Australia Post Souvenir Covers 1997+

Contents

Introduction
The new series 1997+
Chronological listing
World Youth Day 2008 confusion
Acknowledgements

1. Introduction

This article discusses and lists uncatalogued Australian and Australian Antarctic Territory (AAT) souvenir covers issued by Australia Post since 1997. It serves as an unofficial supplement to the Noel G. Almeida printed catalogue issued between 1982-97. Also presented is a commentary concerning relevant changes in the postal stationary collecting environment within Australia and its territories.

2. The new series 1997+

Preliminary research by the author undertaken early in October 2021, largely via the internet due to the COVID-19 lockdown, identified a number of covers issued by Australia Post since 1997 which could fall within the definitions provided by Noel G. Almeida in his printed catalogue Australian Post Office Souvenir Covers, issued in a number of parts between 1982-97. Amongst these were both special event and general purpose covers, alongside a proliferation of postmark variations. In contacting Mr Almeida to discuss the status of such uncatalogued covers, and providing him with a tentative list of possibilities, the author was notified by Almeida of the Queen Mother 100th Birthday cover issued in 2000 and which was clearly an official Australia Post souvenir cover. This spurred on the creation of the present blog to identify and list such covers. Those twenty five identified to date are described and illustrated below, with interim prefixes allocated:

* NSE (new special event cover)

2 June 1997 - Melbourne Post Office Pictorials
5 January 1998 - 200th Anniversary - Discovery and Naming of Westernport 1798 - 1998
19 March 1999 - World Stamp Expo - Australia 99
19 March 1999 - Future Mail / Future Post
1 September 1999 - The Re-opening of the Sydney G.P.O
4 August 2000 - Queen Mother's 100th Birthday
15 September 2000 - Olymphilex 2000
18 September 2001 - Centenary of Federation 1901-2001: Source to the Sea
30 November 2001 - Davis Cup Final, Melbourne Park
22 January 2002 - Encounter 2002 - Flinders Voyage South Australia
3 August 2004 - Boxing Kangaroo - Go Australia!
21-24 April 2005 - Pacific Explorer 2005 World Stamp Expo South Australia
27 January 2006 - Queen's Baton Rally
20 October 2008 - QANTAS A380 First Commercial Flight
11 January 2009 - AAT South Magnetic Pole 1909-2009 Flight
26 June 2009 - Australia Post Bicentennial - Re-enactment
28 June 2009 - Australia Post Bicentennial - 200th Birthday Concert
25 July 2009 - Melbourne Stamp Show 09
1 April 2010 - Show Time
30 March 2017 - 2017 Melbourne International Stamp Exhibition
25 January 2018 - Queen's Baton Rally
13-16 June 2019 - Sydney Stamp and Coin Expo

* NGP (new general purpose cover)

9 July 1998 - Australian Stamps (pile of Australian stamps)
4 March 2002 - Australian Stamps (Australian map with stamps inside)
8 September 2010 - Australian Stamps (stamp plus kangaroo)
13 March 2020 - Australian Stamps (outline of shapes)

These prefixes are followed by the date of issue or earliest known postmark, and a brief description which includes a comment on status. The covers were mostly available to the public at nominal cost, or free, unlike the expensive limited edition 'Prestige' and postal numismatic covers (PNCs) sold by Australia Post since 2005 and also discussed below following the listing. Such covers were usually issued in numbered print runs of from 100 to 15,000 and an average cost of $9.95 or greater. It should be noted this since the publication of the last Almeida souvenir cover supplement in August 1997, the variety of covers produced by Australia Post has increased, as has the task of identifying and classifying them. With this increase in variety comes a watering down of the distinctions between the various types, some overlap, and a resultant confusion. No longer is there simply an official first day cover or a special event cover, as in the past (i.e. prior to 1970), where they in turn substantially replaced the commercial covers produced by firms such as Wesley Cover Service (WCS). It is the special event cover which has subsequently seen an expansion of types and, as far as the author is aware, no clear definitions have been provided by Australia Post to a degree satisfactory to collectors. Within any recent Australia Post Stamp Bulletin or annual Impressions catalogue the collector will encounter the following varieties:

first day cover
souvenir cover
commemorative cover
prestige cover
PNC (postal numismatic cover)
PSE (pre-stamped envelope)
PPE (pre-paid envelope / postage paid envelope)
IPPE (international pre-paid envelope)
medallion cover
pin cover
magnetic badge cover
200 Club cover
gold stamp cover
3D stamp cover
minisheet cover

A good example is the status of 'P' (personalised) stamp covers, a description of which is provided below. There is also a general discussion on the state of souvenir cover collecting in Australia since 1997. It should be noted that a number of the covers listed here are tentatively included subject to verification as to their official status and classification. Verification by Noel G. Almeida is indicated by (NGA). This blog is updated as new information comes to hand.

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3. Chronological listing

Within the following listing the terms special event cover and general purpose cover are used to describe two types of souvenir cover.

* NSE1 - 2 June 1997 - Melbourne GPO Pictorials. Status: Not printed by Australia Post head office, but in association with D&R Stamps of Rosewood, Queensland, and the approval of the Victorian postal authorities to use the official Australia Post logo on the front of the cover. As such, it is deemed official by the present author. A set of 45 postmarks were issued, of two basic types - GPO Shop and Melbourne GPO.

* NSE2- 5 January 1998 - 200th Anniversary - Discovery and Naming of Westernport 1798 - 1998. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special event cover (NGA). Postmarked at Bass, Victoria 3991 on 5 January 1998 with a special postmark.

* NGP1 - 9 July 1998 - Australian Stamps. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post general purpose cover (NGA). No known release date. Earliest postmark seen - Melbourne Cricket Ground 9 July 1998. This includes the first use of the generic term Australian Stamps for a souvenir cover. It replaced the general purpose covers released on 14 March 1991 (refer the discussion below).

* NSE3 - 19 March 1999 - World Stamp Expo - Australia 99. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special event cover (NGA). Released with a set of 7 special Expo postmarks 19-24 March 1999.

* NSE4 - 19 March 1999 - Future Mail / Future Post. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special event cover (NGA). The cover was handed out for free by Australia Post at the Australia 99 exhibition in Melbourne, to publicise the Future Post initiative. They were not offered for sale. Special personalised bar coded addresses were also printed on the envelopes at the exhibition upon request.

* NSE5 - 1 September 1999 - The Re-opening of the Sydney G.P.O. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover (NGA). In association with the re-opening, a special booklet was also produced for presentation to dignitaries including members of the board of directors of Australia Post. The booklet contained a copy of the souvenir cover with a gold postmark, as opposed to the normal black. Both are displayed below.

* NSE6 - 4 August 2000 - Queen Mother's 100th Birthday. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover (NGA).

* NSE7 - 15 September 2000 - Olymphilex 2000. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover (NGA). Available with 16 postmarks for each day of the Sydney Olympic Games plus opening and closing ceremonies.

* NSE8 - 18 September 2001 - Centenary of Federation 1901-2001: Source to the Sea. Status: Official Australia Post souvenir cover - APost Stamps insignia on rear. Postmarked Morgan 18-19 September and Goolwa 29 September 2001. Cover signed by captain of the paddle steamer Industry. This was also a 'P' [personalised] stamp issue special cover, featuring an image of the paddle steamer. These thin labels / non-denominational stamps are attached to previously released stamps and used to denote a special event or theme.

* NSE9 - 30 November 2001 - Davis Cup Final, Melbourne Park. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover (NGA). This was also a 'P' [personalised] stamp issue special cover featuring an image of the Davis Cup.

* NSE10 - 22 January 2002 - Encounter 2002 - Flinders Voyage South Australia. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover (NGA). This was also a 'P' stamp issue special cover featuring the Encounter 2002 logo.

* NGP2 - 4 March 2002 - Australian Stamps. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post general purpose cover. No known release date. Earliest postmark seen 4 March 2002, Australian Philatelic Bureau, Melbourne. Officially withdrawn 30 December 2010.

* NSE11 - 3 August 2004 - Boxing Kangaroo - Go Australia!. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post cover. Issued with a series of ten sports-related non-denominational 'P' stamps / tabs on 3 August 2004 in connection with the Olympic Games being held in Athens. The Boxing Kangaroo cover was used throughout this period as a generic souvenir cover, with a variety of postmarks. It can therefore be defined as both 'P' stamp first day cover, and souvenir cover. See also 'P' stamp covers discussion below.

* NSE12 - 21-24 April 2005 - Pacific Explorer 2005 World Stamp Expo South Australia. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover. Refer Stamp Bulletin #279. Issued with a set of 5 special postmarks.

* NSE13 - 27 January 2006 - Queen's Baton Rally. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover. Issued with 20 postmarks along the rally route between 27 January and 14 March 2006.

* NSE14 - 20 October 2008 - QANTAS A380 First Commercial Flight, Australian to Los Angeles. Status: Official Australia Post special event cover. Postmarked Tullamarine, Victoria. RRP: $9.95. Reference: Stamp Bulletin #293, 24, and #296, 14. The A380 $2 stamp had been issued on 5 August 2008, with a corresponding first day cover.

* NSE15 - 17 January 2009 - AAT South Magnetic Pole 1909-2009 Flight. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special event cover (NGA). References: Stamp Bulletin #296, 10 and #302, 15, Impressions 2009, 8. Available with a limited edition collectors booklet containing a $5 coin, imperforate miniature sheet and souvenir cover, of which 500 were issued at $159.95; the cover was also available for purchase separately at $7.95. The stamps had been issued on 8 January 2009 with a separate first day cover. The address was printed on the cover and the postmark in three colours - teal, black and red. This cover best belongs in the Prestige Cover category as it was a limited edition and issued at a premium cost, though not listed as a Prestige item by Australia Post.

* NSE 16 - 26 June 2009 - Australia Post Bicentennial - Re-enactment. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special event cover (NGA). Reference: Stamp Bulletin #299. Issued over a number of days in association with the re-enactment. 5,000 numbered covers produced each day.

* NSE17 - 28 June 2009 - Australia Post Bicentennial - 200th Birthday Concert. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special event cover (NGA). Refer Stamp Bulletin #299. Issued on 27 and 28 June 2009. 5,000 covers produced each day, and two different postmarks available - Celebrating 200 Years and the PMG Postmaster General's Department.

* NSE18 - 25 July 2009 - Melbourne Stamp Show 09. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover (NGA). Refer Stamp Bulletin #299. Postmarks available for 23-26 July 2009.

* NSE19 - 1 April 2010 - Show Time. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover. Refer Stamp Bulletin #303 & #306. A generic cover was issued to be used at various Royal shows throughout Australia during 2010, each with a different coloured postmark and usually bearing the strip of five Show stamps - Sydney, 1 April; Brisbane 5 August; Adelaide 3 September; Melbourne 18 September; Perth 25 September; and Hobart 20 October.

* NGP3 - 8 September 2010 - Australian Stamps. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post general purpose cover. Refer Stamp Bulletin #306. Earliest known postmark G.P.O. Melbourne, 8 September 2010. Interesting examples of the use of the cover include: 1) the last day of issue on 30 June 2016 of the Emergency Printing of 30 cent counter printed stamps at Adelaide as first issued 6 January 2016; and 2) first day of issue of a series of MyStamps issued on 14 December 2019. All covers are illustrated below. Refer also to the MyStamps discussion below.

The following stamped Australian Stamps souvenir cover is perhaps the rarest of the recent set of souvenir covers where it contains a set of the six Emergency counter printed stamps at Adelaide on the final day that the machine was used - 30 June 2016. The six, officially issued stamps alone are catalogued at $4,500 in Renniks, and the covers are very rare, selling for circa $200.

* NSE20 - 30 March 2017 - 2017 Melbourne International Stamp Exhibition. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover. Refer Stamp Bulletin #345. Issued in association with four pictorial postmarks 30 March - 2 April 2017. A number of stamps were also issued at the time of the exhibition and the souvenir cover was utilised in association with the specific first day covers.

* NSE21 - 25 January 2018 - Queen's Baton Rally. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post souvenir cover. RRP: $10.40. Refer Stamp Bulletin #351. Issued with eight postmarks along the rally route between 25 January and 30 March 2018.

* NSE22 - 13-16 June 2019 - Sydney Stamp and Coin Expo. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post special purpose cover 'for those collectors wishing to make up their own shot covers.' Reference: Stamp Bulletin #359, 16-17. A special miniature sheet and four postmarks were also associated with the expo.

* NGP4 - 13 March 2020 - Australian Stamps. Status: Verified as an official Australia Post general purpose cover. Reference: Stamp Bulletin #364. No release date given, with the earliest known postmark dated 13 March 2020.

Refer Stamp Bulletin #373 October 2021 for a special series of COVID-19 related Mobile Post Office postmarks issued with this cover, and also #384 its use as a first day cover on 4 July 2023 for the new concession stamp design.

As can be seen from above, the ongoing identification of Australia Post official souvenir covers - identified according to the traditional Almeida criteria - is no longer as simple as task as it once was. Some fall into the Prestige Cover category, and others are difficult to identify due to the printing on the cover of modern stamps such as MyStamps which are usually issued as distinct, stick-on stamps. A discussion regarding some of these issues is included below.

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4. The World Youth Day confusion 2008

A collector coming late to the subject of Australia Post souvenir covers will be confused by what they find in regard to the philatelic material associated with World Youth Day and the visit of Pope Benedict to Sydney in July 2008 (WYD/SYD/08). A related souvenir stamp sheetlet of ten stamps plus two different tabs, and a postage paid envelope, had been released in November 2007.

World Youth Day sheetlet, November 2007.

World Youth Day pre-paid envelope, November 2007.

There were two series of stamps specially issued during 2008, as follows: (1) on 4 March 2008 in the form of foiled 50c, $1.35 and $2 stamps with the latter two also available as self-adhesive and with International Post labels; and (2) on 24 July 2008 in the form of a se-tenant set of five 50c stamps recording moments of the visit. Both series utilised the same first day cover, printed in a shade of grey (designated the type #1 cover). The first series also included the release of limited edition silver and gold stamps.

Type #1 cover (above and below).

A second variety of first day cover was used on 4 March 2008 for the special, limited edition, silver stamp and 9ct gold stamps. It was printed in purple and green ink (designated the type #2 cover).

Type #2 cover, with (above) silver stamp and special postmark ink, and (below) with gold stamp and special gold postmark ink.

These stamps were printed in editions of 500 for the gold and 5,000 for the silver, with print number recording on the front of the cover. The silver stamp cover retailed for $29.95, and the gold for $129.95. Though not listed in the Stamp Bulletin as such, the cover could be categorised as a Prestige cover as well as a first day cover. In addition there was a postal numismatic first day cover in teal colour, also issued on 4 March 2008 (designated the type #3 cover).

Type #3 cover.

There was a special cover with three bronze-coloured medallions issued on 30 June 2008 with a print run of 10,000 (designated the type #4 cover).

Type #4 cover.

Finally, there were two stamped covers / small folders containing uncirculated twenty cent coins and possibly issued by the Australian Mint or Perth Mint. One was light purple and the other teal. The status of these items is unclear, though they may have been official Australia Post product and have therefore been designated the type #5 and #6 covers.

Type #5 and #6 covers.

Stamp Bulletin #291 of March-April 2008 advertised a stationary set which also appeared to contain covers, though there is no further information about them. Non-cover material for the first series included a stamp pack, three maxi cards, gold and silver pendants, eight pre-paided postcards, and two folders containing twenty cent coins. A personalised stamp option was also available. All told, this proliferation of cover varieties for a single issue is confusing to say the least. At this stage none of the above can be categorised as souvenir covers and have not been included in the list above.

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5. Acknowledgement

In the compilation of this blog I would like to acknowledge the assistance of Noel G. Almeida in providing expert comment and advice on specific items for inclusion.

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Last updated: 11 March 2024

Michael Organ, Australia

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