Tasmania was the 3rd colony in Australia to have issued postage stamps, subsequent to New South Wales and Victoria. The first issues known as the “Courier” for 1d and 4d values were issued on November 1, 1853. These stamps were engraved on the copper plates by C.W. Coard and printed by H. and C. Best, who was the publisher of the “Courier” newspaper. The printing plate contained 24 impressions of 1d or 4d stamp, which was arranged in 4 rows of six of each impression. The 1d stamp was the rate for town letters, and the 4d stamp was used for inland letters and overseas ship letters irrespective of destination. In accordance with this unusual postage being same for inland and overseas ship letters, the demand for 4d was much bigger than 1d. Subsequent to the issue of the “Courier” stamps, new stamps known as “Chalon Head” stamps were issued for 1d, 2d and 4d values in 1855, which were followed by 6d and 1 sh values in 1858. These 2 values of the “Chalon Head” stamps were used till end of 19th century.
I have an impression that research of stamps and postal history of Tasmania is not yet satisfactory comparing with other Australian States such as NSW and Victoria. It is probably due to limited availability of materials for Tasmania. I consequently executed some researches for the “Courier” issues as the responsibility of a philatelist who has reasonable number of materials for comparison or a study, and the part of it was announced in the article of the Collectors Club.
I started collecting Tasmanian Classics in 1976 when I was 20 years old. I was suggested to stop collecting Tasmanian stamps by some leading philatelists, including Mr. Viney in Tasmania. It was because of a fewer availability of stamps, which were already shared by some leading collectors such as Earl, Odenweller, Viney, Tinsley, Robinson, Purves, Hayes, Dale-Lichtenstein etc. (still missing a lot). I however considered that I was young enough to wait for these collections to be disposed…
When I started collecting Tasmania, I simultaneously started collecting stamps of Hyderabad, an Indian State. I thought that I would be able to obtain only one or two Tasmanian stamps a year due to its market values. I consequently thought to enjoy collecting number of Hyderabad stamps, which were much cheaper. However, the first Tasmanian cover I could obtain was the one sent to Hyderabad! I could not believe that there existed covers sent from Tasmania to Hyderabad and I felt some fatal power to have chosen these 2 states.
In 1890, Basset Hull published a research book titled “Stamps of Tasmania”. We needed to wait for another century to have the comprehensive book of Mr. Tinsley titled “TASMANIA : Stamps and Postal History”, which was published in 1986. He then summarized the researches on stamps, and this presentation is to update the philatelic records he then listed in the book. However I am just a collector but never be a researcher of stamps and postal history of Tasmania. I have been taking records of items appeared on Auctions. My personal contacts with Tasmanian philatelists are limited, so that I have no information for such items held by some philatelists personally. It is my pleasure if this presentation can attract some of you for the beautiful design and mysterious history of Tasmania.
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Three Blocks of 4 / Strip of 4 / Two Strips of 3 | Only 1 block of 4 is on private hand. |
Used Multiple | Block of 4 / Strips of 4 | Block of 4 is in museum. |
Earliest Use | November 9, 1853 | |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strips of 4 | Four examples (one in museum) are recorded |
Others | 23 covers are known in total, One 6d rate, Nine 4d rate & Thirteen 1d rate covers. 2 covers are known with triangle punch for official use. Double impressions are rare. Paper thickness varies between 84 – 113 micro meter. Earlier printings are thinner than Thin Hard White Paper |
“Plate II” was the first plate engraved by C.W. Coard, and “Plate I” was the second plate copying the first plate. Plate I was engraved on the back of the cancelled order of either 2d or 6d stamp.
Courier 4d stamp was printed 21 times, so that different colour shades are recorded.
Colour Shade | Plate I | Plate II |
---|---|---|
Bright Red-Orange | O | O |
Red-Orange | O | O |
Orange | O | X |
Pale Orange | O | X |
Dull Orange | X | O |
Dull Yellowish-Orange | X | O |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Pairs | Pairs are known for Plate I & II |
Used Multiple | Blocks of 8 / Blocks of 6 / Strip of 6 | About 25 blocks are known, incl. three blocks of 8 |
Earliest Use | November 10, 1853 November 24, 1853 |
November 1 (First Day of Issue), November 10, November 11 & November 21, 1853 |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Pairs | 8 stamps (incl. Strip of 4) on cover, 6 stamps (2 strips of 3) on cover & 4 stamps (incl. Strip of 3) are known. 5 covers with pairs are recorded |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Pair | |
Used Multiple | Block of 4 / Strip of 4 | Block of 4 is the rejoined one. |
Earliest Use | April 3, 1856 (on cover) January 9, 1856 (on piece) |
November 10, 1855 is the Earliest Known Date |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 4 | |
Others | There are 2 concession rate covers recorded. |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Pairs | Only singles in private hand |
Used Multiple | Block of 9 / Strip of 4 | |
Earliest Use | September 24, 1855 | |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 3 | |
Others | A cover is known to have been sent to France. |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Strip of 3 | |
Used Multiple | Block of 9 / Blocks of 6 | |
Earliest Use | September 12, 1855 | This data should be September 14 instead of September 12 |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 5 | |
Others | Unique example with Triangle Punch on cover is known |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | None | Is there unused stamp on private hand? |
Used Multiple | Strip of 4 | Block of 4 is the rejoined one. |
Earliest Use | July 18, 1856 | November 10, 1855 is the Earliest Known Date |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Single | Only 2 covers are known |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Block of 4 / Strip of 4 | |
Used Multiple | Strip of 4 | Block of 8 is recorded |
Earliest Use | March 28, 1857 | November 10, 1855 is the Earliest Known Date |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Single | Strip of 3 on piece is known |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | None | 4 singles are known |
Used Multiple | Strips of 3 | |
Earliest Use | July 25, 1857 | |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Single | 5 covers are known. |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Strip of 4 | |
Used Multiple | Block of 7 / Block of 6 | |
Earliest Use | August 22, 1857 | |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 6 | This was “Double Figure WMK” issue, but not No Wmk issue. Three strips of 3 (9 stamps) on cover is the largest multiple on cover. |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Block of 18 | Probably separated to Block of 9 and smaller multiples |
Used Multiple | Strip of 6 | Pen Cancellation Materials are excluded |
Earliest Use | January 12, 1858 | October 16, 1857
|
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 6 | |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Block of 6 | Two Blocks of 6 are known |
Used Multiple | Strip of 8 | Block of 8, Strips of 8, 7 & 6 are also known. |
Earliest Use | January 11, 1858 | October 16, 1857
|
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 3 | |
Others | Only One Single Franking Suburb Rate cover is known |
Order | Ingles | Printing Date | Colour Shades | Watermark |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | August 1857 | Dull Emerald Green | Inverted |
2 | October 1857 | Dull Bluish Emerald Green | Normal | |
3 | 3 | November 1857 | Dull Yellowish Green | Inverted |
4 | 2 | April 1858 | Dull Yellowish Green | Normal |
5 | 4 | November 1858 | Deep Green | Normal |
6 | 5 | February 1860 | Sage / Slate / Olive Green | Normal |
7 | 6 | July/August 1864 | Yellowish Green | Normal |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Block of 9 | |
Used Multiple | Block of 9 / Strip of 9 | Pen Cancellation Materials are excluded |
Earliest Use | December 10, 1857 | |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Strip of 3 | Strip of 6 |
Others |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Pair (London Print) Block of 8 (Local Print) |
|
Used Multiple | Strip of 4 (London Print) Block of 6 (Local Print) |
|
Earliest Use | April 21, 1858 | November 23, 1860 for Local Print |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Pair (London Print) Single (Local Print) |
Block of 4 (London Print) Pair (Local Print) |
Others |
Sequence | Printing Date | Printer | Colour Shade | No. of Print |
---|---|---|---|---|
1st Print | March 1860 | John Davies | Grey Grey-Green Greyish Green Dull Slate-Grey |
360,000 (1,500 sheets) |
2nd Print | April 1863 | Jas. S. Birchall | Dull Violet-Blue Grey Violet Bluish Purple Dull Grey-Blue Pale Bluish Grey |
300,000 (1,250 sheets) |
3rd Print | February 1865 | Government | Blue-Grey Slate Blue-Grey Dull Blue |
360,000 (1,500 sheets) |
4th Print | February 1867 | Government | Reddish Mauve | 360,000 (1,500 sheets) |
Subject | W. E. Tinsley | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Unused Multiple | Strip of 4 | Block of 4 is also known |
Used Multiple | Block of 6 / Strip of 6 | Two blocks of 6 & Five blocks of 4 |
Earliest Use | February 10, 1858 | |
Largest Multiple on Cover | Pair | |
Others |