Australia

1913 Scott 1 & 2 1/2p green & 1p carmine "Kangaroo and Map"

Quick History

Update:

Recent Stamp Acquisitions: Australia 

The Commonwealth of Australia is a self governing Dominion of the British Commonwealth of Nations. The Commonwealth was formed in 1901,  and its stamps began in 1913.  Australia is made up of the former British Colonies of New South Wales,Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The Capital is Canberra, and the population was about 7 million in 1940.

Trivia; When you want to order Coffee in Australia, ask for a "Long Black"

Scott 25 & 63 1 1/2p emerald ('23) & chocolate('19) "King George V"

 1 1/2p emerald has wmk 9 "Wide Crown & Narrow A"

 1 1/2p chocolate has wmk 11 "Multiple Crown & A"

Big Blue Picture
On four pages, Big Blue (1969) has 90 stamp spaces.
The 2011 Scott Classic Specialized catalogue lists 335 major stamp varieties (156 regular issues, 6 air post, 70 postage due, and 113 official stamps).

Big Blue provides 26% coverage. But only including regular issues and air post, there is 52% coverage.

Wow! Where to start?

The Kangaroos are an interesting group of stamps to say the least. But the 12 kangaroo stamp spaces provided by Big Blue are problematic.

1) Big Blue's bias for earlier issues of a series is again evident: Big Blue asks for the 9p purple (Scott 9 ($30+)). That eliminates consideration for  the violet 9p stamps ( Scott 41 and 50) that follow. The Scott 50 is cheaper at $20+.

2) Lumping by Big Blue means the onus is on you and me to figure out what we have.
Big Blue provides space for kangaroo stamps  from 1913-25.  But they have lumped three different watermark series together -1913 wmk 8 (Scott 1-15), 1915 wmk 9 (Scott 38-44), and 1915-23 wmk 10 (Scott 45-59). In many cases, I list a Scott number from each of the three series as a choice to be put in the space. So better warm up the watermarking tray. Or you will have to trust the guy you are buying or trading from; as some are cheap, some are expensive.

3)Big Blue does not include the later Kangaroo stamp issues.
Big Blue has no place to put the 1929-30 and 1931-36 Kangaroo issues.  15 stamps! Yes the wmk 203 Scott 96-102,  and the wmk 228 Scott 113-129 have no home. True, many are expensive.  But Scott 122 9p Violet is $5+, $25 dollars less than  BB's choice of Scott 9p purple. Then there is Scott 125 2sh red brown for $2+, $30 less than BB's choice of  Scott 53 violet brown. So should you put these stamps in anyway to save some cash, even if not color or date eligible? Well, I won't tell. :-)

The King George V series, which Big Blue dates 1914-30, also has some minefields. Again, Big Blue lumps three series together:1924-27 wmk 9 Scott 19-37, 1918-23 wmk 11 Scott 60-63, and 1926-30 wmk 203 Scott 66-76. Watermarking anyone? Then because of year of issue constraints,  Big Blue  leaves out 8 stamp varieties in the 1931-36 wmk 228 Scott 113-120 series.

The result?
The Scott  114 1p green is <$1, less than the chosen Scott 67 or 23 at $1+-$2+.
The Scott 116 2p red is <$1, cheaper than the chosen $2+ Scott 28 or 71.
The Scott 117 3p ultramarine is $1+, less than the chosen $5+ Scott 30 or 72.
The Scott 118 4p olive bistre is $1+, a bargain compared to the chosen $5+-$10+ Scott 73 or 34
The Scott 120 5p brown buff is $1+, cheaper than the chosen Scott 36 orange brown at $5+.

 Even if one is not putting  the 1931-36 Scott 113-120 stamps into Big Blue, one has to be aware of their orphan status.

Are there more stamps of Australia, that meet Big Blue's inexpensive criteria? Well, after filling the 91 spaces in Big Blue, I've identified, in total, 80 stamps that would interest me.

There are multiple choices presented for the Kangaroos and King George V issues, so one could pick up those not initially taken, and  put the different watermark issues on supplemental sheets.

I'll mention here some additional Kangaroos that could be collected ,besides the ones already discussed. Since I really am attracted to the Kangaroo stamps, as well as the King George V series, the price tolerance is high. The Scott 52 ($20+) 2sh brown is a color not included in Big Blue's selection. Additional orphan Kangaroos include the 6p yellow brown Scott 121 ($20+), 6p brown Scott 96 ($20+), 9p violet Scott 97 ($20+), 1sh blue green Scott 98 ($10+), and the 5sh yellow & gray Scott 1216 ($20+).

Additional King George V stamps, besides those given as choices in the checklist, include the 1p rose Scott 61 ($10+), 1p dark green Scott 62 ($5+), 1 1/2p carmine Scott 65 ($5+), 5p brown buff Scott 75 ($10+), and the 1sh 4p light blue Scott 37 ($30+). Two surcharged issues that could be added are the 2p on 1 1/2 rose red Scott 106 ($1+), and the 5p on 4 1/2p dark violet Scott 107 ($10+).

Additional "orphan" King George V stamps, beside Scott 114,116,117,118,120 (which I have already mentioned as not only being left out, but cheaper than Big Blue's choices), are 1/2p orange Scott 113 ($5+), 1 1/2p red brown Scott 115 ($5+), and the 1sh 4p light blue Scott 124 ($5+).

Regular postage issues that could be added include Scott 105,133, and 177 ($2+-$5+).

There are about fifteen postage due stamps (J1,J2,J3,J10,J11,J24,J50,J51,J52,J53,J54,J55,J64,J65,J68) available for $1+-$5+.

Eighteen overprinted and perforated Official stamps are available for less than $4. (OA2,OB19,OB21,OB23,OB24,OB25,OB26,OB27,OB 31, OB49,OB51,OB63,OB66,OB67,OB68,O6,O7,O12)

1934 Scott 143 & 144 3p blue & 1sh black

Centenary Of Victoria: "Yarra Yarra Tribesmen, Yarra River, and View of Melbourne"

Big Blue Checklist
1913-25 Kangaroos (Total: 12 stamps)
1/2 p green Scott 1 ($5+)
1p carmine(1) Scott 2 ($1+)
2p gray Scott 3 or 45 or 38 ($5+-$10+)
2 1/2p dark blue Scott 46 or 4 or 39 ($10+-$30+)
3p olive bistre die I Scott 47 or 5 ($5+-$10+)
4p orange Scott 6 ($35)
5p orange brown Scott 7 ($44)
6p ultamarine(II) Scott 48 or 40 or 8 ($10+-$20+)
6p yellow brown Scott 49 ($5+)
9p purple Scott 9 ($30+)
1sh blue-green Scott 51 or 10 or 42 ($10+-$30+)
2sh violet brown(II) Scott 53 ($30+)

Note: There are multiple shades (minor Scott numbers) for each denomination.
Note: There are four ( Die I-IV) dies in the series.
Note: There are two constraints by Big Blue that rule out some stamps and series: Date of Issue, and specified color.
Note: Series are:
1913 wmk 8 (Scott 1-15)
1915 wmk 9 (Scott 38-44)
1915-23 wmk 10 (Scott 45-59)
1929-30 wmk 203 (Scott 96-102)-R/O for BB because of date.
1931-36 wmk 228 (Scott 121-129)-R/O for BB because of date.

1913-14 King George V
17 ($4+)
Note: This engraved unwatermarked  1p "carmine" King George V issue is often confused in collections with the less expensive typographed (wmk 3) 1p "red" King George V from the series below. Check for watermark.

1914-30 King George V ( Total: 21 stamps)
1/2 p emerald Scott 19 ($1+)
1/2 p orange Scott 66 or 20 ($2+)
1p red Scott 21 ($1+)
1p violet Scott 22 ($1+)
1p green Scott 67 or 23 or 64 ($1+-2+)
1 1/2p emerald Scott 25 ($2+)
1 1/2p chocolate Scott 24 or 63 ($2+)
1 1/2 pence scarlet Scott 26 ($1+)
1 1/2 red brown Scott 69 ($2+)
2p brown orange Scott 27 ($2+)
2p red Scott 28 or 71 ($2+)
3p red brown Scott 70 or 29 ($2+-$10+)
3p ultramarine Scott 72 or 30 ($5+)
4p orange Scott 31 ($2+)
4p violet Scott 32 ($10+)
4p light ultramarine Scott 33 ($10+)
4p olive bistre Scott 73 or 34 ($5+-$10+)
4 1/2p violet Scott 35 ($5+)
5p orange brown Scott 36 ($5+)
1sh 4p pale turquoise blue Scott 76 ($30+)
Blank space: suggest choice not taken before, or 1 1/2p rose red Scott 68 or 4 1/2p dark violet Scott 74  ( $1+-$5+)

Note: There are different dies of the one penny, and two,three and five pence.
Note: Four major series:
1924-27 wmk 9 Scott 19-37
1918-23 wmk 11 Scott 60-63
1926-30 wmk 203 Scott 66-76
1931-36 wmk 228 Scott 113-120; R/O for BB because of date
Note: Again two constraints by Big Blue that rule out some stamps and series: Date of issue and specified color.

1927
94 (<$1)

1928
95($5+)

1929
103($1+)

1930
104,105 ($1+-$5+)

1931-32
139,111,112,130* or 133,131 ($1+-$5+)
*Note: 2p red "Sydney harbor Bridge" is found engraved, unwmk (Scott 130), or Typo, wmk 228 (Scott 133). BTW, Scott 132 5sh of this issue, and not in BB, is $500 mint/$300 used!

1932
141 ($2+)

1934
142,143, ($1+-$5+)
144 ($20+)

1935
150 (<$1)

1934
147,148, ($1+-$10+)
149 ($30+)

1936
157,158 (<$1-$2+)

1936
159,160,161 (<$1-$5+)

1937
163,164,165 (<$1-$10+)

1935
152,153 (<$1-$5+)

1940
184,185 ($1)
186,187 ($5+-$10+)

1937-38
166,167(<$1)
168 ($5+)
169 (<$1)
170 ($20+)
171,172,173,174,175,176 (<$1-$1+)

1938
180,182,183 (<$1-$4)

Air Post
1929
C1 ($5+)

1931
C2,C3 ($5+-$10+)

1934-37
C5 or C4  ($1+-$5+)

Postage Due
1909
J39a or J39 ($10+-$20+)
J40, J41, J42,  J43 ($5+, $5, $10+,$10+ respectively)
Blank space: suggest J45 or J44 ($5+-$10+)

1932 Scott 131 3p blue "Sydney Harbour Bridge"

Kinds of Blue
The 1997 edition and the 1969 edition are identical.
Compared to the 1969 edition, the 1947 edition is the same.
Compared to the 1969 and 1947 editions, the 1941 edition has this difference.


Deletion
1938
180,182,183 (<$1-$2+)


Big Blue Bottom Line
Who doesn't like Kangaroos?


Note February 24, 2011: I happened to be looking at the postage dues , and realized I had put down the wrong issue for Big Blue. This has now been corrected in the checklist. Big Blue  is asking, in my opinion, for the green & carmine 1909 postage due issues J39-J43 & blank space (suggested J44 or J45), rather than J50-J55 ($2+-$5+). This is in some ways unfortunate, as J39-J45 is more expensive, with the catalogue cost of filling the spaces now at a minimum of $58, rather than the former cost of $25. The J50-J55 issues are of different watermarks, but the same design and color as the 1909 issues. But in fact these issues were used from 1922-30.


Why do I think the 1909 postage due issue was intended? Because it is listed thus:


Postage dues
1909


Generally, Big Blue will put a range of years if it wishes us to consider several subsequent issues of the same design and color for the space. It then would have listed it thus;


Postage dues
1909-1930


So could we fix it? Well, of course, it is our own album. Write in  a "1930", and put the cheaper issue in.  :-)


Again, Big Blue tends to ask for the first issue, which often is more expensive to acquire. A subsequent less expensive issue, in this case only essentially differing by watermark, is ignored.

Links
Australia 'Roos - Watermarks & Dies
Australia Georges - the KGV stamps
Australia - Bud's Big Blue


Comments appreciated!