Rob1956

My clan Coat-of-Arms Scotland
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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philb

03 Jul 2016
08:00:20pm

re: 1963 4/- & 1966 40 cent Tasman and his ship the "Heemskerk"

Yes, thank you for an attractive and informative presentation.

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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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philb

25 Jan 2021
09:51:07am

re: 1963 4/- & 1966 40 cent Tasman and his ship the "Heemskerk"

Deja vu....great old threads never die !

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