Category: Australia

Australia Day celebrates the establishment of the first European settlement in Australia – and this year sees the 200th anniversary of that event. On Australia Day, 26 January 1988, Australia Post will release its Bicentennial Australia Day stamps. A se-tenant strip fo five 37c stamps will depict the arrival of…

View More Australia Philately: 1988 The First Fleet: Arrival 1788

View More Australia Philately: Australia Post Stamp Bulletin No.193 – January 1988

A further set of Australia Post Maximum Cards is due for release on 18 November 1987. The subject of the cards is the First Fleet at Cape of Good Hope.  There are three cards in the set, each carrying one of the First Fleet at Cape of Good Hope stamps…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 (Maximum Cards)

Two distinct groups of sailors manned the ships of the First Fleet. The naval vessels HMS Sirius and HMS Supply were manned by members of the Royal Navy. The six convict transports and three storeships were merchant vessels hired for the voyage and crewed by merchant seamen. On the envelope…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 People of the First Fleet – 37c Sailors

A Corps of Marines (naval soldiers) was raised to sail with the First Fleet. Their duties were to guard the convicts and to provide the defence of the New South Wales settlement. Several marines kept diaries throughout the voyage; the most informative of which are the diaries kept by Marine…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 People of the First Fleet – 37c Marines

Comparatively little is known of the civilians who sailed with the First Fleet. In the main they were the wives and children of the marines, and about twenty-four children of convicts. Others, like Arthur Bowes Smyth were surgeons; there was the chaplain, Richard Johnson, with his wife Mary; plus assorted…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 People of the First Fleet – 37c Civilians

Crimes punishable by transportation included the stealing of domestic animals, highway robbery, theft, forgery, vandalism and receiving stolen goods. The envelope shows a group of shackled convicts. In the background is a painting by Lieutenant William Bradley of the Fleet’s departure. Superimposed over the painting is an excerpt from a…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 People of the First Fleet – 37c Convicts

  Loading of livestock proceeds on the pier. Some of the animals can be seen in the foreground awaiting their turn to be taken on board. Details Series: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 Subject: Loading Livestock Designer: Sue Passmore, Australia Post Graphic Design Studio Printer: CPE Australia…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 – 37c Loading Livestock

  A marine checks his list of provisions to be loaded on board ship. In the background, Table Mountain looms over the neat rows of houses in the Dutch town.  Details Series: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 Subject: Provisions Designer: Sue Passmore, Australia Post Graphic Design…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 – 37c Provisions

  Fishermen pull their nets as two ships of the First Fleet approach the Cape. Details Series: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 Subject: Fishermen Designer: Sue Passmore, Australia Post Graphic Design Studio Printer: CPE Australia Ltd, Melbourne Process: Photolithography Colours:  Paper: Harrison’s stamp paper Perf: 13.25 Sheet: 50 stamps printed in two…

View More Australia Philately: 1987 The First Fleet: Cape of Good Hope October 1787 – $1 Fishermen