A set of three stamps featuring reproductions of religious paintings was issued for Christmas 1978. The stamps have 15c, 25c and 55c denominations.
The 25c features “The Madonna and the Child” (after van Eyck), the 25c features “The Virgin and Child” (Marmion) and the 55c stamp features “The Holy Family” (del Vaga). All three paintings are housed in the National Gallery of Victoria and were acquired by the Felton Bequest.
The 25c stamp was issued on 3 October 1978 and the 15c and 55c stamps on 1 November 1978.
All three stamps were on sale at post offices until the end of December 1978 and will remain on sale at philatelic sales centres for a period of twelve months from their issue dates, provided stocks last.
Details
- Date of Issue: 1 November 1978
- Withdrawn Date: 1 November 1979
- Invalidated:
- Designer: Brian Clinton, Melbourne
- Printer: Asher & Co., Melbourne
- Press: Roland Rekord (4 colour)
- Process: Photolithography
- Cylinders: In printing order
- Black (1st plate 29%, 2nd plate 17%, 3rd plate 13%, 4th plate 18% and 5th plate 23%) – Cyan (1st plate 30%, 2nd plate 33% and 3rd plate 37%) – Magenta (1st plate 19%, 2nd plate 20%, 3rd plate 49% 4th plate 12%) – Yellow (1st plate 38%, 2nd plate 46% and 3rd plate 16%) [15c]
- Black (1st plate 64%, 2nd plate 36%) – Cyan (one plate) – Magenta (one plate) – Yellow (one plate) [55c]
- Paper: Litho chromo paper incorporating helecon
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 14.75 (comb)
- Sheet: Printed in sheets of 200 consisting of four panes of fity stamps and issued in single sheets of fifty stamps.
- Quantity:
- 45,928,000 (15c)
- 5,898,000 (55c)
Subjects
- 15c Madonna & Child
- 55c Holy Family
Souvenir Pack
A souvenir pack containing all three stamps (costing $A1.10) also was issued on 1 November 1978.
First Day Cover No.121 (Official)
Two first day covers were provided for the issue. Cover no. 119 had the 25c stamp affixed and no. 121 had the 15c and 55c stamps affixed.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES
Aerogramme
A 30c Christmas aerogramme also was issued on 1 November 1978. It was printed letterpress for the first time, in full colour at the Note Issue Department of the Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne. Doug Pitt of Melbourne designed the stamp and the panel featured on the areogramme.
Australian Stamp Bulletin
Australia Stamp Bulletin No.138 – January 1979
