Impressions™ 2015: The Final Items

Christmas 2015 Foiled Pack

Again Australia Post is issuing a limited edition foiled stamp pack containing this year's Christmas stamps.

The miniatures in the pack are (each sells for $49.95):

• Three sheets containing a block of four of the gummed stamps with foiled designs.
• A sheet containing four foiled self-adhesive stamps (2 x Present, 2 x Dove (65c and $1.70)).

Limited to: 500 packs

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Unknown

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper and self-adhesive

Special features: Each stamp is embellished

Availability date: 30 October 2015

Era of Sail Prestige Booklet ($29.95)

The write up for this prestige booklet makes the contents unclear. It is likely to contain four gummed panes featuring each stamp in a block of four, and a pane printed on silk with self-adhesive gum containing all four stamps.

Limited to: 500 booklets

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Unknown

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper and self-adhesive

Special features: Self-adhesive stamps are printed on silk

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Era of Sail Gold Foiled Stamps ($99.00)

Lastly, the usual gold foiled stamps this year reproduce the Era of Sail stamps. These gold foil stamps are valid for postage, but at almost $25 a stamp, you'd never use them!

Limited to: 250 collections

Stamp size: 37.5 mm x 26 mm

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Unknown

Paper: Unknown

Special features: Gold foiling

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Update 1 (28 October 2015): Changed availability date to 26 October 2015, reflecting the first day these went on sale.
Update 2 (30 October 2015): Changed availability date of Christmas Pack to 30 October 2015, reflecting the first day this went on sale.

Impressions™ 2015: More Coin and Miniature Sheet Packs

Last year Australia Post joined with Perth Mint to release three gold coin and imperforate miniature sheet packs; and again the two have joined up again.

The three packs are (each sells for $89.00):

• 45c Kangaroo stamp and Perth Mint coin (coin sold at $59.50 by Perth Mint)
• 49c Wedge-tailed Eagle stamp and Perth Mint coin (coin sold at $59.50 by Perth Mint)
• 45c Koala stamp and Perth Mint coin (coin sold at $59.50 by Perth Mint)

Limited to: 75 of each pack

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be digital due to the small print run

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Each design is imperforate, and includes a micro printed '2015' date

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Update 1 (28 October 2015): Changed availability date to 26 October 2015, reflecting the first day these went on sale.

Impressions™ 2015: 2015 Multisheets

Every year I always look forward to the Multisheets. These sheets can contain a few surprises, numerous varieties, and are always excellent value for money. This year's sheets are no different.

Limited to: 500 sets of four sheets

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown (likely to be RA Printing)

Printing Process: Lithography

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Availability date: Likely 30 October 2015 (the issue date of the Christmas stamps)

Update 1 (30 October 2015): As predicted these were placed on sale from 30 October 2015.

Impressions™ 2015: More Special Collections

Apart from the number of coin and stamp products, another thing notable about the 2015 Impressions™ range is number of 'Special Collections'.

Tourist Transport Collection (sold for $49.95)

Contains two numbered miniature sheets, each containing either a block of four of the horse drawn tram or Puffing Billy. These sheets are the only source of these stamps in blocks of four.

Limited to: 200 collections

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be digital due to the small print run and numbering

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Unlikely

Availability date: 2 November 2015

Lighthouses Special Collection (sold for $69.96)

This collection contains another limited edition and numbered new miniature sheet.

Limited to: 200

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be digital due to the small print run and numbering

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Unlikely

Availability date: Likely to be 2 November 2015

Lighthouses Miniature Sheet Collection (sold for $49.95)

But wait there's another Lighthouses collection... this time a five miniature sheets collection, and unsurprisingly the sheet in the above collection is not included in this one.

Limited to: 500

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be lithography

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Unlikely

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Signs of Our Times Collection (sold for $49.95)

This collection is the same as the Signs of Our Times pack released earlier this year, but with the sheetlets embellished with holographic foil. It remains to be seen if the stamps are different to the original sheet stamps.

Limited to: 200

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be lithography with embellishments applied afterwards

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Embellishments

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Collections Australia Special Edition Stamp Pack (sold for $54.95)

Contains five new miniature sheet (embellishments to be advised):

• an imperforate version of the regular miniature sheet

• a miniature containing a block of four of the Endeavour Anchor stamp with ? embellishment

• a miniature containing a block of four of the Welcome Stranger Replica stamp with ? embellishment

• a miniature containing a block of four of the Automatic Totaliser stamp with ? embellishment

• a miniature containing a block of four of the Turtle stamp with ? embellishment

Limited to: 300

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Unknown

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Unlikely

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Update 2 (28 October 2015): Issue date of the Lighthouse Miniature sheet, Signs of Our Times and Collections of Australia pack changed to 26 October to reflect the first day of availability.

Update 2 (31 October 2015): The Lighthouses Special Collection has been removed from the webshop. It is possible this item has been removed as it will not be available until after 2 November 2015, however the Tourist Transport Collection has not been removed. It is not yet known if this item will return or if it now only available via phoning up the Philatelic Bureau.

Update 3 (2 November 2015): The Tourist Transport pack has gone on sale from 2 November.

Update 4 (9 November 2015): The Lighthouses Special Collection is available to order from Australia Post. According to mail order the item was removed from the online shop by mistake.

Impressions™ 2015: Solar System Collectables

While the Solar System issue received excellent feedback from collectors, the follow Impressions™ items may elicit a mixture of responses.

There are at least four different limited edition Solar System items available.

Solar System Miniature Sheet Collection (sold for $89.95)

Contains eight miniature sheets, each containing either two (Jupiter and Saturn) stamps, or four stamps (other planets). The Mercury and Mars sheets are the only source of these stamps in a strip or block of four.

Limited to: Unknown

Sheet size: 38 mm x 54 mm

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be digital due to the small print run The sheets appear to be lithographed

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Unlikely

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Solar System Imperforate Sheets

This year we have not one, but two imperforate press sheets. These will no doubt be very popular with space collectors, and I encourage collectors to get in early to secure their pair. The selling price of these is again very reasonable - $99 for the miniature sheet press sheet (face value of $73.50) and $119 for the 35c sheets (face value of $105). The two sheets can be purchased together for $195 (saving $23). If you have ordered the two sheets separately, Australia Post mail order should pick this up and refund you the $23. If they haven't please phone mail order.

Limited to: 250 of each sheet

Printer: As regular issue

Printing Process: As regular issue

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Imperforate

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Our Solar System Special Collection (sold for $69.95)

Contains one miniature and two covers. The miniature sheet is said to be imperforate and embellished. Whether there is any difference between the sheet in this collection and from the imperforate press sheets above remains to be seen.

Limited to: 250

Sheet size: Same as original issue

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Unknown

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Imperforate and embellished

Availability date: Unknown (likely to be 2 November 2015)

Update 1 (28 October 2015): Changed availability date for two items to 26 October 2015, reflecting the first day these went on sale. Noted discounted price for buying the two imperforate sheets together.

Update 2 (31 October 2015): The special medallion cover (not listed above) featuring three medallions and a (regular?) miniature sheet with a gold foiled postmark has been removed from the webshop. It is not yet known if this item will return or if it now only available via phoning up the Philatelic Bureau.

Update 3 (2 November 2015): The medallion cover has returned to the webshop from this date.

Update 4 (10 November 2015): Printing process added for the miniature sheet pack; information added about refunds to those collectors who purchased the two imperforate sheets separately.

Impressions™ 2015: Centenary of WWI Coin and Miniature Sheet Packs

Unfortunately you can have too much of a good thing at times. Again Australia Post will release several coin and imperforate miniature sheets packs (all limited to 150).

There are four packs (each sells for $34.95):

• 70c Centenary of Military Aviation stamp with Royal Australian Mint (RAM) 50c Australian Flying Corps coin (coin sold by RAM for $10)
• $5 Centenary of First Victoria Cross Medal stamp with RAM 50c Boer War coin (coin sold by RAM for $10)
• 70c Centenary of Military Submarines stamp with RAM 50c German New Guinea coin (coin sold by RAM for $10)
• 70c Sydney/Emden Engagement stamp with RAM 50c Battle of Cocos Islands coin (coin sold by RAM for $10)

Limited to: 150 of each pack

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Likely to be digital due to the small print run, and the numbering

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Each design is imperforate, and includes a micro printed '2015' date (though the $5 stamp probably doesn't)

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Update 1 (28 October 2015): Changed availability date to 26 October 2015, reflecting the first day these went on sale.

Impressions™ 2015: Centenary of Lone Pine Medallion Album

Technically not part of the Impressions™ range, this item first appear in the November-December 2015 Stamp Bulletin, but is listed here due to its limited nature (sold for $45.95).

The album includes a medallion and for the first time Australia Post has produced a miniature sheet featuring wood from the Australian War Memorial's Lone Pine tree.

Limited to: 3000 albums

Sheet size: Unknown

Printer: Unknown

Printing Process: Possibly lithographed. Wood is applied to the selvedge and the stamps.

Paper: Ordinary gummed paper

Special features: Wood from the Australian War Memorial's Lone Pine tree is attached to the miniature sheet.

Availability date: 26 October 2015

Update 1 (28 October 2015): Changed availability date to 26 October 2015, reflecting the first day these went on sale.
Update 2 (10 November 2015): Having received this pack, the printing process has been updated.