The stamps associated with the Commonwealth Games came in many varieties. Some were very hard to get. The 50c Logo stamp was issued in 6 different varieties: Gummed perforated, gummed imperf, self-adhesive perf (with and without a border), self-adhesive imperf (with and without the photo tab). The self-adhesive stamps have simulated perforations and the imperf variety has a printed simulated perf on the right of the stamp image and is imperf on the right.

stamp-2006-australia-50c-commonwealth-games

The logo imperf and self-adhesives (with border) were issued in the ‘Sports of the Games’ booklet. The booklet contained four 50c coins and eleven 50c Logo stamps – totalling $7.50. It cost $24.95! The set of 4 minisheets contained in the booklet have increased in price well above this cost.

The self-adhesive imperf varieties were issued in the Snapshot! booklet. During the Games this was only available from the Australia Post shop at Birrarung Marr alongside the River Yarra during the Games. It contained personalised stamps and postcards with your photo. (It is also available from Australia Post with a ‘generic’ photo of Don Elgin.) There were two 2 minisheets with 4 imperf stamps + photo tabs, two minisheets with a block of 4 self-adhesives (perf + border), a large minisheet of the 50c, $1.25 & $1.85 Games issue (the $1.25 & $1.85 are in a se-tenant pair) and a “unique” minisheet of 4 stamps from the 1993 and 1996 World Heritage Sites issues.

stamp-minisheet-2006-australia-world-heritage

The World Heritage Sites minisheet issued in the Snapshot! booklet contained a block of 4 different stamps – 45c Uluru, 45c Tasmanian Wilderness, $1 Lord Howe Island and $2 Kakadu. These stamps have a different perforation from the original issues and the $2 has a cream background colour.

Another booklet issued during the Games was the ‘Australia at the Commonwealth Games – a story in stamps’ booklet. As well as the 50c Logo stamp, this booklet contained many reprinted stamps that were different from the originals.

The 5 minisheets in this booklet were:

  • A minisheet with the MCG in the background containing a block of 4 gummed Logo stamps.
  • A minisheet with Perth in the background containing a se-tenant pair of the 5d and 2/3 British Empire & Commonwealth Games issue. (The reprints have a duller image colour and different perforation from the originals.)
  • A minisheet with Matilda the kangaroo containing a block of the 4 of the 1982 Commonwealth Games issue. (Three 27c & one 75c with different perforations from the originals.)
  • A minisheet with the opening ceremony of the 2002 Commonwealth Games containing a block of 6 of the 50c Bolte Bridge stamps from the 2004 Landmark Bridges issue. (This was previously issued as a single stamp or as a block of 4 in the prestige booklet.)
  • A large minisheet of the 50c, $1.25 & $1.85 Games issue. (The $1.25 & $1.85 are in a se-tenant pair).

A total of 17 sheetlets containing se-tenant strips of 5 or blocks of 10 different 50c stamps completed Australia Post’s most prolific stamp issue period ever! Three ‘filler’ stamps were included in the sheetlets and these are becoming scarce. They were the green and yellow 50c Humanity, 50c Equality and 50c Destiny stamps.

stamp-booklet-2006-australia-commonwealth-games

The final Commonwealth Games issue was the ‘personalised’ SES sheet with 9 gummed Logo stamps + photos. It was only available at the Athletes Village. A version with a generic photo is available for $15.95 (Australia Post Item No.1484301).

Commonwealth Games Variations Summary

Blocks & Strips: 22

  • 5d & 2/3 1962 reprints se-tenant pair
  • 3 x 27c & 75c 1982 reprints block of 4
  • 50c Bolte Bridge block of 6
  • 2 x 45c, $1 & $2 1993 & 1996 World Heritage reprints in block of 4
  • 50c Logo block of 4 with orange selvedge
  • 5 x 50c Opening ceremony se-tenant strip of 5 from Sheetlet No.1
  • 3 x 50c, 50c Humanity & 50c Equality se-tenant strip of 5 from Sheetlet No.2
  • 9 x 50c & 50c Humanity se-tenant block of 10 from Sheetlet Nos.3 & 8
  • 4 x 50c & 50c Humanity se-tenant strip of 5 from Sheetlet Nos.4, 9 & 11
  • 7 x 50c, 50c Humanity, 50c Equality & 50c Destiny se-tenant block of 10 from Sheetlet Nos.5, 10, 13 & 14
  • 5 x 50c se-tenant strip of 5 from Sheetlet Nos.6, 7 & 15
  • 8 x 50c, 50c Humanity & 50c Equality se-tenant block of 10 from Sheetlet No.12
  • 5 x 50c Closing ceremony se-tenant strip of 5 from Sheetlet No.16
  • 10 x 50c Most Memorable Moment se-tenant block of 10 from Sheetlet No.17

Gutters (with text or graphics): 1

  • 10 x 50c Logo – athletes images

Image: 3

  • 5d & 2/3 1962 reprints se-tenant pair – dull colours, thick lettering on 2/3 stamp
  • $2 Kakadu reprint – cream background

Imperf: 2

  • 50c Logo – gummed stamp
  • 50c Logo – self-adhesive stamp with photo tab removed, imperf on the right

Minisheets: 17

  • 4 x 50c Logo imperf block of 4, gummed – Sports of the Games booklet
  • 2 x 50c Logo self-adhesive pair – Sports of the Games booklet
  • 4 x 50c Logo perforated block of 4, gummed – Sports of the Games booklet
  • 1 x 50c Logo self-adhesive – Sports of the Games booklet
  • 4 x 50c Logo – MCG – Australia at the Commonwealth Games booklet
  • 5d & 2/3 Perth Games – 1962 British Empire & Commonwealth Games, Perth – Australia at the Commonwealth Games booklet
  • 3 x 27c, 75c 12th Commonwealth Games – Matilda the kangaroo – Australia at the Commonwealth Games booklet
  • 6 x 50c Bolte Bridge – Opening Ceremony 2002 Commonwealth Games – Australia at the Commonwealth Games booklet
  • 50c + $1.25 & $1.85 se-tenant pair – Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games large minisheet (150 x 104mm) – Australia at the Commonwealth Games booklet
  • 4 x 50c Logo self-adhesive with photo tab – Federation Square – Snapshot! booklet
  • 4 x 50c Logo self-adhesive with photo tab – St.Kilda – Snapshot! booklet
  • 4 x 50c Logo self-adhesive- Docklands – Snapshot! booklet
  • 4 x 50c Logo self-adhesive – Victoria Market – Snapshot! booklet
  • 50c + $1.25 & $1.85 se-tenant pair – Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games large minisheet (165 x 118mm) – Snapshot! booklet
  • 45c, 45c, $1, $2 Australia’s World Heritage Sites – Lord Howe Island – Snapshot! booklet
  • 50c + $1.25 & $1.85 se-tenant pair – Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games small minisheet (142 x 75mm)
  • 50c + $1.25 & $1.85 se-tenant pair – Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games large minisheet (165 x 100mm) – Snapshot! booklet

Perforation: 10

  • 5d & 2/3 1962 reprints – 13.9 x 14.6
  • 3 x 27c & 75c 1982 reprints – 13.9 x 14.6
  • 2 x 45c, $1 & $2 1993 & 1996 World Heritage reprints – 14.5 x 14

Self-adhesive: 5

  • 50c Logo with photo tab, imperf on right – Snapshot! booklet
  • 50c Logo with photo tab removed, imperf on right – Snapshot! booklet
  • 50c Logo with border – Sports of the Games and Snapshot! booklets
  • 50c Logo without border – Roll of 100 stamps
  • 50c Athletics – Booklet of 10 stamps

Tabs: 2

  • 50c Logo – self-adhesive stamp with photo tab, imperf on the right
  • 50c Logo – perforated gummed stamp with photo tab

David Mallen is co-author of the Australian Stamp Variations catalogue. He may be contacted on david@asv.net.au