The first adhesive postage stamps of Tasmania hold a prestigious place in early postal history. Issued while the colony was still officially known as Van Diemen’s Land, these stamps offer a fascinating glimpse into the primitive, yet resourceful, printing methods of the mid-19th century.

The 1853 Postal Act and Launch A public notice published in the Hobart Town Gazette on September 27, 1853, announced that a new Post Office Act would come into operation on November 1 of that year. From that date forward, the prepayment of all letters and packets (excluding newspapers) posted within the colony was made compulsory and had to be paid using adhesive stamps. The stamps were made available in two denominations: One Penny (1d) and Fourpence (4d).

Design and Local Production Because the young colony lacked sophisticated, mass-production printing technology, the stamps were manufactured entirely in Hobart.

• Design: Both stamps featured a profile portrait of Queen Victoria facing to the right. The 1d value was printed in blue and light blue, while the 4d value was printed in shades of bright orange, orange-yellow, and orange-red.
• The Engraver: The dies were engraved in taille-douce (intaglio) on copper plates by C. W. Coard. A fascinating hidden detail is that the engraver’s initials, “C. W. Coard”, can be found on the cut of the Queen’s neck on the stamps, and his name was included in the marginal imprint along the bottom of the sheets.
• The Printers: The printing contract was awarded to Messrs. H. & C. Best (sometimes noted as A. & C. Best).

Varieties and “Plating” One of the most appealing aspects of the 1853 issue for modern philatelists is that the stamps were individually hand-engraved onto the plates. Each plate contained 24 stamps, arranged in four rows of six. Because every single stamp was engraved separately by hand, there are 24 distinct varieties or “types” for each value, resulting in minute differences in every stamp on the sheet.

While only one plate was created for the 1d blue, the 4d orange required two distinct plates. Historical invoices from H. & C. Best dated September 1853 show a charge of £36 for engraving the first 4d plate (at 30s per head) and £30 for “re-engraving” a second plate (at 25s per head). The exact chronological order and lifespan of these two 4d plates have been the subject of extensive study and plate-reconstruction by renowned philatelists.

Paper and Perforation The first issues were printed on white wove paper that varied wildly in thickness, with some stamps printed on a paper so thin it was almost transparent (“pelure”). A legendary rarity from this era is the 4d red-orange from Plate II printed on laid paper; a complete, immaculate sheet of 24 of these laid-paper stamps miraculously survived for decades hanging in a frame in a bungalow in India. All stamps of this 1853 issue were issued imperforate, meaning they had to be cut apart with scissors, and they bore no watermark.

The Mystery of the Triangular Punch A curious anomaly found on some surviving 1853 Van Diemen’s Land stamps is a deliberate triangular hole punched into the paper. Because no official postal records mention this mutilation, it has given rise to a few theories:

• The Convict Theory: One tradition suggests the stamps were punched before being issued to convict postmasters in remote, small country towns, rendering them useless as currency to prevent illicit trading.
• The Anti-Theft Theory: A more likely explanation is that the punch was applied privately by certain firms or postmasters as a security measure—acting as a check to prevent clerks and servants from stealing the stamps for their own personal use, much like the modern practice of punching company initials (perfins) into stamps.

Despite their primitive, crude appearance—or perhaps because of it—the 1853 Van Diemen’s Land stamps remain some of the most historic and highly prized classics of Australian philately

I may be excused for continuing with the subject of postmarks, but they used
ta say “If you’re on a good thing stick to it”—and that’s the way it is this time.
“Although 1 have studied the series for a number of years it was only recently
that it occurred to me to go through what I had for the Town Postmarks. This
excursion was doubtless prompted by my friend Harry Porter’s chase after the
“T.P.O.s.” At any rate, it has led to much correspondence with Messrs. Petterd
(Hobart), Lancaster and Viney (Launceston), three of the leading Tasmanian
collectors of these items, all of whom had taken up the subject years before me. In
the upshot it is believed that something very near completeness has been evolved,
and a full list of the names will eventually appear in this journal. A few words on
certain general aspects of the subject will not, however, be wasted here.

In the first place the numeral “killers,” a type of cancellation used since 1853,
came to an abrupt end some time in the second half of 1900, being completely re:
placed by circular “town name and date” cancellations. These numerals, as far
as the Pictorial series is concerned, are therefore found only on the De La Rue
printed stamps. In the second place, the larger size of the stamps (as, say, com-
pared with the lower values of the other Australian States) meant that, using simi
lar sizes of cancellation, most if not all of the Tasmanian cancellation will inevitably
appear on a single stamp (where a single was used). In short, these Tasmanian post-
marks stand out with a clarity unequalled in other Australasian issues of their time.
And in addition, as Mr. Porter points out, they seem to have been, almost without
exception, applied with care. Finally, there is the tremendous scope of this sub-
ject, considered in relation to the small population and the fact that during the
period in question, well over one-third of that population lived in Hobart and
Launceston. To date, on the Pictorials we have located some 450 different “name”
postmarks! A very small proportion of these were due to changes of name, but
that doesn’t alter the picture these postmarks present of the amazing postal facilities
then—and still—offering in the “Spec.” In the circumstances outlined it is also

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It’s not surprising that many of the rare markings are amongst the clearest. The
various “types” of cancellation used, and those cases (particularly Hobart and
Launceston), where more than one type was employed, are also receiving their
full measure of consideration. It is to me a little sad to find that so few collectors
resident in Tasmania Cor elsewhere) realise the tremendous potential that lies in
every issue but one (i.e., the “Tablets) of this State, as well as in the whole of its
cancellations—pre-stamp to 1912.

(ii) Manuscript Cancellations.

(a) On the Early Issues.

Since my previous notes appeared I have seen several copies with “39” and “47”
in MSS. These numbers, according to the list referred to in the last number,
belonged to Kangaroo Point (this name is otherwise unknown to me though I do
have a “Kangaroo Valley”) and Oatlands respectively.

(b) On the Pictorials.

Despite its clarity, my friend Mr. Lancaster tells me that the “Segana” I noted
is almost certainly “Legana.” 1 now have the following other MSS. cancella-
tions:—Lanena (30.6.11); Magnet (16.7.02); Mount Read—three (16.11.01 to
3.12.01); Westbury (10.5.09); Northdown (25.11.02); Oldina (26.2.11); Strick-
land (8.1.08). Mr. P. W. Simonson has shown me quite a few “Robiganas” in
MSS. on Australian 1d. reds in 1914-15. This was in use for some time before
a canceller of normal type was provided. It does not, however, come within our
period. Of those listed to date the following do not appear to have been found
with a normal cancellation, viz., Blythe Road, Legana, Oldina, Strickland. The
others have all turned up with the normal type of cancellation. Further study of
the normal cancellations (dates of use, etc.) will doubtless reveal, in some cases
at any rate, the reason behind the use of a manuscript cancellation.

(iii) Employment of “Crown Seals” as Cancellations on the Pictorials.

I will have more to say on this interesting subject at a later stage, but here
merely record the Fact that in addition to “Kelso” (previously mentioned), two others
can be found—”The Oaks” and “Wattlegrove Lower.” All these offices are also
found later with normal type of cancellation. 1 have three or four examples of
each Crown Seal. The latest printing represented is a 2d. (with “Kelso”) from a
1903 printing. “Wattlegrove Lower” 1 have seen only on the De La Rue prints.

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At the time these stamps were produced the printing trades did not have
the mass production machines that we have today. The perforator in use in the
greater number of shops was a hand-operated (rarely footpower) affair, punching
a single line of holes at one operation. Anywhere from one to five sheets could
be handled at one time, depending on the thickness of the paper, consequently a
considerable time was required to perforate 1000 sheets with a single lina of holes.
On the other hand, a good pressman would put through the press 1000 sheets of
paper while an operator was running one line of holes in the same number of
sheets. In those days slack times occurred, so I am inclined to think that Messrs.
Leigh, anticipating future orders while they had the press set up for the job, had
more sheets printed than they required for the job in hand, with the view of
having them perforated during a slack period. There were too many of these imper-
forates floating around in the ‘nineties to have come from occasional sheets discarded
during the run or from spoilage during the makeready of the press.

The sheets of the ‘One Penny’, 20 to the sheet, have seven lines of perforating
and would have consumed the greater part of a day in perforating 1000 sheets.

Mr, Foster also mentions a constant plate variety in the 1d. Palm Tree (which
he believes is unrecorded) on No. 1 in the top left pane. This is found in both
colours and shows a missing pearl above the “P” in “PENNY”.

VICTORIA.
(i) The “Boyd’s City Express” Local

This is one of a number of Australian Locals into which the writer is pursuing
investigations. The point to be made here is that it is not “lithographed,” as de-
“scribed in the Hurt Catalogue, but “surface-printed,” and almost unquestionably
electrotyped. Each copy shows very minor Haws, and nver some years copies have
been collected and studied with a view to establishing the number of stamps in
the sheet which, on the evidence to date, appears to be comparatively small. 1
would greatly appreciate a loan of any copies which readers can make available.
There is no doubt that its scarcity has been somewhat exaggerated. It is of course
rare, but is frequently found here in old-time collections.

(ii) 1902-12 “Perforation Varieties.”

I have received an interesting letter on the above subject from Mr. A. H. Davis,
of Birmingham, England. Mr. Davis, who resided in Victoria from 1902 two 1921,
was the Victorian representative for Ewen’s, a firm well known to old timers for
its wonderful new issue service. Mr. Davis says—anent my remarks on the inclu-
sion or non-inclusion in the Gibbons’ Catalogue of certain perforation varieties.

During that period I visited the Melbourne G.P.O. at least once weekly, and
handled locally-used stamps daily. 1 had every means of knowing what stamps were
issued and 1, too, never saw or heard of S.G.574 and the other numbers mentioned.
although I pride myself on having seen—mint or used—almost every example of
the excessively scarce compound perforations that DID exist.

Denominations

The Chalon Head was issued in 1d Carmine (Red), 2d Green and 4d Blue.

In 1856 the 1d brown was added to the series along with the above though they were given different shades as the issue with obtaining colour dyes continued in the colonies.

In 1857 the 1d became brick-red and brownish red, 2d remained green although the catalogues added yellowish green and dark green to the classification, and 4d became blue and dark blue.

Watermarks

The 1855 stamps had watermarks while those printed in 1856 did not and those in 1857 were issued with a new watermark. This helps identify which issue of this stamp you may have in your possession and accordingly its value.

At the time of writing the mint examples vary from $400 up to $2.250 while a used (cancelled) example ranges from 440 to $300 so identification is key for this issue.

A collector will concentrate on shades and watermarks and I have seen a page of the different shades the green 2d came in and its astounding when you see a collection together with all of the variances. This led to many forgeries of the stamps and sometimes it is not until you’ve seen a few of these that you can more easily pick the fakes.

A much longer post looking at the subsequent issues in this series will appear later in this blog.

Tasmania, previously known as Van Dieman’s Land around the same time, was the colony of the worst convicts who were banished there to die, but didn’t and the island state thrived. However, compared to the other states of Australia is was less populated and therefore had much less stamps produced than the other states and this to me, is what makes them highly collectible and cherished if you come across them. The catalogue prices also reflect the rarity of some of these stamps.

There were two issues of this stamp, the 1d Blue and the 4d Orange released on 1 November 1853 and continued in production and circulation through 1854 and 1855. Although Tasmania’s name changed from Van Diemen’s land in 1852, the stamps had been designed and produced and so were used as such until the newly named colony stamps could be designed and distributed. This trend continued through to January 1858. Therefore, the Van Diemen’s Land stamps are highly collectible as a piece of important history.

At time of writing a mint stamp is valued at $15,000.00 (used $1,250) for a 1d Blue and the 4d Orange is at $8,750.00 (used $425.00).

The first issue depicts a right facing profile of Queen Victoria on the 1d Blue encircled within the Van Diemen’s land circle

The 4d Orange depicts the same profile of Queen Victoria with more detailed artwork encircling the image. These stamps vary greatly in condition and colour as the dyes used were not stable and over time have changed markedly.

The collectability for these stamps lies in varying colours and there are several classifications of colour including orange, pale orange, reddish orange, yellow orange etc.

The total number of these stamps produced is unknown but suggested to be small which raises the value of the stamp. It is highly collectible for this reason and a prized possession in anyone’s collection of Australian Stamp Stamps,