South Australia

1867 Scott 51 1sh deep brown "Victoria"

Quick History
The colony was proclaimed on December 28, 1836, intended for free immigrants, rather than a convict settlement. Much of the colony was arid or semi-arid, and the capital, (Port) Adelaide, was where most people settled, and to a lesser extent, along the south-eastern coast and the Murray River..

South Australia

Stamps were printed in 1855 by London's Perkins Bacon, and, from the same plates in 1856, locally, by Printer of Stamps, Adelaide.

Responsible Government was initiated in 1857.

South Australia, along with six other British colonies, united in 1901 to form the Commonwealth of Australia.

The population was 358,000 in 1901.

Wheat, wine and wool are the export products of South Australia.

South Australia 1916 Map

Stamps for South Australia continued to be used and produced until 1912, as a common stamp for the new Commonwealth of Australia (The "Roo") was not issued until 1913. In fact, the "colony" stamps of Australia were valid on postage until 1966!

1897 Scott 108 3p olive green, Perf 13, "Victoria"

Into the Deep Blue
The 2014 Scott Classic Specialized 1840-1940 catalogue has, for South Australia 1855-1912, 243 major number descriptions. Of those, 20 or 8% are CV <$1-$1+. Raising the bar to CV $10 yields 86 total. or 35%. Clearly, South Australia stamps are on the expensive side. The WW classical era collector may only have a "representative" collection. I know I do. ;-)

In addition, many of the catalogue issues are determined by various perforations/rouletting or watermarks- so careful attention to those details are required.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
12 Pence = 1 Shilling
20 Shillings = 1 Pound

1867 Scott 51 1sh deep brown, Perf 11 1/2, "Victoria"

This rather striking design of Queen Victoria (A1) was engraved by Perkins Bacon of London for South Australia in 1855, and used on forty-six (Scott) major or bolded minor number stamps between 1855-1884. The issues are rather complicated, with varying colors for the same denomination, and many different perforations found, besides imperforate and rouletted specimens. Wmk 6 "Star with Long Narrow Points"(mostly), and wmk 7 "Star with Short Broad Points" paper was used.

The stamps, CV wise, are also rather expensive with only six stamps <$10. Certainly, a specialist would enjoy these issues with all the complications!

1868 Scott 58 2p orange red, Wmk 72, Perf  10, "Victoria"

Between 1868-1906, the two pence denomination with this "A6" design can be found on fourteen stamps varying by color, perforation or rouletting, or watermark.

1876 Scott 64 1p green, Wmk 73

The one penny "A6" design was used on seven stamps between 1868-1906.They are determined mostly by large color differences, but also by watermark.

Top Left: Wmk 72 "Crown and S A, Letters Farther Apart"

Top Right: Wmk 7 "Star with Short Pointed Points"

Bottom Left: Wmk 73 "Crown and SA, Letters Close"

Bottom Right: Wmk 74 "Crown and Single-Lined A"

Speaking of watermarks, here are all the examples cited, except for the Wmk 6 "Star and Long Narrow Points".

1876 Scott 71 8p on 9p bister brown, Wmk 7

In 1876, the nine pence was overprinted "8 Pence" on a bister brown color. The regular nine pence denomination was issued in a rose lilac color.

This "A3" design nine pence was a favorite for surcharge, with six examples given a "ten pence" surcharge  between 1866-69.

1887 Scott 80 6p pale blue, Perf 10

Between 1883-90, a four stamp issue, each with a new design, was produced. The 6p pale blue, shown here, is perf 10, while the 1893 6p blue is perf 15. Both have Wmk 73.

1895 Scott 107 2 1/2p blue violet "Kangaroo, Palm"

Between 1895-97, an eight stamp issue, perf 13, was produced, including two new designs. The "Kangaroo, Palm" is shown here, while the "Coat of Arms" design fronts the Big Blue section.

1895 Scott 109 4p bright violet, Perf 13

The 1895-97 issue 4p bright violet design was originally issued in 1990 as a 4p violet with different perfs. It can also be found as a 4p green, but surcharged 2 1/2p in 1891 and 1893 with different perfs respectively.

1899 Scott 115 1p carmine , Wmk 73, Perf 13

The 1p carmine of 1899 was formerly issued in blue green (1875), green (1876), green (1893-perf 15), and green (1895-perf 13). No reason a nice design shouldn't be recycled. ;-)

1902 Scott 123 6p blue green (16-16.5 mm)

The "A19" design for the twelve stamp 1902-03 issue is characterized by a thinner letters for "Postage". Several of the stamps in this issue, including the one shown here, can have different lengths of the value inscription in the bottom tablet.

1904 Scott 134 2p purple, Perf 12 X 11 1/2

The 1904 two pence was issued in purple. Other issues for the two pence include orange red (eight examples with different rouletting/perfs), orange (three examples with different perfs), and purple (Perf 13). and purple (Wmk 74). If one doesn't like checking perfs or watermarks, one will not enjoy the issues of South Australia. ;-)

1906 Scott 138 8p ultramarine, Wmk 73

The "A20" design, used in 1904-08 (Wmk 73) on nine stamps, and in 1906-12 (Wmk 74) on nine stamps, is characterized by thicker letters for "Postage".

1906 Scott 144 1/2p green, Wmk 74, "Adelaide Post Office"

The 1/2 pence denomination, issued in 1899 (perf 13), 1904 (perf 12 X 11 1/2, Wmk 73), and 1906 (Wmk 74) has the distinction of showing a non-queen portrait: The Adelaide Post Office.

1906 Scott 150 4p red orange, Wmk 74

The "A20" design is found either as Wmk 73 or Wmk 74. But the "A20" 4p red orange denomination illustrated here is only found as Wmk 74.

1880-91 Scott O44 1p blue green, Wmk 73

Between 1868-74, the South Australia government departments overprinted regular issues in red, black or blue with the initials of the respective department (P. W. (Public Works), I.S. (Inspector of Sheep) etc). There were some 55 initials used for various departments on 25 different stamp issues. I wouldn't mind finding an "L.A." overprinted stamp for "Lunatic Asylum". ;-) Unfortunately, these stamps are quite expensive CV wise (Usually Hundreds), and out of reach of the casual WW collector.

But there were "O.S." overprinted stamps for general government use  beginning in 1874. The thicker "O.S." overprint shown here is found on 24 stamps between 1874-1890. Eight stamps are CV $2-$10.

1896 Scott O69 2p orange, Perf 13

A thinner "O.S." was used on 25 stamps between 1891-1897. One can find 13 stamps @ CV <$1-$10.

Deep Blue

1899 Issue, Wmk 73, in Deep Blue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has sixteen pages for the regular and official 1855-1912 stamps of South Australia. All major Scott numbers have a space. But there tends to be quite a few minor numbers in the Scott catalogue, often for color shades for a particular year of issue. And the bolded 24 minor numbers for perforation variations on major number 1867-74 Scott 41-53 are not given a space in Steiner. (Not that it would make that much difference to most WW collectors, as the CV for these bolded minor numbers range from $10+-$1000+.)

For the WW generalist, certainly Steiner should be adequate- too adequate really as many of my pages are empty. ;-)

For those taking a more than a casual interest in South Australia, the Stanley Gibbons catalogue and album page layout night be more appropriate.

1895 Scott 110 5p dull violet, Perf 13, "Coat of Arms"

Big Blue

Big Blue '69, on one page, has 32 spaces for the 1855-1912 stamps of South Australia. No official stamps are included.

Coverage is 13%. Considering the fairly expensive nature of South Australia stamps, the low coverage rate might be appropriate.

The page is located between Somalia (Italian Somaliland) and Somali Coast (Djibouti).

Several spaces can be filled by seven choices and nine choices!

There are five spaces with CV $10+ required: one of them is CV $45- the 1870 Scott 29 1p grayish green.

Checklist

1855-72

One penny (Illustrated): 1 or 5 or 10 or 14 or 15 or 28 or 29

Blank Space: (16)

1868-82

57 or 64,

Two pence (Illustrated): 54 or 55 or 56 or 58 or 60 or 61 or 61B or 62 or 65

(66),(72),75,(71),

1883

76,

1891

94,95,

1895-97

108,109,111,

1894

102 or 107, 103 or 110,

1895-97

105,106, (Choices not taken earlier: 107 or 110),

1899-1902 (Actually 1896-1902)

114,115,116,117,112,113,113B,

1900-12*

121 or 148 or 149, 122 or 150, 137 or 152, 124 or 124A or 138 or 153,

125 or 139 or 154, 127 or 140 or 155,

Comments

A) Expensive stamps ($10 threshold):

1870 Scott 29 1p grayish green ($45)

1882 Scott 75 1/2p on 1p green ($10+)

1876 (Scott 71) 8p on 9p bister brown ($10+) 

1896 Scott 113B 2sh carmine ($10+)

1903 Scott 124 8p ultramarine ($10+)

B) (   ) around a number indicates a blank space choice.

C) *1900-12- choices wmk 73 vs wmk 74

1895 Scott 106 2p orange , Perf 13, "Victoria"

Out of the Blue

Back in the 1990s, I started a collection of Australian States. I didn't get all that far, but the attraction to specialize in these well designed (and complex) issues is still strong.

Note: Maps appear to be in the public domain.

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