New South Wales 1853/54 – 1d & 2d imperf QV ( Stars ) Used set
The 1853/54 1d and 2d stamps were the first two denominations issued for the colony of New South Wales. Here are some key details about these early Australian colonial stamps:
1d Red-Brown (1853)
- Design featured the iconic Sydney View showing a semi-panoramic landscape scene
- Printed in a reddish-brown color on wove paper without watermarks
- Imperforate issue, with straight edges as sheets had to be cut apart
- Relatively short-lived, being superseded by the 1d dull red Sydney View in 1854
2d Blue (1854)
- Featured an engraved portrait of Queen Victoria facing left, similar to contemporary British stamps
- Printed in a bright Prussian blue shade on unwatermarked wove paper
- Also imperforate from flat plate printed sheets
- The 2d value prepaid the domestic letter rate
Both were printed by typography (surface printing) rather than engraved intaglio. They represent the first cohesive stamp issue for New South Wales after some earlier limited provisional stamps.
These imperforate classics from 1853/54 are highly sought-after, especially in unused condition with full original gum. Even examples with light cancellations and four margins can fetch strong prices at auction among specialists in Australian philately.
The 1d and 2d laid the groundwork for further new stamp designs and values issued for New South Wales throughout the remainder of the 1850s onward.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.