Australia - show your Decimal era, post 1966, commercial stamped covers

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 06 Jun 2010 17:35

Folks,

Here is another cover used by the Australian Army in Malaysia. This one is not quite so obvious. I have posted it before. ANZUK FPO (Field Post Office) 7 was used in Malaysia. These covers are extremely rare and desirable.

Tim

cmsau · Post by **cmsau** » 06 Jun 2010 17:39

Tim,

Very interesting indeed as all of these forces mail that I have seen so far bear Malaya/Malaysia stamps. Maybe other more experienced Malaysian collector could comment on this. Many of the FPO is quite common and this being a relatively modern cover, I believe the label should be common as well, but however very little census are being carried out on modern Malaysia materials, so keep your finger crossed!

Johnson

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 06 Jun 2010 17:42

Johnson,

The registerd label is an Australian one. Have you seen it used in conjunction with Malasian stamps? That would be interesting. I think the label would be very rare.

Tim

cmsau · Post by **cmsau** » 06 Jun 2010 17:50

Tim,

I think the registration label is a Malaysian label as majority of the registration labels in Malaysia come in this type of format/setting. Unfortunately I have not seen this label. But you could try posting on http://www.psmonline.org/forum/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or http://www.m-s-g.org.uk/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; for further comments on Malaysia materials.

cmsau · Post by **cmsau** » 06 Jun 2010 18:10

Tim,

Here is some of the Malaysian Registered labels.

I believe this type/format of labels was used from the early 60's to 70's as it was found from various location in many Malaysian states

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 06 Jun 2010 18:13

Johnson,

I am not an expert on registration labels at all but I would bet this is an Australian one. Perhaps others can comment. It does look similar to the format that you have posted. The FPO on this label must stand for Field Post Office and would be unique to the Australian Field Post office concerned.

Tim

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 07 Jun 2010 10:32

Any members here who collect recent commercial covers should check out

Prestige Philately Supp Lot 1140

AUSTRALIA: recent decimals on covers to the "Fight Cancer Foundation". Approx 15kg. (Qty QTY)

pertinax · Post by **pertinax** » 08 Jun 2010 18:38

How RARE is this:

"Inactive image - Link deleted by Moderator"

Scott

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 08 Jun 2010 18:39

Quite , i would say.

I have concentrated a bit on postcards and i dont have 1 from that set.

I have it as a solo on cover though. Dont have 2 do you.

Nice.

pertinax · Post by **pertinax** » 08 Jun 2010 18:49

pandadog28 wrote:Quite , i would say.

I know! As mentioned here before, the set was issued just before the letter rate went up to 18c - there is only a window of possible solo use of about 3½ weeks.

Unfortunately, the stamp is missing a corner - otherwise worth about $150-200 I would think.

Scott

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 08 Jun 2010 18:54

Has to be close to the 78 trees which was available for use as solos for about 28 days.

An amazing rate increase though and famous for that reason.

Certainly worth $100.

mstary1 · Post by **mstary1** » 08 Jun 2010 21:37

Nice on Scott.

I've got a similar one as well. Forgot all about it

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 08 Jun 2010 21:56

Another ripper, nice datestamp as well.

Brads64 · Post by **Brads64** » 11 Jun 2010 15:04

2 of my latest purchases

, one needed to complete a set

the other to add to a set in the making

.
Don't mind saying these are getting harder to find

, had a bidding war on these

ACSC lists them at the $10 mark, I think that price has long gone

Postmarks are good on covers although they didn't show up to good here

Cheers

Tracy

davo · Post by **davo** » 11 Jun 2010 16:13

A nice "Famous Australian Woman" single use, postmarked 15th Aug 1975, within the issue date (6th Aug 1975) and the rate inc date (1st Sept 1975). Also, fairly scarce 'Priority Paid Test Article' handstamp. Value??

I also another have another single use but postmarked after 1st Sept 1975 and therefore it was taxed 16c.

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 11 Jun 2010 16:18

Davo,

Nice cover, it looks a bit tatty and maybe opened 3 sides but i would say around the $100 mark.

pertinax · Post by **pertinax** » 11 Jun 2010 16:23

WOW Davo!

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 11 Jun 2010 16:44

A member here has asked a question about the above cover in this thread:

https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=19587" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 11 Jun 2010 17:17

Tas,

That's a ripper mate.

Kiwidude · Post by **Kiwidude** » 14 Jun 2010 20:29

Hi All,

Here is a portion of what I got on the weekend.Not sure if any are super rare but i'm sure people will let me know.I will be getting rid of these but i'm not sure which is best place ie Trade-me,Auction,or Members here.Tell me.

If the later.Martin(pandadog) will get first dibs as he has been helping me.But after the last torsen auction,Hard to work out prices.If anyone wants something.message me through the board.

With price in Australian dollars.I accept paypal,cash,bank deposit.I hope there's some for all to enjoy them.I have another 20-25 more.No 1978 trees.lol.

The dealer said as I was paying for them.He mean't to put the prices up but he forgot as he said These are going like hotcakes in australia & I said are they,lol.As Glen says
Knowledge is power.lol.Another page to follow,as I doesn't want to bigger downloads.

Cheers Peter

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 14 Jun 2010 20:36

Peter,

Pandadog28 (Martin) will be excited when he sees those.

Some great covers there.

pertinax · Post by **pertinax** » 14 Jun 2010 20:43

Nice. I especially like the gemstone combo uses, a couple more of which can be found here in my listings today:

http://shop.ebay.com.au/pertinax/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=12&_rdc=1

Scott

Kiwidude · Post by **Kiwidude** » 14 Jun 2010 21:03

Here's some more:

taxed cover with neat red handstamp T

Faint Paquebot across stamps 2nd class.Posted Brisane to New Zealand.Interesting
SS Cathay,London.! Australia stmp & 1 PNG.

Wheat

Australia stamp,Paquebot SS Oronsay,London to New Zealand.

Not seen a Solo or multi of this one on this thread.

Very Nice Solo 24cent.

Ill do some bulk ones tomorrow night.Hope you enjoy these.

Peter

Kiwidude · Post by **Kiwidude** » 14 Jun 2010 22:04

And more,since the batteries charged up enough.

Various xmas,71,78,73

greetings from ones.

12/18/24c rehab + 1974 25/30/75c native animals

Jack · Post by **Jack** » 15 Jun 2010 01:55

There is some solo stuff currently on the eBay UK site.

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 15 Jun 2010 09:30

Jack,

How about some links mate?

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 17 Jun 2010 18:18

Looks like the cover market is still going strong.

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=19587" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For sale on eBay right now, ending in 5 hours

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/AUSTRALIA-SOLO-5-MAWARRA-PRINTED-MATTER-SWITZERLAND-/200481874712" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Price up to $107.99 already.

Tinted color cover sent as printed matter air mail, 130 g noted, to Switzerland, and franked with solo use of the $5 MAWARRAâ€”VICTORIA. Postmarked KEW 5 VIC 3101 -4 MAR 1991. The stamp has eight semi-size perfs in the upper left area, please consult the detailed scan. This rather out-of-the-ordinary cover is, to top things off, addressed to the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union, Geneva, Switzerland, where it has received a courier receipt stamp of 8 MARS 1991. Australian air mail label in upper left corner.

"Inactive images - Links deleted by Moderator"

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 18 Jun 2010 19:42

Jack wrote:There is some solo stuff currently on the eBay UK site.

Still haven't seen those links mate...

A nice cover arrived today, nice to find the 20 cent fruit on ANY cover.

"Inactive image - Link deleted by Moderator"

mstary1 · Post by **mstary1** » 20 Jun 2010 22:08

Picked up 2 postcards for $2. Here's one, the other in living together thread

Post by **ozstamps** » 24 Jun 2010 00:06

Introducing .. THE most valuable Decimal cover or parcel piece or label in my view. A Data Card Australia Pty Ltd piece.

An exclusive to stampboards! 8)

Never been this in this country for many decades and I just sold it for a 4 figure sum.

Anyone care to guess WHY?.

Glen

traralgon3844 · Post by **traralgon3844** » 24 Jun 2010 00:11

IMHO It might be the 2 perf 14.78 X 14.10 $1 Navigators on piece.

Post by **ozstamps** » 24 Jun 2010 00:14

Sigh .. you'll never rise above Constable is my guess.

The real clue to the true value, Monsieur Poirot is here -

traralgon3844 · Post by **traralgon3844** » 24 Jun 2010 00:22

If they are 14.78 X 14.10 $1 Navigators then I would suspect it would be the earliest know use.

It was presumed the 14.78 X 14.10 $1 Navigators were issued in 'late' 1973.

EDIT: But then again there appears to be 3 different dates on the piece and all from Market Street.

Post by **ozstamps** » 24 Jun 2010 01:18

traralgon3844 wrote:
EDIT: But then again there appears to be 3 different dates on the piece and all from Market Street.

All are 28 MY 73

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 24 Jun 2010 08:29

Glen,

Scarce use of the $4 King.

If its for sale I would like to put my name on it please.

Tim

wolseley16/60 · Post by **wolseley16/60** » 24 Jun 2010 18:40

I know it may sound silly but does one Flinders have the early perforations & the other the later rare perforation hence the rarity of both different perforations on piece together within the time period ??????

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 24 Jun 2010 21:28

1975 Famous women. Issued 6 August 1975, a minute 21 days before the famous rate increase to 18 cents.

"Two inactive images - Links deleted by Moderator"

Post by **ozstamps** » 25 Jun 2010 00:36

In 30 years of dealing I never have seen even one! Be a TOUGH one for the useage fans to track down!

I had read now and again, that there was a 'free postage' rate for blind people, but had never seen a cover.

Today I got not one, but TWO as you can see with 'June 20 - 10' ink jet cancels under a hand-stamped "POSTAGE FREE MATERIAL FOR THE BLIND" at top right.

Sender was from Narre Warren Victoria, according to his sender handstamp on back. Contents the same I assume, altho I only opened one. both addressed slightly differently - taken from a media directory I'd guess.

Inside was a NINE page closely typed letter. ( I kid you not!)

From someone who states he is legally blind, and uses a seeing eye dog.

So who typed it I have no idea, but it is expertly done, and MANY hours were involved for sure.

He seems to be complaining that someone he befriended in prison when visiting in a charity role, has been banned from contacting him anymore, and wants folks to write to Govt to change things.

Anyway, they came to my PO Box, and out of interest I showed them to my postmaster and asked if he had ever seen such a marking.

He said in all his time, he has seen TWO!

Have others ever seen this marking from Australia?

One of them has the rare "DOUBLE HANDSTAMP"

Glen

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 25 Jun 2010 00:58

We discussed articles for/from the blind in this thread but nobody mentioned this mark.

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 25 Jun 2010 06:51

Glen,

Put my name on them if they are for sale. I rate I dont have in my rates collection.

Tim

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 25 Jun 2010 15:57

The other incredibly tough letter rate set from 1975, the Prime Ministers.

"Two inactive images - Links deleted by Moderator"

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 27 Jun 2010 11:25

Another real rarity, the rare perf gauge on the 7 cent opera house, very tough to find.

"Inactive image - Link deleted by Moderator"

mstary1 · Post by **mstary1** » 27 Jun 2010 11:57

You've been busy Martin!
Haven't heard of the perf gauge on the 7 Cent Opera House

Love the PM series

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 27 Jun 2010 12:07

Busy and very lucky to have these, real rarities i believe.

Here is a good one to find, i was saving it for my 2000th post, but oh well.

The 1966 4 cent gynaecology. It was issued 9, yes 9 days before the rate increase to 5 cents, it must surely rate as one of the rarest covers used in those 9 days, which this is.

"Inactive image - Link deleted by Moderator"

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 27 Jun 2010 14:12

Interesting point re the 9 days validity for 4c Gynecology Martin .. had never thought on that!

I am away from home right now .. waht does ACSC say on that .. probably miles out of date like many of the prices in there.

And yes the 7c Opera PERF would be tough to find on cover.

I'll outline the story on the $1 Nav shortly, which is even more in the same boat.

Glen

pertinax · Post by **pertinax** » 27 Jun 2010 16:58

I just thought I'd mention that, as I'm sure many are aware, Australia Post mail rates all go up tomorrow.

As it happens, I had about 25 eBay lots end this weekend and I'll be posting those that have paid in time out tomorrow - thus creating several genuine non-philatelic uses of first day stamps and first day rates!!

Scott

pandadog28 · Post by **pandadog28** » 27 Jun 2010 18:34

Glen,

I think the ACSC puts them at $5 for the Opera House and $8 for the Gynaecology, a bit of catching up to do i reckon.

Kiwidude · Post by **Kiwidude** » 27 Jun 2010 19:05

Hi,

If anyone wants to send any of the New Issue stamps on covers to New Zealand with a S.A.E or NZ stamps to return the covers back to you.I'm willing to do that.Just message me thru the boards email.

Cheers Peter

pertinax · Post by **pertinax** » 27 Jun 2010 19:29

...I just realised that maybe the stamps have already been issued, in which case they won't be first day of issue!

Still be first day of the new rates though.

S

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 28 Jun 2010 00:48

wolseley16/60 wrote:
ozstamps wrote:
Introducing .. THE most valuable Decimal cover or parcel piece or label in my view. A "Data Card Australia Pty Ltd" piece.

An exclusive to stampboards! 8)

Never been this in this country for many decades and I just sold it for a 4 figure sum.

Anyone care to guess WHY?.

Glen
I know it may sound silly, but does one Flinders have the early perforations & the other the later rare perforation hence the rarity of both different perforations on piece together within the time period ??????

No the piece has the same perf $1 stamp in both case .. both are the rare 14.8 'emergency' late printing.

Any parcel piece or fragment bearing that $1 is rare, as being a $1 stamp - or about 15 times the letter rate, (i.e. each a $9 relative value based on today's 60c rate) most were soaked off as "FU".

The 8 year old ACSC "Decimals 1" is now sadly miles out of date, re all "on piece or cover" values.

That was a great pioneering effort, largely priced by Rodney Perry, when virtually no-one was interested in on cover/on piece use of very "modern material" that many 'traditional' collectors sneered at.

Since that point many hundreds of collectors have entered this field, and prices have gone absolutely Ballistic.

https://www.stampboards.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; has numerous discussion threads - listing and highlighting new discoveries and new purchases and sales.

It is not uncommon to see single stamps from this early Decimal currency era fetching many $100s each on commercial covers.

Stamps that often are worth only cents each in soaked off "used" condition.

So assigning accurate values is very tough, as a "Cat. $20" on cover ACSC price from 8 years back is often retailing or auctioning at more like $100+ today.

Hopefully this Volume #1 will be updated in due course, and when it is, many of the new prices in there will be terrifying to those who have not followed this market.

All through my stamp dealer life of over 30 years I have liked to place new discoveries and new data on paper and "on the record".

Many generations of previous stamp dealers sadly have not, and philately is so much the poorer for it.

Can you image the finds and discoveries leading Australia dealers like Fred Hagen made in the WW1 era. Or the Miller Brothers in the WW2 era?

Or Mappin and Currin, and Arnold Wheeler and Phil Downie in the 195os and 60s, or Max Cohen in the 1970s? Generally not a single word of it was in the contemporary stamp journals

Ken Baker is still with us, aged 99 - and to my knowledge has never committed a word of his incredible stamp adventures to paper.

He has kindly left me many of his correspondence files, so they will be in safe hands, but the stories he could tell!

I put to print a small re-cap of Ken's recollection of his long life as a dealer here - https://www.tinyurl.com/KenBaker" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Anyway, I enjoy adding new material to the philatelic permanent record, and a new discovery excites me more than most.

This month I discovered an item that re-writes a small piece of stamp history, and in turn makes for probably THE most important Decimal "useage" pieces recorded.

The discovery was 3 "Commercial Paper" parcel labels, from "Data Card Australia Pty Ltd".

The 3 pieces at first glance were worth a few dollars total, and only bearing common definitive stamps.

Most collectors (indeed many dealers!) would happily sell them for $10 or $20 dollars the lot.

The clear dates of the cancels was what I first noticed. All were 1973.

The first thing that crosses the enquiring mind seeing the '1966' $1 Flinders stamp with a 1973 cancel, is that it might be the rare 14.8 perforation, issued as an "emergency" print in 1973.

Sure enough, these 2 stamps were indeed that $1 - with perforation 14.8 along top, versus 14.2 on the common 1966 print.

On a parcel tag or piece they are incredibly scarce, and only a few are recorded, and I understand never more than a single is recorded thus. The 2002 ACSC rates a single as $200 used thus.

And the $4 King is near as scarce, being a $150 rating on piece or tag, 8 years back.

Remember $4 in 1973 had the buying power of SIXTY letter rate stamps - or $36 in today's money, relatively speaking.

So these combined on one parcel tag are a "useage" collector's dream!

We have things like a 1932 1/- "OS" Lyrebird pair on parcel piece, with estimate $6,750 in Phoenix Auctions, July 27 sale.

A $4 Navigator on a rather similar 1970 parcel tag to that shown here, has an estimate of $500 in the same Auction - again showing the old $150 ACSC values is way out of date.

Anyway, all that aside I knew I had a lovely find here with the $1/$4 Navigator tag.

Taking a closer look I saw the cancel was done at the large commercial PO at Market Street Melbourne CDB, on May 28, 1973.

Stanley Gibbons say the 14.8 stamp was issued in September 1973, as does the ACSC stating "late 1973" - and "Earliest record postmark date is September 1973"

Clearly these are MAY 1973, or FOUR MONTHS earlier than any others yet seen.

And seeing we are 37 years down the track now, it seems unlikely too many more early dates will appear!

The only thought that crossed my mind was - "what if this is a simple date slug error - " May 28, 73" for either "72" or "74".

That was quickly discounted. These were simply not printed in May 1972, that much is obvious.

And the large $1 "Sergeant Of The Light Horse" Definitive was issued in April 1974, and a large CDB PO like Market Street would have started using those right on issue date.

The $4 "Shearing Of The Rams" definitive was also issued in April 1974, and the same logic applies about being used from day #1 - clearly this parcel tag WAS cancelled in May 1973.

It simply cannot have been 1972 not 1974.

So here we have a really scarce stamp on piece, with a date proving it was on sale FOUR months earlier than the literature records.

That to me is exciting and proves that a little detective work and logic can add to the philatelic story at times.

Why are these so scarce? Simple - the PO made no announcement at the time that the perforating head had changed.

It was some years later in the late 1970s that Alan Salisbury writing in the specialsit "Commonwealth Corner" column of the "ASM" magazine reported he had been shown a copy.

The hunt was on, and collectors looked through their holdings of mint and used copies of the otherwise common $1 Navigator - and both mint and used copies were discovered.

As there was no announcement of it, dealers and collectors alike missed the chance to put aside mint copies, so even today they are an $A80 stamp.

The fast way to check the perfs on these, is to hold up any $1 right over a 40c or 75c of the series ... which are always perforated 14.2 along the top.

If the perf tips line up all along the top - you have the common $1 perf. If the perf tips fall out of line, you have the "good" perf. Fast and easy way to check.

I have passed this discovery on to the editors of the ACSC and Stanley Gibbons to allow them to amend their issue date for this stamp to May 1973.

It may be even earlier, who knows but May is provenn and is far earlier than September. In the case of KGV heads, even a useage a DAY earlier than recordedl can cause major frenzies!

Some genius bid $A5,125 for an apparent simple date-slug error on a 1d green KGV commercial cover at auction in February 2009, that had a shopping list scrawled across the back.

That cover was allegedly used the day before issue at a small Tasmania PO. Sure thing. I'd have gladly taken $50 for it, but what do I know about KGV heads!

A client expressed interest in these 1973 pieces and for a sum just breaching 4 figures he now owns them.

Would they have bought more than that in an Auction? Who knows, as I auction NOTHING.

However my honest guess is "HELL YES" as many collectors are keen on this area, and this $1 Flinders parcel tag would be possibly the most significant Australian decimal "usage" piece existing, and the absolute key for any serious exhibit of the era.

If 2 x 1/- Lyrebirds on parcel piece are estimated in the $6,750 region - and I do not dispute that is around their true value level, these will seem a bargain in a very short while I suspect.

Three tags with a $4 King on them are worth more than that alone these days!