature sheet is printed in yellow; the top right stamp has red added to the yellow base coloir in the illustration area; in the bottom left stamp blue added to the previous colours; whilst in the bottom right stamp the printing design is completed by the addition of the fourth printing colour, dark brown in the illustration area. It should be stated, that the primary colours have been strengthened for printing these designs, as it was not practible, in this case, to use the yellow, magenta and cyan inks normally used in the tri-colour printing process. The final stamp in the miniature sheet (i.e., combination of the four colours) was also issued as the separate 18c commemorative stamp in sheet form (100-on). The miniature sheets were printed eight-up and then guillotined into single sheets.

Details

Date of Issue: 27 September 1976
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: Ray Honisett, Melbourne
Printer: Note Issue Department, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Press: Chambon
Process: Photogravure
Cylinders: Blue Tint – Rose Tint – Lemon Tint – Apple-Green Tint – Agate Tint (printing order)
Paper: Shoalhaven KP6T unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: 13.75 x 13.25 (comb)
Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R5 x 10) divided by vertical gutter.
Quantity:
- 19,702,500 (18c)
- 1,500,700 (Miniature Sheet)

Souvenir Pack

A souvenir pack was available for the issue, at all post offices, for $1 and contains a description of the photogravure printing process.

First Day Covers No.92 & No.93 & No.94 (Official)

Three first day covers were provided for the issue – two covers for the single 18c stamp and a special large-size first day cover for the miniature sheet. The three covers were designed by stamp artist, Mr Ray Honisett of Melbourne.

CANBERRA/PARLIAMENT/HOUSE/A.C.T. 2600