Australian Collectibles Appraisal

Collection of Australian Postage Stamps

This collection features a variety of Australian postage stamps, offering a glimpse into the nation's philatelic history. The stamps appear to be printed on typical paper with perforated edges, indicating their use as official postal franking. Colors vary widely across the collection, including shades of green, red, brown, blue, and black, reflecting different designs and eras. Many stamps feature portraits of historical figures or monarchs, such as a green stamp depicting an early likeness of Queen Elizabeth II with 'AUSTRALIA' and '3d' (likely 3 and a half pence) visible; another green stamp with 'CANBERRA 1913-1963 AUSTRALIA 5c' celebrating a centenary; and several featuring male portraits, one marked '5c AUSTRALIA'. Other notable designs include a brown stamp with a kangaroo, an orange stamp with 'ROAD CO' and 'S CAT' (partially obscured), a black stamp with a swan and '1854 3 1/4 1951 Australia', and a blue stamp depicting 'BLUR MOUNTAINS CROSSING 1813 AUSTRALIA 5'. There's also a distinctive red 'ONE PENNY' stamp, possibly from an earlier period given the denomination. Another stamp features 'ASSOCIATED COUNRY WOMEN OF THE WORLD CONFERENCE 1963 AUSTRALIA 5d' and a figure holding a globe. A particularly striking brown stamp commemorates 'ANZAC 1915-1965 AUSTRALIA 5c', showing two figures with an animal. Several stamps show signs of wear consistent with age and previous handling. Some edges are slightly torn or creased, particularly noticeable on the 'ONE PENNY' stamp, which is part of a larger, irregularly torn piece of paper. The adhesives on the reverse are not visible, but the stamps appear to be cancelled in some cases (e.g., the 'ONE PENNY' stamp has faint circular marks). No clear maker's marks or signatures are immediately discernible beyond the country name and denominations. The collection spans various eras, likely from the early to mid-20th century, given the depicted individuals, events, and denominations (pence vs. cents). The overall condition ranges from good to fair, with some stamps exhibiting minor discoloration or foxing. The presence of both pence and cent denominations suggests a date range that bridges Australia's currency changeover in 1966.