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9x2c Fiddler Crab #stamps from the 1973 Australian Marine Life & Gemstones issue pay the 18c domestic letter rate on this 2 Apr 1977 OHMS cover from Canberra, to the Superintendent of Yanchep National Park, Western Australia. (1/4)
#philately
9x2c Fiddler Crab #stamps from the 1973 Australian Marine Life & Gemstones issue pay the 18c domestic letter rate on this 2 Apr 1977 OHMS cover from Canberra, to the Superintendent of Yanchep National Park, Western Australia. (1/4)
#philately
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Issued 11 Jul 1973, the Fiddler Crab definitive was not withdrawn from sale until 17 Sep 1980, so the stamps are used in period. However, it's not uncommon to find out-of-period stamps used on OHMS covers due to the large stocks purchased by government departments.
Issued 11 Jul 1973, the Fiddler Crab definitive was not withdrawn from sale until 17 Sep 1980, so the stamps are used in period. However, it's not uncommon to find out-of-period stamps used on OHMS covers due to the large stocks purchased by government departments.
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Pictured here is the superintendent's residence at Yanchep National Park; at least it was in the 1970s. I spent a lot of time in this house as a child. Yanchep is located ~50 km N of Perth, and is a popular weekend destination for families, bird watchers & bush walkers.
Pictured here is the superintendent's residence at Yanchep National Park; at least it was in the 1970s. I spent a lot of time in this house as a child. Yanchep is located ~50 km N of Perth, and is a popular weekend destination for families, bird watchers & bush walkers.
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The base domestic letter rate up to 500g was 18c from 1 Sep 1975 to 1 July 1978. Another way of franking covers at this rate was to use 2 x 9c surcharged opal stamps. This stamp was orig. printed for the intended 7c to 9c rate rise, but politics resulted in a rise to 10c.
The base domestic letter rate up to 500g was 18c from 1 Sep 1975 to 1 July 1978. Another way of franking covers at this rate was to use 2 x 9c surcharged opal stamps. This stamp was orig. printed for the intended 7c to 9c rate rise, but politics resulted in a rise to 10c.
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Minutes after the rate rise to 10c was announced, thieves broke into the Box Hill PO and stole stamps valued at $10,000. It seems that the 9c surcharged opal stamps, which had already been sent to POs in anticipation of the 9c rate, were part of the haul.
Minutes after the rate rise to 10c was announced, thieves broke into the Box Hill PO and stole stamps valued at $10,000. It seems that the 9c surcharged opal stamps, which had already been sent to POs in anticipation of the 9c rate, were part of the haul.
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To ensure that an artificial rarity was not thus created, the PO went ahead and released the 9c surcharged opal stamp together with the new 10c sapphire stamp on 16 Oct 1974. It would not be until the 18c rate was announced in Sep 1975 that this stamp came into its own.
To ensure that an artificial rarity was not thus created, the PO went ahead and released the 9c surcharged opal stamp together with the new 10c sapphire stamp on 16 Oct 1974. It would not be until the 18c rate was announced in Sep 1975 that this stamp came into its own.
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This cover was not sent in the 18c rate period. It uses 2 x 9c surcharged opal stamps in Dec 1974, overpaying the then 15c standard surface letter rate to countries outside of Asia-Oceania. It's an International Youth Service cover - not uncommon to find these overpaid!
This cover was not sent in the 18c rate period. It uses 2 x 9c surcharged opal stamps in Dec 1974, overpaying the then 15c standard surface letter rate to countries outside of Asia-Oceania. It's an International Youth Service cover - not uncommon to find these overpaid!
PS1.
Here are some more International Youth Service covers using gemstone stamps from the 1973 Australian Marine Life & Gemstones definitive issue. These were sent when the correct surface letter rate was 12c. The Chrysoprase cover is franked correctly, the Agate cover overpaid.
Here are some more International Youth Service covers using gemstone stamps from the 1973 Australian Marine Life & Gemstones definitive issue. These were sent when the correct surface letter rate was 12c. The Chrysoprase cover is franked correctly, the Agate cover overpaid.
