Australian Charity Stamps

New additions since last update:

NSW - the largest recorded block for the 2½d (2/6) stamp - top left corner block of 12 (4 rows of 3 stamps).
NSW - largest recorded multiple for the 2½d (2/6) stamp overprinted SPECIMEN - a vertical pair!!
NSW - a detailed description of plating of the 2½d (2/6) is now provided.
NSW - an amazing Letter Card sent by the Postmaster at Wiseman's Ferry to the Sydney Stamp Dealer Fred Hagen offering the stock of Charity issues then held at that Post Office;
Victoria 1897 - plating of the 1d (1/-) stamp is now included across all 42 positions.
Hence the flaws which people see on their stamps can now be traced back to the location of the stamp on the plate.
Victoria 1900 - an improved image of the magical and important Victoria Cross Essay has been added.
Victoria 1900 - a rare cover with a franking of the 1d (1/-) Victoria Cross 1900 stamp is now shown.
Victoria 1900 - largest recorded multiple of the 1d (1/-) olive-brown Boer War Victoria Cross - a lower right corner block of 4 with selvedge on two sides.

Last updated: 14 February 2026.

From 1897, three of the Australian Colonies began to issue postage stamps with a radically different purpose. The stamps were still intended to pay for the costs involved in posting a letter but they also raised money which was given to a designated Charity. Stamps with such a double purpose are referred to as being semi-postal stamps.

The cost of this type of stamp was therefore more than the normal postage cost. The difference between the purchase cost and the postal rate was the amount donated to the philanthropic cause supported by the issue.

New South Wales was the first postal authority in the world to issue such stamps - in June 1897. The were issued to raise funds for the NSW Consumptives Home. 1d NSW 200

Victoria followed the example set by NSW and issued its set of two Hospital Fund Charity stamps in October 1897. 1d Vic 97 250

Victoria issued a second set of two Patriotic Fund stamps in May 1900. 1d Vic 00

Finally Queensland issued a set of two Patriotic Fund stamps in June 1900. 1d Qld 00

This web-site reviews the four issues of the Charity stamps issued by the three Colonial postal administrations.
There has been no similar issue by Australia since 1900. Many countries have however followed the lead and have issued their semi-postal Charity stamps - especially Switzerland.

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