Do you collect “used” stamps? Would you like some with nice circular postmarks and gum on the back? Australia Post has been producing these for over 12 years and selling them for about 5 cents each. They are found in the packs of 50 or 100 used stamps available at most Post Offices. Many collectors are replacing their old used stamps (that have been through the mail stream) with these new machine overprinted or “printed postmark” (PP) stamps.

Four Postmark Positions
Why are they called “printed postmarks”? It began back in 1994 when Australia Post decided to recycle the many sheets of withdrawn mint stamps by having them machine overprinted with a simulated postmark. Sheets are fed through a printer and overprinted with a cancellation that was placed over the intersection of four stamps and was repeated in the exact same position on all stamps in the sheet. In some cases, the stamps at the edge received a half cancellation so that the selvedge was not marked. So every stamp on the sheet was postmarked in 4 different positions only. Many printed postmark collectors save these 4 stamps. An unseparated block of four or a complete sheet, rather than individual stamps, are highly prized additions to a collection!

Australia Post does not keep any records of what sheets of stamps or how many they made with the postmark overprinted.

Stamp Packs
PP stamps originally appeared in The Stamp Gang packets of 50 used stamps in 1994. They were mixed with other used stamps (that had been through the mail stream) obtained from commercial sources. These packs were given to school children when Australia Post staff gave presentations at schools and also given away at stamp exhibitions. Most packs of used Australian stamps available at the Post Office contain printed postmark stamps. e.g. The contents of a sample “Collector’s Choice” pack of 100 Australian Stamps, No.4, May 2003, contained 35 PP stamps and 65 used stamps.

“Collector’s Choice” 100 Australian Stamps

No.4, May 2003, RRP $2.45

(sample contents)
Printed Postmark Stamps Quantity
40c 1
40c with tab 1
45c 18
45c with tab 8
49c 3
50c international post 1
80c international post with tab 1
98c 2
Total PP stamps 35
Other used stamps

(6 pre-decimal and 59 decimal)

 65
Total stamps 100
Current Australia Post Stamp Packs
Pack Series Issue Date Cost
Bird stamps 1 15th July 2003 $2.10
Train stamps 1 15th July 2003 $2.10
Marine stamps 2 15th July 2003 $2.10
Animal stamps 2 15th July 2003 $2.10
Flower stamps 1 15th July 2003 $2.10
Australian stamps* 3 15th July 2003 $2.10
Dogs stamps 2 10th August 2004 $2.10
Cats stamps 2 10th August 2004 $2.10
Sport stamps 2 10th August 2004 $2.10
Bike & Motorbike stamps 2 10th August 2004 $2.10
Dinosaur stamps 2 10th August 2004 $2.10
Stamp Collecting Kit** 1st November 2004 $9.95
Sniffer and the Stamp Gang’s Stamp Album** 2nd October 2007 $11.95
“Collector’s Choice” 100 Australian Stamps* 1st November 2007 $3.95
Notes:

  1. These packs contain 50 world used stamps, including some Australian stamps. Two packs, (indicated with an *), only contain Australian used stamps. The “Collector’s Choice” pack contains 100 stamps.
  2. The stamp collecting kit and album, (indicated with an **), also contain packs of used stamps.
  3. A sample Sport pack had 5 Australian PP stamps and 45 foreign PP stamps! (Other countries must be machine overprinting their stamps too!)
  4. A sample Australian pack had 50 used stamps – no PP stamps!