Postage stamps and postal history of Western Australia: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Inverted Swan.jpg|right|thumb|The [[Inverted Swan]], 1855.]] |
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[[File:Inverted Swan.jpg|thumb|The 1855 [[Inverted Swan]]]] |
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[[Western Australia]], a state of [[Australia]] and formerly a British colony, established its [[postal service]] soon after the British settled in 1829; in December of that year, [[Fremantle]]'s harbourmaster was appointed [[postmaster]]. A [[post office]] in [[Albany, Western Australia |
[[Western Australia]], a state of [[Australia]] and formerly a British colony, established its [[postal service]] soon after the British settled in [[1829]]; in December of that year, [[Fremantle]]'s harbourmaster was appointed [[postmaster]]. A [[post office]] in [[Albany, Western Australia]] opened on 14 October 1834, and the main post office moved to [[Perth]], in [[1835]].<ref name=stampatlas>{{cite book |author1=Rossiter, Stuart |author2=Fowler, John |authorlink=Stuart Rossiter |title=The Stamp Atlas |publisher=Macdonald & Co (Red Cat) |date=1989 |location=London |pages=183 |isbn=0-7481-0309-0 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article641075 |title=FIRST SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO. |newspaper=[[The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal]] |volume=III |issue=109 |location=Western Australia |date=31 January 1835 |accessdate=24 June 2024 |page=433 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> |
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==First stamps== |
==First stamps== |
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[[File:Stamp-Western Australia 1854 1d Black Swan imperf.jpg|thumb|This 1d Black Swan stamp was the first one issued in Western Australia.]] |
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The colony issued its first [[postage stamp]] on 1 August 1854. The 1d black stamp featured the [[black swan]], a design used for most of the colony's later stamps as well. This stamp was engraved in England and printed by [[Perkins Bacon]]; later in the year, local lithographer Horace Samson produced 4d and 1sh values by taking an impression of the 1d's swan vignette and adding different frames. Alfred Hillman's mistake in the repair of the printing stones in 1855 resulted in the frame being inverted, yielding the extremely rare [[Inverted Swan]] error. |
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The colony issued its first [[postage stamp]] on 1 August [[1854]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38580690 |title=Relics left by early mariners, explorers and hardy pioneers, help to build up the history of our land DUMB—THEY YET SPEAK |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Western Australia)|Western Mail]] |volume=62 |issue=3,548 |location=Western Australia |date=26 June 1947 |accessdate=24 June 2024 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name=stampatlas/> The 1d black stamp featured the [[black swan]], a design used for most of the colony's later stamps as well. This stamp was engraved in England and printed by [[Perkins Bacon]]; later in the year, local lithographer Horace Samson produced 4d and 1sh values by taking an impression of the 1d's swan vignette and adding different frames. Alfred Hillman's mistake in the repair of the printing stones in 1855 resulted in the frame being inverted, yielding the extremely rare [[Inverted Swan]] error.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37673674 |title=WEST AUSTRALIAN STAMPS. |newspaper=[[Western Mail (Western Australia)|Western Mail]] |volume=XLIV |issue=2,269 |location=Western Australia |date=8 August 1929 |accessdate=24 June 2024 |page=38 |via=National Library of Australia}} </ref> In 1927 the locations of the nine known copies were listed in the Brisbane Telegraph. 1 - Collection of the Royal Family of Windsor. 2 - Tapling collection, British Museum. 3 - Leinster collection, Dublin Science and Art Museum. 4 - White collection, State Library of New South Wales. 5 - EH Collins. 6 - PR England. 7 - Dr HA James. 8 - JA Nix. 9 - L Meinertzhagen.<ref>Rare Stamps (1927, March 15). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 3 (5 O'CLOCK CITY EDITION).</ref> |
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==Later issues== |
==Later issues== |
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[[File:2shillingsWestAustralia.jpg|upright|thumb|"West Australia" two shillings issued in 1902]] |
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In 1857, Hillman produced 2d and 6d values of the swan design by imitating the existing stamps, though with the swan on a blank background, but these were only used until 1860 |
In 1857, Hillman produced 2d and 6d values of the swan design by imitating the existing stamps, though with the swan on a blank background, but these were only used until 1860 when Perkins Bacon plates of the 1854 design were used in Perth to print all values. |
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A new swan design, for the 3d value, appeared in 1872, and variations on it finally superseded the 1854 design starting in 1885, with a [[definitive series]] of eight values. |
A new swan design, for the 3d value, appeared in 1872, and variations on it finally superseded the 1854 design starting in 1885, with a [[definitive series]] of eight values. |
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After federation, the states continued to operate their |
After federation, the states continued to operate their postal systems, and 1902 saw a new series of swan definitives, along with stamps depicting [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Queen Victoria]] for the first time, on the values from 2 shillings to 1 pound. The Victorian stamps are also unusual in having the inscription read "WEST AUSTRALIA" instead of "WESTERN AUSTRALIA" as was the norm. These stamps continued in daily use until Commonwealth stamps were issued in 1913. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{PostalhistoryOceania}} |
{{PostalhistoryOceania}} |
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[[Category:Western Australia]] |
[[Category:History of Western Australia]] |
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[[Category:Philately of Australia]] |
[[Category:Philately of Australia]] |
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[[Category:Postal history of Australia]] |
[[Category:Postal history of Australia]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:48, 17 August 2024
Western Australia, a state of Australia and formerly a British colony, established its postal service soon after the British settled in 1829; in December of that year, Fremantle's harbourmaster was appointed postmaster. A post office in Albany, Western Australia opened on 14 October 1834, and the main post office moved to Perth, in 1835.[1][2]
First stamps
[edit]
The colony issued its first postage stamp on 1 August 1854.[3][1] The 1d black stamp featured the black swan, a design used for most of the colony's later stamps as well. This stamp was engraved in England and printed by Perkins Bacon; later in the year, local lithographer Horace Samson produced 4d and 1sh values by taking an impression of the 1d's swan vignette and adding different frames. Alfred Hillman's mistake in the repair of the printing stones in 1855 resulted in the frame being inverted, yielding the extremely rare Inverted Swan error.[4] In 1927 the locations of the nine known copies were listed in the Brisbane Telegraph. 1 - Collection of the Royal Family of Windsor. 2 - Tapling collection, British Museum. 3 - Leinster collection, Dublin Science and Art Museum. 4 - White collection, State Library of New South Wales. 5 - EH Collins. 6 - PR England. 7 - Dr HA James. 8 - JA Nix. 9 - L Meinertzhagen.[5]
Later issues
[edit]
In 1857, Hillman produced 2d and 6d values of the swan design by imitating the existing stamps, though with the swan on a blank background, but these were only used until 1860 when Perkins Bacon plates of the 1854 design were used in Perth to print all values.
A new swan design, for the 3d value, appeared in 1872, and variations on it finally superseded the 1854 design starting in 1885, with a definitive series of eight values.
After federation, the states continued to operate their postal systems, and 1902 saw a new series of swan definitives, along with stamps depicting Queen Victoria for the first time, on the values from 2 shillings to 1 pound. The Victorian stamps are also unusual in having the inscription read "WEST AUSTRALIA" instead of "WESTERN AUSTRALIA" as was the norm. These stamps continued in daily use until Commonwealth stamps were issued in 1913.
See also
[edit]References and sources
[edit]
- References
- ^ a b Rossiter, Stuart; Fowler, John (1989). The Stamp Atlas. London: Macdonald & Co (Red Cat). p. 183. ISBN 0-7481-0309-0.
- ^ "FIRST SCHEDULE ABOVE REFERRED TO". The Perth Gazette and Western Australian Journal. Vol. III, no. 109. Western Australia. 31 January 1835. p. 433. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Relics left by early mariners, explorers and hardy pioneers, help to build up the history of our land DUMB—THEY YET SPEAK". Western Mail. Vol. 62, no. 3, 548. Western Australia. 26 June 1947. p. 4. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "WEST AUSTRALIAN STAMPS". Western Mail. Vol. XLIV, no. 2, 269. Western Australia. 8 August 1929. p. 38. Retrieved 24 June 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ Rare Stamps (1927, March 15). The Telegraph (Brisbane, Qld. : 1872 - 1947), p. 3 (5 O'CLOCK CITY EDITION).
- Sources
- Stanley Gibbons Ltd: various catalogues
