Australian 2 Pence 'Kangaroo and Map' Postage Stamp (King George V)

This item is an Australian postage stamp, specifically a 2 pence denomination, featuring a 'Kangaroo and Map' design, with a portrait of King George V. The stamp exhibits a primarily red color palette, possibly carmine or deep rose-red, printed on white paper. The central design prominently features a profile bust of King George V facing left, encircled by the word 'AUSTRALIA' at the top and 'POSTAGE' at the bottom. The numeral '2' is visible in both lower corners, with 'TWO PENCE' written below the central circle. The background imagery includes a kangaroo on the left and an emu on the right, flanking a stylized map of Australia, with floral ornamentation in the upper corners. A crown is depicted above the word 'AUSTRALIA'. The stamp is perforated along its edges, indicating it was separated from a sheet. Visible condition issues include a clear, probably circular, black postmark centrally located over the King's portrait, which obscures some of the facial details and the 'POSTAGE' inscription. The perforations appear largely intact, though the paper color suggests some age-related toning, or it could be the original paper stock color. The printing quality appears consistent with early 20th-century philatelic production, with fine lines and intricate details characteristic of intaglio or lithographic printing. The design itself, incorporating national symbols alongside the monarch's image, places it squarely within the British Commonwealth philatelic tradition of the early 20th century.