This article originally appeared in the “Australian Stamp Monthly” (July 1, 1930).

It gives detailed and useful information on this early Australian commemorative. Collectors of Australian Commonwealth stamps should find much of interest here.

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AS EXPECTED, THESE stamps were duly issued throughout Australia on Monday, June 2. We must take this earliest possible opportunity of congratulating the Stamp Printing Branch of the Commonwealth Bank upon the excellence of the issue. Not only is the design first class and the engraving excellent, but the production of the stamps leaves nothing to be desired. For instance, there is not one variety of any importance on the whole of the ten plates. There are one or two minute flaws, but to date we have been unable to find anything worthy of mention. Certainly the paper is still too soft, in our opinion, but this is probably a deliberate choice, as a soft paper means a soft impression. Certain sheets we have handled are, moreover, badly perforated, but a perfectly centred perforation cannot be expected in 100 per cent. of the issue, particularly as single line machines were used.

All the plates used for this issue were numbered in the usual way, the plate number appearing over the first stamp of the sheet. The numbers were 1 to 8 of the 1½d., and 1 and 2 of the 3d. At the centre of the base of each sheet appeared the usual two-line Ash imprint, and it is to be noted that the distance between this imprint and the bottom of the last row of stamps varies somewhat between the plates. This distance varies between 6½ mm and 9 mm, and could be used as a means of identification of the plates in the absence of plate numbers. They are:–Plate 1: 6½ mm Plate 2: 7 mm; Plate 3 7½ mm; Plate 4: 7 mm; Plate 5 7 mm; Plate 6: 9 mm; Plate 7: 9 mm; Plate 8: 8½ mm; for the 1½d.; and Plate 1: 7 mm; Plate 2: 7½ mm, for the 3d.

The stamps were exceptionally well printed, and very few prominent printing fiaws (smudges, etc.), have been seen. There is, however, one variety commonly met with caused by the paper being sometimes slightly too damp during printing. In these, the heavier portions of the engraving–particularly around the value tablet–that not “taken up” properly, with the result that white spaces are left in the design. The most usual place for this variety to appear is just to the left of the value tablet, where a white spur is often visible above 1830. Similar flaws can, however, be found elsewhere. For some reason these varieties are most commonly met with on Plate 5, but we have seen them on all other plates also. They are not regular, and are really more interesting than important. Many other minor varieties have also been called to our notice, but the great majority of these are irregular and unimportant. One or two hair lines and similar minor flaws can be found on certain plates, but these are all slight, and, we feel, not worth chronicling.

The perforation is 11, throughout the issue, single line machines only having been employed. The perforation varies slightly between small and large holes–evidently more than one machine was used–and also between clear cut and rough. To date no varieties with missing or double perforations have been reported.

In short, the whole production of the stamps is excellent, and we repeat our congratulations to the printer. The stamps have been most favourably received, the 3d. in particular being much admired, and frequently described as “our best issue to date.” At the time of writing, the issue is already practically exhausted, and it is unlikely that the stamps will be on issue beyond the end of June.

Sturt Centenary Stamps Sales
In the first three days after June 2, during which Sturt Centenary Stamps (1½d. and 3d.) were on sale in the capital cities of the Commonwealth, the receipts were £5,00 above those for the normal sales of stamps.–(“The Argus.”)