Sporting Legends Issue released 12 October

This issue seemed to escape the attention of many (it was only advertised on the front page of Stamp Bulletin No 318).

Olympian Susie O'Neill appears on Australia Post's new Sporting Legends stamps (released 12 October 2012). The issue is part of Australia Post’s Australian Legends program, and is created in partnership with the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The aim of the issue is to honour an outstanding Australian athlete who has made a significant contribution to our sporting culture.

Jo Muré designed the two 60c gummed stamps, which were issued in sheetlets of 10 (no self-adhesives were issued). McKellar Renown printed the stamps. It is not yet known if this will be an annual issue or not.

New International Rates from 22 October

Australia Post will adjust the price for its higher weight steps from 22 October.

The major change is the combining of the current 50-125 gram and 125-250 gram weight steps into a broader 50-250 gram step. For those sending heavier items overseas it will now cost less, but for those sending lighter items that don't just fit into the much cheaper 0-50 gram step the increase is significant.

The table below gives the new rates:

Peter Rabbit and Mr Men and Little Miss Stamps Arrive

Coinciding with Stamp Collecting Month the Peter Rabbit pack and Mr Men and Little Miss booklets have arrived in post offices.

Specialised collectors will find much to interest them. The Peter Rabbit pack is the first time the Filigree stamp has been printed with a tab, and all but one of the 20 stamps in the Mr Men and Little Miss booklets are new (all but one have a '2012' micro date included in the design).

Collectors wanting a single Filigree stamp or a set of 20 stamps from the Mr Men and Little Miss booklets should contact me at stamps@chrisdehaer.com.au

Enlargement showing the '2012' micro printed date:

Pane from one of the Mr Men and Little Miss booklet:

Seems they won't :(

Seems Australia Post won't be releasing the Wilderness issue as Personalised Stamps™. A real shame given previous landscape issues were available as Personalised Stamps™.

Having said that, the above stamps weren't available through the Personalised Stamps™ service until two days after the issue date.

Will they or won't they?

On Tuesday, 25 September, Australia Post will release three new International Post stamps.

The question is will the $1.65 and $2.35 values be released as Personalised Stamps™ or not? Australia Post Philatelic has not been able to confirm if they will be or not. Guess, we'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out.

Just in case they are, here's my preliminary designs:

Remember I offer a personalised stamp standing order service. For more information e-mail at stamps@chrisdehaer.com.au

More Postmarks

I've mentioned the occasional postmark in my Stamp News column. New permanant postmarks have been released for Terang and Wilsons Promontory Lighthouse (see http://shop.auspost.com.au/collectables/collectors/postmarks/permanent) and Temporary ones for Nhill, Trafalgar and Hobart Stamp Show (see http://shop.auspost.com.au/collectables/collectors/postmarks/temporary)

For more information on these see http://www.ozpictormarks.blogspot.com.au/

Stamp Bulletin No. 318 Online

Stamp Bulletin No. 318 is now available from http://shop.auspost.com.au/collectables/collectors/publications/stamp-bulletin/current

What do you think of the upcoming issues?

Self-adhesive First Day Covers

Seems my Stamp News article on the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness FDC has sparked some comments and interest in first day covers for self-adhesive stamps.

Australia Post only produces first day covers of self-adhesive stamps when the stamps are produced in a roll. If the issue consists of just a self-adhesive booklet/sheetlet, then no first day covers are produced (this is due to production issues). Some collectors, who buy one of everything from Australia Post don't seem to mind the 'gaps', but others do.

To help, I've started to put on my online shop my self-adhesive stamp FDCs. These use the actual FDC for the issue and are postmarked with the official first day of issue postmark. I have a small stock of each, and requests for others from 2011 and 2012 are welcome.

For more information visit http://stamps.chrisdehaer.com.au/shop/au2012fdc.shtml

Sorry about the lack of new postings

Things have been rather hectic here of late. However, I'm redoubling my efforts to blog any information I receive on Australian stamps here.

Surprise New Stamps in ANZAC Minisheet?

If the image on Australia Post's website is correct the semi-imperforate ANZAC miniature sheet contains a big surprise - two $1 stamps. Australia Post has confirmed this is right, but as I have yet to see one 'in the flesh' it will be interesting to see if the same perforation comb was used as the perforated miniature sheet. If so it means the two $1 stamps will be completed perforated, which means they can be removed from the sheet and used for postage. I'll update this listing when I see the actual pack.

New Issues for May-June 2012

Australia Post has released a list of new issues for May and June 2012. Nice to see another issue in the Farming Australia series, and two more territorial issues. The next Stamp Bulletin should be available soon.

Issue Date	Title	Type
1/05/2012	Christmas Island Ferns	Stamp issue
8/05/2012	Underwater World	Stamp issue
22/05/2012	Skies of Cocos	Stamp issue
5/06/2012	Olympic Games - The Road to London	Stamp issue
12/06/2012	Farming Australia - Part II	Stamp issue
19/06/2012	Colonial Heritage - Visualising Australia	Stamp issue
26/06/2012	ONJ Cancer & Wellness Centre Appeal	Charity stamp issue