South Australia - Bud's Big Blue

1855-72 South Australia in Bud's Big Blue

Bud's Big Blue

Bud's Observations

(From Jim: Bud is well, but has a lot of non philatelic obligations and responsibilities at the moment. With his permission, I will upload  country pages in his complete '69 Big Blue that so far has not been shown. He might add his observations later. Enjoy!)

Jim's Observations

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..

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.

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!

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. 

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

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%. The coverage rate is low in BB, but, admittedly, Big Blue '69, on one page, has 32 spaces for the 1855-1912 stamps of South Australia. No official stamps are included.

Coverage is a low 13%. Admittedly, the CV prices for South Australia is high.

The '69 edition BB 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. 

For more on the stamps themselves, as well as the checklist, click on the link below.

South Australia Blog Post & BB Checklist

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Supplements

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