Issued on October 9, 1963, this new denomination issued to cover parcel rates was the first of a new series of high-value definitives depicting important navigators in Australian waters.
1963: Blue (left). Dark Blue (right).
The first stamp is of a much lighter shade.
The design for the 1966 40 cent decimal was adapted from the existing 4/- stamp. It is printed on unwatermarked Wiggins Teape paper incorporating Helicon. Normal UV reaction is pink on the front and bluish white on the back.
Both blocks of 4 were issued on February 14, 1966 (St. Valentine's Day), the same day Australia adopted the decimal currency
1966: Blue Type 1 (top stamps). Blue Type 2 (bottom stamps).
Type 1 (left) & Type 2 (right)
The two types of this stamp are the result of the use of a 2-on nickel die on which the denominations were separately engraved. The most easily recognised difference is that in Type 1 (left) the surrounds and centres of "40" show shading dashes and dots heavier and more regular than those in Type 2 (right), with some variation in length of dashes.
1966: Dull Blue Type 1 (top stamps). Dull Blue Type 2 (bottom stamps).
Trivia:
4/- Abel Tasman: There were four printings between August 1963 and October 1965, totalling 9,120,000 stamps, of which 5,392,880 stamps were delivered to the Post Office. Following withdrawal 193,828 were destroyed, leaving a total issue of 5,199,052 stamps. It was discontinued at the introduction of decimal currency.
40c Abel Tasman: 39,690,200 stamps were issued on the first day of decimalisation. The Abel Tasman stamp was eventually replaced with the 40c Pioneer Life definitive on November 15, 1972.
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Very good information. Thank you.
Eric
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Thanks Eric & Phil.
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I think the Navigator issues are my favourite stamps, love the designs, they have a classic look. Thanks for the info Rob, much appreciated.
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Hi Rob
Of course you do this to send me off on another tangent
Love the information, very impressive collection and information
Horamakhet
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Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW)
03 Jul 2016
06:27:33pm
Those who have both Tasman stamps in mint unhinged, mint hinged or used will know they have the complete set of the blue stamps, but is it a complete set; the answer is no, there are actually 6 to a set of these particular blue stamps.
Issued on October 9, 1963, this new denomination issued to cover parcel rates was the first of a new series of high-value definitives depicting important navigators in Australian waters.
1963: Blue (left). Dark Blue (right).
The first stamp is of a much lighter shade.
The design for the 1966 40 cent decimal was adapted from the existing 4/- stamp. It is printed on unwatermarked Wiggins Teape paper incorporating Helicon. Normal UV reaction is pink on the front and bluish white on the back.
Both blocks of 4 were issued on February 14, 1966 (St. Valentine's Day), the same day Australia adopted the decimal currency
1966: Blue Type 1 (top stamps). Blue Type 2 (bottom stamps).
Type 1 (left) & Type 2 (right)
The two types of this stamp are the result of the use of a 2-on nickel die on which the denominations were separately engraved. The most easily recognised difference is that in Type 1 (left) the surrounds and centres of "40" show shading dashes and dots heavier and more regular than those in Type 2 (right), with some variation in length of dashes.
1966: Dull Blue Type 1 (top stamps). Dull Blue Type 2 (bottom stamps).
Trivia:
4/- Abel Tasman: There were four printings between August 1963 and October 1965, totalling 9,120,000 stamps, of which 5,392,880 stamps were delivered to the Post Office. Following withdrawal 193,828 were destroyed, leaving a total issue of 5,199,052 stamps. It was discontinued at the introduction of decimal currency.
40c Abel Tasman: 39,690,200 stamps were issued on the first day of decimalisation. The Abel Tasman stamp was eventually replaced with the 40c Pioneer Life definitive on November 15, 1972.
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re: 1963 4/- & 1966 40 cent Tasman and his ship the "Heemskerk"
Very good information. Thank you.
Eric
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Member ACCC (Australian Commonwealth Collectors Club of NSW)
04 Jul 2016
01:36:14am
re: 1963 4/- & 1966 40 cent Tasman and his ship the "Heemskerk"
Thanks Eric & Phil.
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07:22:49pm
re: 1963 4/- & 1966 40 cent Tasman and his ship the "Heemskerk"
I think the Navigator issues are my favourite stamps, love the designs, they have a classic look. Thanks for the info Rob, much appreciated.
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re: 1963 4/- & 1966 40 cent Tasman and his ship the "Heemskerk"
Hi Rob
Of course you do this to send me off on another tangent
Love the information, very impressive collection and information
Horamakhet
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