Two stamps and an aerogramme, commemorating Christmas 1981, will be issued on 2 November 1981. The stamps have denominations of 18c and 60c. A 30c stamp for Christmas 1981 was issued on 28 September 1981.
The 18c stamps is for the concessional domestic postage rate for Christmas cards. The 60c stamp may be used on air mail to the United Kingdom and Europe.
The stamps commemorating the Christmas 1981 each illustrate four lines selected from Australian Christmas Carols. The carols selected for illustration are the work of William James and John Wheeler.
Detail
- Date of Issue: 2 November 1981
- Withdrawn Date:
- 13 November 1981 (FDC)
- 30 June 1982 (stamp, aerogramme)
- Designer: Frank Beck, Sydney
- Printer: Leigh Mardon Pty Ltd, Melbourne
- Press: Four colour Roland Rekord
- Process: Photolithography
- Colours:
- Paper: Litho chromo stamp paper incorporating luminescence
- Watermark: None
- Perf: 13 x 13.25 (comb)
- Sheet: Printed in sheets of two panes of 50 stamps (R10 x 5) and separated by a horizontal gutter.
- Quantity:
Souvenir Pack
A souvenir pack containing the three Christmas 1981 stamps (18c, 30c and 60c) will be on issue from 2 November 1981. The price of the Christmas 1981 stamp pack is $A1.27.
Technical and background information regarding the stamps is printed on the pack.
First Day Covers No.163 (Official)
One first day cover, numbered 163, will be provided for this issue (cover No. 160 was provided for the 30c Christmas 1981 stamp issued on 28 September 1981).
Unserviced covers (No. 163), measuring 165 mm x 92 mm, will be available for $A0.15 from 26 October 1981. Serviced covers, with the 18c and 60c Christmas 1981 stamps affixed and postmarked 2 November 1981, will be available for $A0.93 each from all first day of issue post offices until 13 November 1981, provided stocks last.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES
Aerogramme (AG2)
A 33c Christmas aerogramme will also be available from 2 November 1981. The aerogramme bears a multi-coloured stamp area and an illustration of the carol Noeltime, similar to the illustration which appears on the 60c stamp.
The Christmas 1981 aerogramme is numbered AG2 and will be pre-folded, with the flaps out, to facilitate handling. When folded, the aerogramme measures approximately 175 mm x 100 mm.
Christmas 1981 aerogrammes, cancelled on the first day of issue, will be available from 2 November 1981 until 13 November 1981 from all first day of issue offices, provided stocks last. Price of the Christmas 1981 aerogramme with first day of issue cancellation is $A0.33.
Uncancelled Christmas 1981 aerogrammes are available from all post offices from 2 November 1981 until 31 December 1981, and from philatelic sales centres until 30 June 1982.
FIRST DAY OF ISSUE POSTMARKER OFFICES
Australian Stamp Bulletin
Australian Stamp Bulletin No.157 – October-December 1981
