Australia Philately: 1977 Silver Jubilee

Australia issued a set of two stamps, of 18c and 45c denominations, on 2nd February, 1977, to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Queen’s Reign. Stocks of the stamps were on sale at post offices from the issue date until late March, so that they were available during the Queen’s visit to Australia in March 1977 (normally commemorative issues are sold at post offices for about two weeks). The stamps continuing on sale at Australia Post philatelic sales centres for up to twelve months from the issue date, providing stocks last.

A first day cover was provided for the issue and a souvenir pack containing the two stamps was also available at all post offices, priced at 73c.

The designers of the stamps, the artists of Australia Post’s Graphic Design Section, used colour photographs of Her Majesty as the basis of the designs.

The portrait of the Queen depicted on the 18c value was chosen from a selection of photographs provided by “The Australia Women’s Weekly”. The 45c value shows an informal photograph of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, taken by Lord Lichfield.

Details

Date of Issue: 2 February 1977
Withdrawn Date:
Invalidated:
Designer: Australia Post Graphic Design Section
Printer:
- Norman J. Field, Melbourne
- Government Printer, Sydney
Process: Offset lithography
Press:
- Heidelberg press (2%)
- Komori Sprint press (98%)
Cylinders: (see below)
Paper: Shoalhaven KP6T unwatermarked coated stamp paper incorporating helecon
Watermark: None
Perf: 14.75 x 14 (comb) on a Grover perforator machine
Sheet: Printed in four panes (R5 x 10) and guillotined into two panes, separated by a vertical gutter.
Quantity:
- 22,370,000 (18c)
- 5,070,000 (45c)

Approximarely 2% of the printing of both values was completed by the Government Printer, Sydney on a Heidelberg four-colour photo-litho press. It is believed all the stamps printed on this press were used for the souvenir stamp packs.

Colours in printing order were:

White – Silver – Process Magenta – Process Yellow (first pass) / Process Cyan – Reflex Blue – Black – and a varnish (second pass) (18c)
White – Silver – Process Magenta – Process Yellow (first pass) / Process Cyan – Warm Red – Black – and a varnish (second pass) (45c)

The other 98% were printed in Melbourne under the control of the Government Printer, by Norman J Field, on a Komori four-colour, photo-litho press. These stamps were used for general distribution to post offices and philatelic sales centres.

Colours in printing order were:

Silver – Process Magenta – Process Yellow – Process Cyan (first pass) / Reflex Blue – Black – and a varnish (second pass) (18c)
Silver – Process Magenta – Process Yellow – Process Cyan (first pass) / Warm Red – Black – and a varnish (second pass) (45c)

The densitometer for colour readings was produced by Gretagurga, Switzerland for both printings.