The slight difference in the placing of the specimen imprints or even the slightest increase or decrease in width of the word “specimen” can make a major difference. A good example is the 1963 £2 Admiral King of the Navigator series.

The specimen seen on the bottom right is what a collector will receive if they buy the scarce pre-decimal specimen set, the entire set mint unhinged is worth nearly $900, the £2 King is worth nearly $250 in mint unhinged condition, the very scarce near central position specimen is worth nearly $500, nearly three quarters of the entire value of the specimen set.



Also, size matters too; the decimal Navigators have two imprint sizes with the 75c Cook and $1 Flinders stamps, the smaller being the scarcest – The scarce stamps are those on the left. Left stamp, size (width) is 15 mm (14.75 mm). On the right, normal size (width) is 15.5 mm.



Here is a full set of 1964 Papua & New Guinea Birds of Paradise, all superb mint unhinged; without the specimen it is still a very attractive set, with the 10/- specimen added, not only does it give the set more appeal; in this case it now has a new status – scarce.



A complete 1963 Papua & New Guinea set featuring the £1 stamps and the 10/- Rabaul stamps are a very good example of smaller imprints being scarce (13.75 mm). The scarce stamps - 10/- specimen on the top right and £1 specimen bottom right.



Not all Specimens are scarce; many are worth far less than their non-specimen counterpart; all Australian specimens after 1966 do not have much value to them but they are still an integral part of a collection if a true set is required.

There are many collectors who view that the stamp had been made useless because of the “specimen” imprint, but that is not true; the more common specimen may not match up with their pre-decimal or early decimal cousins but they are still an official stamp and deserve a place amongst the collection.