The Postage Due Stamps of Australia from 1890

A Presentation to The Royal Philatelic Society London by Paul Fletcher

Thursday 23rd February 2006

Historically, collectors have paid less attention to postage due stamps than to postage stamps, although this pattern has changed in recent years. A few notable collectors had formed a different view and regarded the postage due stamps as an intrinsic part of a country's philately. For, while they do not carry letters, the tax they signify includes a postage component and, should that tax not be paid 'The letters will be carried no farther!"(J.R.W. Purves RDP FRPSL, 1961)

Postage due stamps were adopted by most countries at some time and their use proliferated from the latter part of the 19th century through the first half of the 20th century. While the postage due stamps of only a few countries provide sufficient technical substance to form a major philatelic study, the issues of Australia are among those that do.

From an Australian Commonwealth perspective, the postage dues may be regarded as the "classic"issues of the island continent, being the first stamps of uniform design, the first to be inscribed "Australia"and pre-dating the Kangaroo and Map postage stamps by nearly 11 years. They also comprise many of the basic stamp rarities of the Commonwealth.

The rarity and technical aspects of The Postage Due Stamps of Australia make them one of the most important postage due issues of the 20th century and arguably the most philatelically challenging postage due stamp issues of the world.

A listing of some of the more important items in the display and a note on significant/interesting aspects of each Series.

Victoria (1890-1909)

The first bicolour postage dues in the world and the second British Empire country to issue postage due stamps.

Frame 1

Die Proofs - two of three known examples (no NSW or Commonwealth die proofs exist in private hands).
The earliest known postage due Cover of Australia (Victoria 1d and 4d values, with ½d postage stamp).
Unused multiples (pairs) of the First Series high values.
"Specimen"overprints on the First Series complete showing both states of the handstamp.
First Series 2/- on Cover (the only recorded example).

Frame 2 (pages 1-6)

Fourth Series 2/- and 5/- unused blocks of four (the largest multiples in private hands).
Fourth Series 1/- block of four on Cover (the only known multiple on Cover).
1904 Bulk Postage Docket, with Postage Due stamps used for the prepayment of postage.
Unissued 5d unused and CTO (nine and four copies respectively are known in private hands).
Fifth Series ½d comb perf 12½x12 compound with line perf 11, unused and used.
New South Wales (1891-1902)
"Plagiarised"from the USA design and the third British Empire country to issue postage due stamps.

Frame 2 (pages 7-9)

"Deficient Postage on Registered Letter"Docket (three examples are known, two in private hands).
The earliest known Cover bearing a NSW postage due (2d).

Frame 3

ld imperforate between pair, first reported by the exhibitor in 2004 (the only known example).
"Specimen"presentation set to the Governor of Fiji, from the Postmaster-General, Sydney.
6d watermark reversed single and block of four (the only recorded examples).
Unused multiples (pairs) of the 5/-, 10/- and 20/- values (the only known multiples).
1893 Embossed Presentation Sheet for Postage Due Stamps.

Commonwealth of Australia (1902-1963)

First Series (from 1902) - Provisional issue, printed from modified New South Wales plates.

Frame 4

Combination Colonial and Commonwealth postage due usage on Cover.
The earliest known Cover bearing a Commonwealth postage due (1d).
½d electro block of 30 showing cracked plate on one cliché (the only known example).
1d perf 11 on Cover (the only recorded example).
1d paying Customs Duty on 1905 "Book Post"wrapper.
6d right pane of 60 showing "NSW"incompletely erased on one cliché.
8d block of four on Cover (the only known multiple on Cover).
Second Series (from 1902) - Permanent issue, printed from new plates.

Frame 5

The earliest known Cover bearing a Second Series postage due (5d).
1d and ½d values paying Late Fees on Ship Letters
"Returned Unclaimed Letter"bearing 1d (2) demonstrating contemporary use of different perforation gauges.
UPU Specimen stamps - vertical overprint pairs (the only known multiples); horizontal overprint showing all known watermark and perforation configurations; and examples showing receipt by Foreign Postal Administrations.
Frame 6 (pages 1-2)
2/- (with 1/-) on Cover - the only known example on Cover, and illustrating possible confusion with pence values.
Comparison of cancellations found on the 10/- and 20/- values, including examples used at the Parcels Branch, Sydney (cancelled in violet) and one of two known Sydney cds in black on the 10/- denomination.
Third Series (from 1906) - "Crown over A"watermarked paper (significant of Commonwealth of Australia) introduced.

Frame 6 (pages 3-5)

The earliest known Cover bearing a Third Series postage due (1d).
1d perf 11 block of four (the largest recorded multiple).
2d pert 11 used (three manuscript cancelled examples are known).
4d perf 11 unused (three examples are known).
Fourth Series (1907) - Emergency printing by the NSW Government Printer on paper borrowed from Victoria.

Frame 6 (pages 6-7)

4d on Cover (the only known example).
4d and 6d values, no watermark error (the only known examples).
½d and 2d values used in Western Australia - unrecorded distribution, discovered by the exhibitor.
Fifth Series (1908-09) - Introduction of "stroke"after value to reduce confusion with pence values.

Frame 6 (pages 8-9)

2/- unused block of four (the only known multiple).
5/- used on piece (the only known example - no Fifth Series stamps are known on Cover);
5/- overprinted "Specimen"by Foreign Administration (the only known example).
10/- used at the Parcels Branch, Sydney (three examples are known).
Sixth Series (from 1909) - Adoption of the Victorian design; introduction of monograms by the C'wlth Stamp Printer.

Frame 7

1d block of six on linen 1909 "Customs Declaration"Parcel Tag, paying Delivery Fee
1d line pert 11 unused and used (two unused and several used copies are known).
1d line pert 12½ marginal block (the only known piece confirming the use of this machine on Sixth Series dues).
2d comb pert 12½x12 compound with line perf 11 unused and used (the only recorded examples).
1d Die II monogram single on postcard (the only known example of a monogram piece on Cover).

Frame 8

Identification by the exhibitor of the previously unrecorded occurrence of the placement of the "CA"and "JBC"monograms on both sides of the sheet for the 3d, 6d and 1/- denominations.
6d line pert 11 unused and used (the only examples in private hands - one other of each is in the Royal Collection).
1/- no monogram block of nine (the only known example).
5/- monogram block of twelve (the largest monogram multiple in private hands).
1/-, 2/- and 5/- values on Cover (the only known examples).
10/- "CA"monogram (three monogram singles are known).
£ 1 "JBC"monogram block of four (the only example in private hands - one other is in the Royal Collection);
£ 1 "CA"monogram single and pair (the only known examples).
Seventh Series (from 1913) - Thin paper, watermarked "Crown over double-lined A"; introduction of imprints.

Frame 9

½d line pert 12½ no monogram block of 30 (the only known example).
½d and 1d perf 11 watermark inverted and sideways inverted.
1d rose-red and green perf 14 "JBC"monogram (three monogram singles are known).
3d on Cover (two examples are known).
3d value plate offset blocks of four (the only recorded examples).
3d watermark sideways unused and used pairs (the only known multiples).

Frame 10

£ 1 postally used (two examples are known).
£ 1 "JBC"monogram block of six (the largest multiple in private hands).
1d carmine and yellow-green perf 14 compound with 11 (the only recorded example).
1d and 2d carmine and yellow-green "T.S. Harrison"two-line imprints (only known examples).
4d on Cover (the only known example).
4d watermark sideways block of six (the largest known multiple).
4d watermark sideways block of four with retouch (the only known example).
10/- "CA"monogram block of six (the largest multiple in private hands).
Eighth Series (from 1922) - Use of "Third Watermark"(Kangaroo and Map) paper; _frame plates separated into two panes.

Frame 11

2d imperforate at left with part Imprint (three examples are known).
3d Harrison Imprints (three examples are known).
4d imperforate at right (two used examples are known).
4d Harrison Imprints (the only known examples).
6d Harrison Imprints showing different value plate settings.

Frame 12 (page 1)

UPU Specimen stamps - receipt by Foreign Postal Administrations - Seventh Series 1/- (Bechuanaland) and Eighth Series ex.1½d (Madagascar).
Ninth Series (from 1931) - Use of "Crown C of A"watermarked paper; final printings from letterpress frame plates.

Frame 12 (pages 2-9)

1d perf 14 imperforate between pair (the only recorded example).
ld perf 11 imperforate at right (the only known unused example and the only known multiple).
2d perf 11 imperforate at left (three examples are known).
6d Imprint block of eight (the largest known example).
6d strip of four on Cover (the largest known multiple on Cover).

Main Entrance Display

1904 letter from the Commonwealth Postmaster General's Department, Sydney to the New South Wales Government Printer, forwarding "a set marked 'Specimen' of the new issue of Postage Due Stamps of this State without the letters 'N.S.W.' "
1925 Post Office form reverse used in Townsville as a receipt for "Landing charges and Com (Commonwealth) Tax on 120 parcels £13-10-0", bearing 1902-04 Second Series 5/- pert 12x11 blocks of thirty and twenty-four (the largest known multiples and very late usage).
1934 underpaid airmail letter England to New South Wales, the deficiency paid by Ninth Series 1d block of twelve (on reverse) and 9d Macarthur, the latter endorsed "Due"and initials without authority by the Postmaster at Oberon.
1950 registered letter from Albania to USA, re-directed to Papua New Guinea and taxed. Genuine (and rare) usage of Australian postage due stamps in the Territory following the Second World War and prior to the introduction of the Territory's own stamp series in 1952.