Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
'Dear Mr. XXX,
It is nice to hear from you again. Unfortunately we are unable to meet your requirements as the majority of our Australian stock is modern. (we have lots of that) But only a card or 2 of very early which really is not worth us sending to you. Should you have any other areas of interest we will do our best to try and help you.
Apologies again'
Avon is one of the largest approval suppliers in the world, I have used them as a source for British empire issues for years. This is sort of confirmed by what I am experiencing on Ebay. No problem at all if you are looking for modern stuff. I am being constantly outbid on any lots or even singles of states or earlier Australia. Even lower catalog material. There just isn't much out there on the floating market.
Just thought this would be of interest-
Login to Like
this post
Chinese got it all....
TuskenRaider
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
Are you a member of the APS? I'm sure that the Circuit Sales have plenty of books of older material. One just has to be a member to get the sales books. Now, you can check out the APS online stamp store and buy there. No need to be a member for the online buying, but you will be charged a non-member fee.
Login to Like
this post
Yes I'm APS and a life member to boot. I tried previously buying from the books in different categories but found the same problem, lots of common stuff, short sets, etc. Seldom anything I wanted. Wouldn't hurt to try again, I guess.
Login to Like
this post
The crew at stampboards.com include many Australian collectors and is run by Glen Stephens, and Australian dealer. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for early Australia I'm sure he could help you out.
I've never bought from him but I get his emails. This isn't an endorsement; only a clue. 
Mark
Login to Like
this post
Just visit Ebay Australia and under Australian stamps select "type" then "Pre-decimal" and you will find about 13,000 items to look at.
Delcampe is also worth a visit but make sure you use their international site which is the .net version.
Regards
Frank
Login to Like
this post
Must be some Ozzies here that have lots of pre-decimal dupes... ?
cheers
Steve.
Login to Like
this post
I am a regular visitor to Stampboards, and it seems to me that Kangaroos and King George V sidefaces are hoovered up by the serious collectors as soon as they appear.
Despite the alleged decline in the hobby generally it seems that Australia is bucking the trend - certainly in this speciality. It has to be said that in all my years as a general collector I have seldom seen anything other than the most common stuff readily available outside that country ( and that includes postmarks, which seem to be more favoured there than anywhere else in the world).
Of course the aforementioned Kangaroos and KG5 have been very extensively studied, there are numerous shades and plate flaws, and there is plenty of information out there - which always stimulates demand. The most modern stamps also appear to be readily available used just after issue only. The most easily available stamps appear to be 1946 to the mid 1970s,particularly used, and this seems to be as a result of high mail usage coupled with a boom in collecting.
Malcolm
Login to Like
this post
"1946 to the mid 1970s,particularly used, and this seems to be as a result of high mail usage coupled with a boom in collecting."
Although I have loads of pre 1946 Oz. dup's - they usually do not get "listed" because Identification is so time consuming..
Different perf's, watermarks etc.. Just so much easier (for me) to list the easily identifiable ones..
Stevo..
Login to Like
this post
Here is a rare set of George V stamps I have in mint unhinged condition, it includes the 1d red Die 1, Die 2 and Die 3, plus the 4d in a lemon-yellow shade, which is a difficult stamp to obtain.
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
Rob,
That is a very nice set. I'm jealous. 
Regards ... Tim
Login to Like
this post
"Rob,
That is a very nice set. I'm jealous. Big Grin"
Tim, It is a very nice set indeed, it took me quite awhile to collect that set. I forgot to mention that the 23 stamps are of the single watermark variety. I bought the 4d yellow only two weeks ago, a final outlay in total of AU$3400.
It took nearly 18 months and much haggling to acquire all these stamps, didn't get them all at once.
The cost excludes the two proofs and a few inverted watermarks I have of King George V.
It would cost a fortune to accumulate sets of different watermarks, colour varieties and different papers, certain inks like the aniline that has only one purpose, the ink runs and ruins the stamp if soaked in water.
I have a scarce mint unhinged Green-Blue aniline stamp of King George VI.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
"Here is a rare set of George V stamps I have in mint unhinged condition, it includes the 1d red Die 1, Die 2 and Die 3, plus the 4d in a lemon-yellow shade, which is a difficult stamp to obtain."
They are spectacular.
Login to Like
this post
Thanks damichab, the assorted colours and shades make the set stand out. It is one of my favourites.
Login to Like
this post
"the assorted colours and shades make the set stand out. It is one of my favourites."
I think that is some of the charm of the older stamps. The design is the same but the differentiation is via the colour. Makes the set easy to look at.
This is my page of the same.
(The blank spaces, postmarks and centering just add to the charm - that's my story and I'm sticking to it until I can afford better!)
- David
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
"I think that is some of the charm of the older stamps. The design is the same but the differentiation is via the colour. Makes the set easy to look at.
I think that is some of the charm of the older stamps. The design is the same but the differentiation is via the colour. Makes the set easy to look at.
This is my page of the same.
(The blank spaces, postmarks and centering just add to the charm - that's my story and I'm sticking to it until I can afford better!)
- David"
True, you have a nice set forming, you're getting there, and those overprints I do not have yet, they make a set the more interesting. And I like how you explained the blank spaces, postmarks and centring, funny.
Login to Like
this post
"Here is a rare set of George V stamps I have in mint unhinged condition"
Just looking over your KGV's again (well more drooling really), I notice you don't have the engraved 1913 1d red. Still on the 'to get' list?
(the one on the right)
Login to Like
this post
"Just looking over your KGV's again (well more drooling really), I notice you don't have the engraved 1913 1d red. Still on the 'to get' list?"
Thanks for the info and little heart scare David.
After reading your post I said "Crikey!" with heart racing and blood pressure rising and nearly collapsing reading that my sacred set may not be a set at all, I rushed to my catalogue and noticed that there are only two versions of the 1d 1913 Red were engraved (Red and Pale Red), and I do not have either two.
I don't think they belong to my set, anyway, to make sure I'm going to have a little talk to the specialist that helped me put that set together; if it was an oversight both the varieties will be added and then I'll re-upload the images.
I consider your over-salivating a compliment.
Login to Like
this post
"two versions of the 1d 1913 Red were engraved (Red and Pale Red)"
My trusty catalogue (1967 "Renniks Australian Stamp Guide" first edition) has only one, that being "Red and shades of red". Just checked the Seven Seas and that has the two varieties you mention. The Renniks "Stamps of Australia" has the wrong picture!
"I don't think they belong to my set, anyway,"
Being a completely different bird, kangaroo and numbering font, you could get away with that. Tis why I have mine separated from the rest - it is the same but different!
Login to Like
this post
Your first edition 1967 Renniks alone should be a collector's item. If the two reds are different to the set I have, I'll get them to start a new type set.
Soon I'm going to aim at collecting a few 1913 1st watermark kangaroos, and hopefully a few high value 1913 roos as well.
Login to Like
this post
"Your first edition 1967 Renniks alone should be a collector's item."
It is all in black and white and falling apart, but has excellent info on all Australian stamps pre-decimal - including the various watermarks of the K's and KGV's.
Login to Like
this post
Quite an interesting looking book David, it would be interesting to know what it would say about decimalisation seeing that it was published a year later.
After 49 years and noticeably used a great deal, age has caught up with it, and the information then would have been spot on, now nearly 50 years has gone by and there are stamps being discovered from 1913 to 1966, but that seems to not affect the information value of that book.
Nevertheless it still has pride and place in the reference library of early pre-decimal and early decimal Australian stamps.
Login to Like
this post
Hi Robert,
Actually it says nothing specific about decimal currency. Just lists the first issues in 1966 as "QUEEN ELIZABETH DEFINITIVE SERIES Decimal Currency, 14th February 1966" and proceeds to list the stamps.
What is more interesting is the page that has the engraved KGV.
Notice the paper types of the second stamp which reads "War savings paper". I wonder what that is.
Just as well I am sticking to a 'simplified' listing with these stamps. You would go around the bend trying to collect them all.
Cheers,
David
Login to Like
this post
There is really no such paper, it's really a title given to the paper.
Many sheets of recess paper were delivered to the Banknote and Stamp Printing Branch to print recess stamps of George V, unfortunately it arrived too late to be of any use to Harrison, and instead of returning the paper it was used to print war savings stamps created by Harrison and printed by Harrison.
Hence the name "War savings paper". True story.
The prices seem cheap in the 1967 catalogue compared to the prices today, but when you factor in the average wage then, some of the "cheap" prices are rather very expensive. To earn $50 a week in 1966 was a very good wage, and to buy a stamp for $50 then would be worth hundreds today.
The pages permeates with nostalgia (though I was merely 11 and still believed in girl germs when the book was printed).
I had an idea that the QE II stamps would be basic as they were the new order in stamps then; and I agree that the KG V engravings are quite interesting and I should add the same would be with the KG VI issues.
Below is the only overprint O.S. stamps I have of George V (I'm missing only one, the 5d with a bluish overprint), I'm also building up a healthy collection of George V commemoratives, which should soon be uploaded.
Login to Like
this post
As to the original question, I do not see any shortage of early Australian stamps in the market. It is very popular and there are a great many very active collectors. I just have to think you are looking in the wrong places.Auctions are your best bet and approvals are only good in getting the cheapest material.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
"As to the original question, I do not see any shortage of early Australian stamps in the market. It is very popular and there are a great many very active collectors. I just have to think you are looking in the wrong places.Auctions are your best bet and approvals are only good in getting the cheapest material."
Finding a reputable dealer who keeps his stock in order will also help.
Login to Like
this post
Two George V 1d Perkins Bacon Plate Proofs. Bright Violet on the left and Black on the right, I'm missing the Claret.
Well that's all my George V heads at the moment, though I do have nearly all the George V commemoratives.
Login to Like
this post
If anyone needs a clue as to how difficult it is to find adequate supplies of older material of Australia or States then read the reply I got from Avon Approvals in the UK this weekend. I had asked them to send whatever they could in pre 1940 mint/used Australia and anything at all in Colonies (States). here is what they told me:
'Dear Mr. XXX,
It is nice to hear from you again. Unfortunately we are unable to meet your requirements as the majority of our Australian stock is modern. (we have lots of that) But only a card or 2 of very early which really is not worth us sending to you. Should you have any other areas of interest we will do our best to try and help you.
Apologies again'
Avon is one of the largest approval suppliers in the world, I have used them as a source for British empire issues for years. This is sort of confirmed by what I am experiencing on Ebay. No problem at all if you are looking for modern stuff. I am being constantly outbid on any lots or even singles of states or earlier Australia. Even lower catalog material. There just isn't much out there on the floating market.
Just thought this would be of interest-
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Chinese got it all....
TuskenRaider
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
02:24:17pm
re: Earlier Australian Material
Are you a member of the APS? I'm sure that the Circuit Sales have plenty of books of older material. One just has to be a member to get the sales books. Now, you can check out the APS online stamp store and buy there. No need to be a member for the online buying, but you will be charged a non-member fee.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Yes I'm APS and a life member to boot. I tried previously buying from the books in different categories but found the same problem, lots of common stuff, short sets, etc. Seldom anything I wanted. Wouldn't hurt to try again, I guess.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
The crew at stampboards.com include many Australian collectors and is run by Glen Stephens, and Australian dealer. He's not everyone's cup of tea, but if you're looking for early Australia I'm sure he could help you out.
I've never bought from him but I get his emails. This isn't an endorsement; only a clue.
Mark
Login to Like
this post
04:13:10pm
re: Earlier Australian Material
Just visit Ebay Australia and under Australian stamps select "type" then "Pre-decimal" and you will find about 13,000 items to look at.
Delcampe is also worth a visit but make sure you use their international site which is the .net version.
Regards
Frank
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Must be some Ozzies here that have lots of pre-decimal dupes... ?
cheers
Steve.
Login to Like
this post
04:31:25pm
re: Earlier Australian Material
I am a regular visitor to Stampboards, and it seems to me that Kangaroos and King George V sidefaces are hoovered up by the serious collectors as soon as they appear.
Despite the alleged decline in the hobby generally it seems that Australia is bucking the trend - certainly in this speciality. It has to be said that in all my years as a general collector I have seldom seen anything other than the most common stuff readily available outside that country ( and that includes postmarks, which seem to be more favoured there than anywhere else in the world).
Of course the aforementioned Kangaroos and KG5 have been very extensively studied, there are numerous shades and plate flaws, and there is plenty of information out there - which always stimulates demand. The most modern stamps also appear to be readily available used just after issue only. The most easily available stamps appear to be 1946 to the mid 1970s,particularly used, and this seems to be as a result of high mail usage coupled with a boom in collecting.
Malcolm
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"1946 to the mid 1970s,particularly used, and this seems to be as a result of high mail usage coupled with a boom in collecting."
Although I have loads of pre 1946 Oz. dup's - they usually do not get "listed" because Identification is so time consuming..
Different perf's, watermarks etc.. Just so much easier (for me) to list the easily identifiable ones..
Stevo..
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Here is a rare set of George V stamps I have in mint unhinged condition, it includes the 1d red Die 1, Die 2 and Die 3, plus the 4d in a lemon-yellow shade, which is a difficult stamp to obtain.
5 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Earlier Australian Material
Rob,
That is a very nice set. I'm jealous.
Regards ... Tim
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"Rob,
That is a very nice set. I'm jealous. Big Grin"
Tim, It is a very nice set indeed, it took me quite awhile to collect that set. I forgot to mention that the 23 stamps are of the single watermark variety. I bought the 4d yellow only two weeks ago, a final outlay in total of AU$3400.
It took nearly 18 months and much haggling to acquire all these stamps, didn't get them all at once.
The cost excludes the two proofs and a few inverted watermarks I have of King George V.
It would cost a fortune to accumulate sets of different watermarks, colour varieties and different papers, certain inks like the aniline that has only one purpose, the ink runs and ruins the stamp if soaked in water.
I have a scarce mint unhinged Green-Blue aniline stamp of King George VI.
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Earlier Australian Material
"Here is a rare set of George V stamps I have in mint unhinged condition, it includes the 1d red Die 1, Die 2 and Die 3, plus the 4d in a lemon-yellow shade, which is a difficult stamp to obtain."
They are spectacular.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Thanks damichab, the assorted colours and shades make the set stand out. It is one of my favourites.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"the assorted colours and shades make the set stand out. It is one of my favourites."
I think that is some of the charm of the older stamps. The design is the same but the differentiation is via the colour. Makes the set easy to look at.
This is my page of the same.
(The blank spaces, postmarks and centering just add to the charm - that's my story and I'm sticking to it until I can afford better!)
- David
2 Members
like this post.
Login to Like.
re: Earlier Australian Material
"I think that is some of the charm of the older stamps. The design is the same but the differentiation is via the colour. Makes the set easy to look at.
I think that is some of the charm of the older stamps. The design is the same but the differentiation is via the colour. Makes the set easy to look at.
This is my page of the same.
(The blank spaces, postmarks and centering just add to the charm - that's my story and I'm sticking to it until I can afford better!)
- David"
True, you have a nice set forming, you're getting there, and those overprints I do not have yet, they make a set the more interesting. And I like how you explained the blank spaces, postmarks and centring, funny.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"Here is a rare set of George V stamps I have in mint unhinged condition"
Just looking over your KGV's again (well more drooling really), I notice you don't have the engraved 1913 1d red. Still on the 'to get' list?
(the one on the right)
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"Just looking over your KGV's again (well more drooling really), I notice you don't have the engraved 1913 1d red. Still on the 'to get' list?"
Thanks for the info and little heart scare David.
After reading your post I said "Crikey!" with heart racing and blood pressure rising and nearly collapsing reading that my sacred set may not be a set at all, I rushed to my catalogue and noticed that there are only two versions of the 1d 1913 Red were engraved (Red and Pale Red), and I do not have either two.
I don't think they belong to my set, anyway, to make sure I'm going to have a little talk to the specialist that helped me put that set together; if it was an oversight both the varieties will be added and then I'll re-upload the images.
I consider your over-salivating a compliment.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"two versions of the 1d 1913 Red were engraved (Red and Pale Red)"
My trusty catalogue (1967 "Renniks Australian Stamp Guide" first edition) has only one, that being "Red and shades of red". Just checked the Seven Seas and that has the two varieties you mention. The Renniks "Stamps of Australia" has the wrong picture!
"I don't think they belong to my set, anyway,"
Being a completely different bird, kangaroo and numbering font, you could get away with that. Tis why I have mine separated from the rest - it is the same but different!
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Your first edition 1967 Renniks alone should be a collector's item. If the two reds are different to the set I have, I'll get them to start a new type set.
Soon I'm going to aim at collecting a few 1913 1st watermark kangaroos, and hopefully a few high value 1913 roos as well.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
"Your first edition 1967 Renniks alone should be a collector's item."
It is all in black and white and falling apart, but has excellent info on all Australian stamps pre-decimal - including the various watermarks of the K's and KGV's.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Quite an interesting looking book David, it would be interesting to know what it would say about decimalisation seeing that it was published a year later.
After 49 years and noticeably used a great deal, age has caught up with it, and the information then would have been spot on, now nearly 50 years has gone by and there are stamps being discovered from 1913 to 1966, but that seems to not affect the information value of that book.
Nevertheless it still has pride and place in the reference library of early pre-decimal and early decimal Australian stamps.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Hi Robert,
Actually it says nothing specific about decimal currency. Just lists the first issues in 1966 as "QUEEN ELIZABETH DEFINITIVE SERIES Decimal Currency, 14th February 1966" and proceeds to list the stamps.
What is more interesting is the page that has the engraved KGV.
Notice the paper types of the second stamp which reads "War savings paper". I wonder what that is.
Just as well I am sticking to a 'simplified' listing with these stamps. You would go around the bend trying to collect them all.
Cheers,
David
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
There is really no such paper, it's really a title given to the paper.
Many sheets of recess paper were delivered to the Banknote and Stamp Printing Branch to print recess stamps of George V, unfortunately it arrived too late to be of any use to Harrison, and instead of returning the paper it was used to print war savings stamps created by Harrison and printed by Harrison.
Hence the name "War savings paper". True story.
The prices seem cheap in the 1967 catalogue compared to the prices today, but when you factor in the average wage then, some of the "cheap" prices are rather very expensive. To earn $50 a week in 1966 was a very good wage, and to buy a stamp for $50 then would be worth hundreds today.
The pages permeates with nostalgia (though I was merely 11 and still believed in girl germs when the book was printed).
I had an idea that the QE II stamps would be basic as they were the new order in stamps then; and I agree that the KG V engravings are quite interesting and I should add the same would be with the KG VI issues.
Below is the only overprint O.S. stamps I have of George V (I'm missing only one, the 5d with a bluish overprint), I'm also building up a healthy collection of George V commemoratives, which should soon be uploaded.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
As to the original question, I do not see any shortage of early Australian stamps in the market. It is very popular and there are a great many very active collectors. I just have to think you are looking in the wrong places.Auctions are your best bet and approvals are only good in getting the cheapest material.
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
re: Earlier Australian Material
"As to the original question, I do not see any shortage of early Australian stamps in the market. It is very popular and there are a great many very active collectors. I just have to think you are looking in the wrong places.Auctions are your best bet and approvals are only good in getting the cheapest material."
Finding a reputable dealer who keeps his stock in order will also help.
Login to Like
this post
re: Earlier Australian Material
Two George V 1d Perkins Bacon Plate Proofs. Bright Violet on the left and Black on the right, I'm missing the Claret.
Well that's all my George V heads at the moment, though I do have nearly all the George V commemoratives.
Login to Like
this post