Ram Stamp Appraisal

Australian 5 Pence Ram Stamp

This item is an Australian postage stamp, featuring a prominent depiction of a Merino ram, which was a common motif in early Australian philately, symbolizing the nation's significant wool industry. The stamp is rectangular with perforations around all four edges, indicating it was separated from a sheet. The primary color visible is a reddish-brown or sepia tone for the main subject and background, with 'AUSTRALIA' printed at the top in a darker shade. The denomination '5’ appears in the bottom left and bottom right corners, confirming it is a '5 Pence' stamp. The stamp clearly bears a circular postmark, largely obscuring parts of the central ram image and the surrounding text. The postmark appears to be 'SYDNEY NS WALES', although some letters are difficult to discern due to the image clarity and the postmark's placement. This indicates the stamp has been used for postal service. The overall condition shows signs of use, with the postmark covering a significant portion of the design. The perforations appear intact, though some edge wear might be present due to handling. The specific design featuring a ram suggests it could be from the 'Kangaroo and Map' series or a later agricultural series, likely dating from the early to mid-20th century. The quality of the printing appears consistent with philatelic standards of that era, showing fine detail in the ram's wool and the landscape background, despite the postmark.