Australia Philately: 1976 Olympic Games

Four stamps marking the 1976 Olympic Games were issued on 14th July, 1976 – the nearest practicable date to the opening of the Games on Saturday, 17th July, 1976.

The series, which was designed by Mr Arthur Leydin of Sydney with assistance from Mr Birchett and Mr O’Brien, both of Sydney, comprises two different 18c stamps, a 25c stamp and a 40c stamp. Gymnastics and Soccer are shown on the 18c values. Diving on the 25c value, and Cycling on the 40c value. In each design, stylized figures have been used to represent the various sporting events. The stamps were on general sale at all post offices for approximately two weeks and will be continued on sale at Australia Post philatelic sales centres for up to twelve months from the date of issue, providing stocks last.

The four stamps were printed by multicolour photogravure, on the Chambon machine, in sheets of 100 on unwatermarked paper containing luminescence, by the Note Issue Department of Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne. Stamp size is 37.5 mm x 25 mm or vice versa; the Soccer and Cycling stamps are in horizontal format and the Diving and Gymnastics are in vertical format.

Details

Date of Issue: 14 July 1976
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: Arthur Leydin, Sydney (assisted by Rodney Birchett and Des O’Brien)
Printer: Note Issue Department, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
Process: Multicolour photogravure
Press: Chambon
Cylinders: Printing order
- Buff Tint – Blue – Bistre Tint – Grey I (appx. 13% of printing) – Black (18c Soccer)
- Buff Tint – Blue – Bistre Tint – Grey II (appx. 87% of printing) – Black (18c Soccer)
- Bright Blue – Emerald – Grey – Black (18c Gymnastics)
- Buff Tint – Salmon Pink – Ochre Tint – Grey – Black (25c)
- Buff Tint – New Blue Tint – Bistre Tint I (appx. 50% of printing) – Grey – Black (40c)
- Buff Tint – New Blue Tint – Bistre Tint II (appx. 50% of printing)- Grey – Black (40c)
Paper:
- Shoalhaven KP5D unwatermarked, coated stamp paper incorporating helecon (18c, 40c)
- Shoalhaven KP5D unwatermarked, coated stamp paper incorporating helecon (25c – appx 25% of printing)
- Shoalhaven KP6T unwatermarked, coated stamp paper incorporating helecon (25c – appx. 75% of printing)
Watermark: None
Perf: Comb
- 13.25 x 13.75 (18c Soccer, 40c)
- 13.75 x 13.25 (18c Gymnastics, 25c)
Sheet:
- Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R5 x 10) divided by vertical gutter. (18c Soccer, 40c)
- Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R5 x 10) divided by horizontal gutter. (18c Gymnastics, 25c)
Quantity:
- 15,650,000 (18c Soccer)
- 15,317,500 (18c Gymnastics)
- 20,465,000 (25c)
- 20,551,000 (40c)