NSW 1d (1/-) stamp

The details addressed on this page are:

the announcement of the issue;
details of printing and issue;
large multiples;
blocks of 6 and or 4;
examples of cancellations on 1d (1/-) stamps off cover and a summary listing.

A guide to plating the 1d (1/-)stamp is provided elsewhere.

The announcement of the issue.

The NSW Government Gazette, dated 26th June 1897, described [#11,859] the design of the 1d (1/-) stamp as follows:

"The design has, for a central vignette, an angelic figure supporting in her arms an exhausted being, helpless and in need of sympathy. The vignette is surrounded by an ornamental frame, from the left upper corner of which springs the initial letter 'C' of the title 'Consumptives Home', which occupies the top of the frame; and in the right upper corner is shown a portrait of Her Majesty the Queen. At the sides the figures '1837-1897' are enclosed in diamond outlines. In the two lower corners the value 1/- is shown, while the space between is occupied by the inscription 'N.S.W. Postage, One Penny' ".

The motto under the picture was drawn from Corinthians I, Chapter 13, Verse 12:

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

The postal denomination of 1d covered the basic (local) letter rate. It appears that the stamps only had postal valid for two months.

Details of printing and issue.

Both of the N.S.W. Charity stamps were designed by C. Taylor.

The 1d (1/-) stamp was printed by the Government Printing Office, Sydney, using chromolithography, in sheets of 30 arranged in six rows of five stamps. Separate 30-on plates were prepared for each printing colour - dark grey-green, pale grey-green, brown and fawn.

Date of issue:	Tuesday 22 June 1897 - but valid for postage until 31 August.
Watermark:	Crown over NSW sideways (Crown to the right when viewed from front). There are four watermarks to each stamp (see Sheppard especially Fig 2 on last page).
Perforation:	12 x 11 (line).
Number printed:	45,000.
Supplied to Bern Bureau (UPU):	810
Destroyed under Treasury Authority:	4,110
Number issued:	40,080 (1,336 sheets).

After the printing, the lithographic stones had to be erased:

"To Deputy Postmaster-General:

I have attached a certificate from my officers who, under my instructions, erased the transferred, or working stones, from which the Hospital stamps were printed. I regret my inability to have retained the transfers on these stones – as owing to current requirements of the Department, the stock does not admit of the retention of work on a stone after the required number of copies have been struck off.

In the case under review there were eleven (11) extra, or working stones required ...”

3 September 1897 (vol. 1/157, p. 315 of Government Printing Office:
“Copies of Letters Sent (Departmental), State Records at Kingswood.

Norm Sheppard analysed the 1d (1/-) stamps in detail and prepared a list, in 1979, of each stamp with its unique flaws. Positions of any given stamp on the printing plate can therefore be identified. Sheppard's list has been modified in several places and a guide to the plating in included in this site.

A full analysis of each stamp in each row is also provided and can be referenced directly:

Large multiples

There is one complete sheet of 30 still in existence. It is in excellent condition and has selvedge on all four sides.

From the 1,336 sheets printed, only one intact sheet remains.

The left selvedge has the top half of the letters from the watermark NEW SOUTH WALES POSTAGE while the right selvedge has the lower half.
The watermark, with the Crown to the right, is clearly visible as too are the frame lines delineating the boundaries of the panes for when the paper had been used to print the 1d Centennial stamps (see Sheppard, 1979).

Sold by Rod Perry in 1984 and subsequently by Apex (UK) March 2007 (Sale 78, Lot 1062)

There are many multiples (in addition to the sheet) which can be collected for the 1d stamp although the larger multiples are unique items. The multiples can be summarised as follows:

a block of 20 being the lowest 4 rows of a sheet. It has selvedge on three sides. The third and fourth stamps in the top row have lost perforations to varying degrees (down to zero) and the top three rows of perforations on the left side show varying degrees of separation.
(Status February 2007 Lot 1458).
a corner marginal block of 12 (4 rows by 3 columns) with three stamps never hinged (Harmers of London Sale 4423/4 September 1984 Lot 1175; Matthew Bennett Int, February 2003 Lot 563);
two blocks of 10 (see below) - one block of 10 (2 rows) with selvedge at the top and on the sides and a second block of 10 with selvedge at the bottom and on the sides;
unused blocks of nine (H.R. Harmer Australia October 1949) and of six and a used block of six;
at least 14 unused blocks of four (distinguishable by their differences in perforation characteristics) and an unused strip of four;
one strip of three (see, for example, Prestige Philately August 2004 Lot 603).

NSW 1d (1/-) block of 20 from the bottom of a sheet. Largest multiple except for the sheet.
The third and fourth stamps in the top row have lost perforations to varying degrees (down to zero) and the top three rows of perforations on the left side show varying degrees of separation.

Status February 2007 Lot 1458; Prestige Philately 2009; Provenance Mike Berry (techgifts).

NSW 1d (1/-) block of 10 from the top of a sheet.

Status September 2013 Lot 1705.

NSW 1d (1/-) block of 10 from the bottom of a sheet.

Status October 2013, Lot 1639.

Blocks of 6 and 4.

There are at least 3 blocks of 6 recorded including that below.

1d (1/-) marginal block of six.

Rodney Perry July 1989 Lot 560.
Prestige Philately December 2009 Lot 239.
Ebay March 2015.

Provenance: Johnstone.

There are at least 14 blocks of 4 recorded including the 7 blocks included below.

1d (1/-) block of four. Center vertical perforations just touching stamp border and a blunt lower left corner.

Prestige Philately May 2008 Lot 169.

1d (1/-) block of four. Reinforced at centre and horizontal perforations just touching border of top right stamp.

Prestige Philately June 2009 Lot 353.

1d (1/-) marginal block of four with part NSW watermark in selvedge.

Spink May 2018 Lot 62 (part).

Top left corner block with selvage both sides
Left margin has clear watermark image of NEW SOU(TH).
Also some toning at top from gum spillage.

Status Auctions October 2013, Lot 1640.

Three of the other 1d (1/-) blocks of four can be easily distinguished from each other:

selvedge on top and right side and MUH (Millennium April 2004, Lot 42);
selvedge on top (Millennium November 2003, Lot 777);
selvedge underneath (Millennium Rarities October 2004, Lot 12);

Used stamps off cover.

There are a moderate number of used NSW Charity stamps off cover - see below for details. Almost all are singles although there are also a small number of unused pairs. Most used singles come in matched dates for the two denominations - possibly used on a cover and later removed. Some of the date stamps are very faint indecipherable.

A block of four with a Parkes cds of 2 December 1897 - with a matching 2½d (2/6) block - is known (Status Auctions July 2002 Lot 1248).

Used at Cobargo.
22 June 1897 - First Day of Issue.
Premier Postal Auctions September 2010.

Single stamps are scarce if in good MUH condition.

MH/unused examples are common but vary significantly in their condition (see below).

Generally centering is very good to excellent
although some sheets were badly perforated
and produced significantly off-center stamps.

There are certainly more than 22 good used examples for the 1d (1/-) with distinguishable dates - but there are probably less than 35 examples of good collectable items. Included in this total are three good examples on piece (for Sydney, Parliament House and Broke). That would make good used examples less common than unused or mint examples. Partial or indistinct cancellations have been ignored on account of a doubt over their validity.

The earliest recorded dates for a used single off cover - after the Cobargo and Tenterfield stamps - are:

25 June 1897 with Sydney 43 NSW duplex.
30 June 1897 at Glen Innes;
1 July at Parramatta. This stamp was offered at several auctions in 2012/13.

Most other dates are in 1897 (even to December) although some are known with date stamps a long time out of the validity of the stamp - 17 March 1909 at Sydney (Status Auctions December 2002 Lot 1005), Sydney 29 July 1911 and 27 September 1937 at Melbourne!! (Sandafayre October 2913 Lot 5341).

Examples of cancellations on the 1d (1/-) stamps, in addition to the excellent cancellation of Cobargo above, are:

Tenterfield cds of 22 June 1897 (FDI).
Full gum. MNH.

Sydney 43 NSW on 25 June 1897 (3 days after issue). On piece.

Ebay (techgifts) March 2018.

Parliament House 1741 duplex of 2 July 1897.

Status Nov 2013 Lot 1641.

Gladesville 28 July 1897.

Ebay September 2013.

Sydney 29 July 1911.

Broke 246 duplex of 9 December 1897.

Provenance: Hugh Freeman.

Of the mint/unused or used examples which are available in any of the four sets, there are unfortunately only a limited number of good examples. Many mint examples have no gum. Many of either category have severe creases or thins through being in albums for years and handled improperly. Such items really serve no purpose unless they have a clear and very special cancellation.
(at right): Backs of NSW 1d (right) and 2½d Consumptive Homes stamps showing badly disturbed gum and thins. These stamps were offered on Ebay in September 2013 and are typical of many Charity stamps from any of the four issues offered not just on Ebay but also at some auction houses.

Listing of known date stamps on 1d (1/-) stamps.

As noted elsewhere, the stamps were only valid for postage up to 31 August 1897. Partial or indistinct cancellations have been ignored on account of a doubt over their validity.

Date on stamp	From	Notes	Seller/Reference & Date (lot)
22 June 1897	Cobargo	FDI	Premier Auctions 26 December 2010
22 June 1897	Tenterfield	FDI	Provenance: Duncan Manins (June 2014).
22 June 1897	Breeza		Ebay Nov 2022 Status September 2022 Lot 2779; Status January 2023 Lot 2617 and May 2023 on Ebay.
23 June 1897	Haymarket	Haymarket 65 duplex (1.5) with date stamp centered.	Ebay December 2019.
25 June 1897	Sydney 43 (4:00 pm)	NSW duplex on piece. RH of the date stamp passes through the 8 of 1837. Has red A and R letters in lower corners.	Ebay (techgifts) March 2018.
28 June 1897	Sydney 36 (4:30 pm)	On RHS and rotated anti-clockwise about 45 degrees.	Ebay June 2017.
30 June 1897	Enmore	To Hairdresser in King Street Newtown.	Nutmeg Sept 2006 Lot 4866.
30 June 1897	Glen Innes	Has a Glen Innes duplex with a 132 barred numeral.	Status September 2016 Lot 1650.
1 July 1897	Parramatta		Status March 2013 Lot 1741 (also several other auctions).
2 July 1897	Registered Sydney	Date stamp across central area and rotated 80 degrees anti-clockwise.	Blue Owl October 2013 Lot STK-18808.
2 July 1897	Parliament House	On piece. Has the date stamp of the duplex almost upside down and inside the top left corner and extends beyond to the left. The 1741 duplex is across the design and extends to the 2nd last vertical line.	Prestige Philately August 2012 Lot 263; August 2013 Lot 358;
2 July 1897	Parliament House	On piece. Has the date stamp of the duplex almost upside down and well inside the top left corner. It extends beyond the top perforations. The 1741 duplex is across the design and finishes on the vertical perforations on the right side.	Status November 2013 Lot 1641.
2 July 1897	Bungonia	Selvedge at the right with the cds in the selvedge and extending to the '1897' diamond at the right.	Ebay March 2015 and March 2017.
3 July 1897	North Sydney		Ebay November 2022-February 2023.
3 July 1897	Newcastle.	Duplex.
5 July 1897	Darlington	Date not clear.	Status July 2003 Lot 1246.
5 July 1897	Delegate	Has 202 rays	Prestige January 2005 Lot 394.
5 July 1897	Sydney - Registered	Date stamp is lowered and rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise with part of a similar date stamp at the top.	Spink May 2018 Lot 62.
5 July 1897	Sydney 45	Sydney duplex twice on piece - posted at noon.	Ebay August 2019
16 July 1897	Cooma		Phoenix December 2013 Lot 529.
19 July 1897	Sydney	Marginal example.	Matthew Bennett Sale 256 Lot 560.
19 July 1897	Newcastle	Complete date stamp in lower right corner.	Ebay March 2015.
28 July 1897	Gladesville	Date stamp across right side of vignette.	Ebay September 2013.
28 July 1897	Parramatta	On piece - lovely item.	Status February 2012 Lot 1499.
29 July 1887	Sydney 36	Single with complete cds to right of centre	Ebay April 2023
31 July 1897	Oxley	Date stamp across central area and rotated 30 degrees anti-clockwise. Lower arc is on the lines between POSTAGE and PENNY	Status July 2013 Lot 1571 and previously. Ebay Aug 2019.
3 August 1897	Sydney duplex	NSW duplex move left, struck at 1 pm.	Ebay (techgifts) December 2017.
6 August 1897	Registered Sydney	24 mm diameter. Date stamp just crosses lower perforations. Rotated 45 degrees anti-clockwise.	Ebay October 2013. Ebay Feb 2019 (Rex & Fair).
18 August 1897	The Exchange	Rotated anti-clockwise 45°. Nearly touches the RH frame.	Ebay August 2019; Ebay May 2023.
21 August 1897	Parramatta	Single with Type 2 steel date stamp.	Ebay October 2016.
25 August 1897	Edgecliff	Single on plain envelope with selvedge to right and below. Addressed to Mr. C. A. Gilles at Edgecliff PO.	Ebay March 2018.
Posted after validity of stamps for postage ended (31 August 1897).
4 September 1897	Branxton	Single - Date stamp centered and rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise	Spink May 2018 Lot 62.
18 October 1897	Petersham	Single - has a duplex with BN 303 across stamp.	Ebay October 2017.
29 November 1897	Sydney	Single with date stamp inverted and duplex just showing at right.	Ebay December 2017.
2 December 1897	Parkes	Block of four.	Status July 2002 Lot 1248.
2 December 1897	Parkes	Single - just left of center and reaches to base of ONE PENNY. Rotated anti-clockwise by 30 degrees.	Ebay March 2015 Ebay June 2017.
9 December 1897	Broke 246 duplex	On piece. Numeral in center of inner area.	Provenance: Hugh Freeman
9 July 1898	Sydney duplex	Duplex is very faint.	Ebay April 2023.
2 March 1907	Newcastle
8 August 1908	Sydney 1	Date stamp across vignette.	Stanley Gibbons Feb. 2014.
29 July 1911	Sydney.	On piece.	Delcampe October 2013.