Colonial Heritage: Empire

Colonial Heritage: Empire is the first in a series commemorating Australia’s early philatelic history. Prior to Federation and the release of Australia’s first national stamp issue in 1913 the six former colonies issued their own stamps.

In 2013, Australia will celebrates the centenary of its first Commonwealth postage stamp issue, the Kangaroo and Map. This will coincides ith a world stamp exhibition, to be held in Melbourne.

This $5 stamp reinterprets the original “Chalon head” designs of Van Diemen’s Land/Tasmania and Queensland (in circulation from 1855 to 1892 and 1860 to 1913 respectively). The portrait of Queen Victoria is based on Alfred Chalon’s 1837 painting of the young queen in her coronation robes. Chalon’s painting, now in Belgium’s Royal Collection, is reproduced on the miniature sheet.

Title: Colonial Heritage: Empire
Date of Issue: 7 May 2010
Country: Australia
Denominations: $5.00