The Lovely Wren (Malurus lamberti amabilis) featured on the 40c stamp is a tropical form of the variegated wren species and lives on the Cape York peninsula in northern Queensland. The wren’s breeding season and the nest, constructed from grass and spider egg-sacs, is normally situated close to the ground. The brilliantly coloured male wren loses his blue colouring in the non-mating season.
Details
- Series: 1979 Australian Birds
- Subject: Lovely Wren
- Designer: Kay Breeden Williams
- Printer: Note Issue Department, Reserve Bank of Australia, Melbourne
- Process: Multi-colour photogravure (Chambon press)
- Cylinders: Stone (tint) – Royal Blue (tint) – Red – Grey-Olive (tint) – Black (printing order)
- Paper: KP6T unwatermarked coated paper incorporating helecon
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13.5 x 13.25 (comb)
- Sheet: Printed in two panes of 50 stamps (R5 x 10) divided by horizontal gutter.
- Quantity: 63,632,500