What is Pelure paper and is it used on Australian stamps? Pelure paper also known as onion skin paper is a very thin, lightweight, strong, though brittle in appearance and often translucent paper. Though not made from onions, it superficially resembles their thin, papery skins.

The only stamp used in the KGVI era to be printed on Pelure paper was the 1939 Die II printing. The Die I printed in 1937 had the “halo” background effect which was publicly criticised. The “onion skin” effect can be easily seen on the stamp displayed compared to a thin paper stamp from the same year.

Also, there is a complete set of Coats-of-Arm thin paper, as a set it is extremely rare, with a bonus alongside the set is a thin paper £2 with roller flaw, a very rare combination.

The thin paper 5/- is in a deep carmine shade from sheets with imprint issued during 1951 opposed to the thick paper 5/- which was printed on April 11, 1949. The thin paper measures .085mm compared with the normal thickness of 0.11mm.

There were no issues of a 10/- thin paper. The £1 is in a bright blue shade and like the 5/- was printed in 1951 with a paper thickness of 0.085mm. The £2 is in a green shade and like the 5/- and £1 were issued in 1951, the paper thickness the same as the 5/- and £1.