Australia Philately: 1989 Sports Series I – 70c Cricket

The first recorded cricket match in Australia was held late in 1803 in Sydney. Inter-colonial cricket began in 1856 following a challenge by the Melbourne Cricket Club to play neighbouring colonies. Inter-colonial contests expanded into the Sheffield Shield competition in 1892. 

Cricket is Australia’s major summer sport, with an estimated 300,000 active cricketers in senior, junior and country competitions. If social beach cricket (as shown on the stamp) was added, the numbers would undoubtedly soar a lot higher. 

Details
  • Series: 1989 Sports Series I
  • Subject: Cricket
  • Illustrator: Geoff Cook, Melbourne
  • Typography: Sue Passmore, Australia Post Graphic Design Studio
  • Printer: Leigh-Mardon Pty Limited, Melbourne (Moorabbin)
  • Press:
  • Process: Photolithography
  • Colours: Yellow – Magenta – Cyan – Pale Green – Black
  • Paper: CPL unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon
  • Watermark: None
  • Perf: 14.4 x 14 (comb)
  • Sheet:
    • Printed in 6 sheets of 100 stamps (A B /C D/ E F)
    • Distributed in single sheets of R10 x 10 (100)
  • Quantity:
Reprint (1)

The first reprint was not identified by a koala symbol.

  • Printer: Leigh-Mardon Pty Limited, Melbourne (Moorabbin)
  • Press:
  • Process: Photolithography
  • Colours: Yellow – Magenta – Cyan – Pale Green – Black
  • Paper: Harrison unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon
  • Watermark: None
  • Perf: 14.4 x 14 (comb)
  • Sheet:
    • Printed in 3 sheets of 100 stamps (A /B /C)
    • Distributed in single sheets of R10 x 10 (100)
  • Quantity:
Reprint (2 koala)
  • Reprint Date: October 1989
  • Printer: Leigh-Mardon Pty Limited, Melbourne (Moorabbin)
  • Press:
  • Process: Photolithography
  • Colours: Yellow – Magenta – Cyan – Pale Green – Black
  • Paper: CPL unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon
  • Watermark: None
  • Perf: 14.4 x 14 (comb)
  • Sheet:
    • Printed in 6 sheets of 100 stamps (A B /C D/ E F)
    • Distributed in single sheets of R10 x 10 (100)
  • Quantity:
Reprint (3 koala)
  • Reprint Date: March 1991
  • Printer: Leigh-Mardon Pty Limited, Melbourne (Moorabbin)
  • Press:
  • Process: Photolithography
  • Colours: Yellow – Magenta – Cyan – Pale Green – Black
  • Paper: CPL unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon
  • Watermark: None
  • Perf: 14.4 x 14 (comb)
  • Sheet:
    • Printed in 6 sheets of 100 stamps (A B /C D/ E F)
    • Distributed in single sheets of R10 x 10 (100)
  • Quantity:
Reprint (4 koala)
  • Reprint Date: December 1992
  • Printer: Leigh-Mardon Pty Limited, Melbourne (Moorabbin)
  • Press:
  • Process: Photolithography
  • Colours: Yellow – Magenta – Cyan – Pale Green – Black
  • Paper: Harrison unwatermarked paper incorporating helecon
  • Watermark: None
  • Perf: 14.4 x 14 (comb)
  • Sheet:
    • Printed in 6 sheets of 100 stamps (A B /C D/ E F)
    • Distributed in single sheets of R10 x 10 (100)
  • Quantity: