WTF WWF 50! Sorting out some 2011 stamps and covers

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On 30 August 2011 Australia Post issued a series of four stamps and accompanying miniature sheets commemorating 50 Years of Conservation by the World Wide Fund for Nature, also known as the WWF. It was an Australian Joint Territories Issue. Sounds simple, right? .... Well, no..... During March 2024, whilst updating an article (blog) on Australia Post souvenir covers 1997+, the author came across the following cover in the Impressions catalogue for 2011 of special collectible, limited edition releases made available during November of that year.

This World Wide Fund for Nature 50 Years of Conservation cover, postmarked 2 November 2011, was offered therein with a RRP of $10.95 and in a limited print run of 500. It bore an Australian miniature sheet of four stamps, a specially printed gold foil label on the left side of the cover featuring a Chinese Giant Panda and WWF logo beneath the word Celebrating, two rectangular postmarks in gold which read: 2 November 2011 / 50 Years of Conservation / Cocos (Keeling) Islands WA 6793, and a print number such as 001/500 on the lower left corner in black. In the background of the cover was a pale grey representation of a clump of bamboo, the main diet of the Panda. The content of the reverse side was not revealed.

Whilst the cover was therein only identified as a special collectible, it could be classified as both souvenir cover and Prestige cover, such are the vagaries and confused nature of the modern, post-2000 philatelic issuing program by Australia Post. For the three decades following 1970 it primarily issued a distinct group of official covers - first day covers, pre-stamped envelopes and souvenir covers - for the collecting market. However, since the turn of the new millennium the variety of covers has ballooned out to the following:

• 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
• special collectible
  

Whilst this is confusing enough, the Australia Post stamp issuing program post 2000 has also been subject to manipulation in order to entice collectors through the issuing of expensive, special limited edition releases and varieties of both stamps and covers. This is now so confusing, that the author David Mallen has issued a series of Australian Stamp Variations books which outline the literally thousands of varieties of Australian stamps and related covers and special collectibles now available. An example of this proliferation of materials is seen with the WWF 50 Year miniature sheet and release program, hinted at in the official first day cover bearing four different postmarks from four different countries.

WWF 50 Years first day cover, 30 August 2011.

The four stamps were issued by Australia Post on 30 August 2011 with a denomination of 60c and comprised: (1) an Australian Quokka, (2) an Australian Antarctic Territory Southern Elephant Seal, (3) a Cocos (Keeling) Islands Dugong, and (4) a Christmas Island C.I. Shrew. It was a joint issue between Australia and its three territories. In association with the release, four different miniature sheets were released.

Australian WWF 50 Years miniature sheet, 30 August 2011, CTO, Melbourne GPO, undated.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands WWF 50 Years miniature sheet, 30 August 2011.

Australian Antarctic Territory WWF 50 Years miniature sheet, 30 August 2011.

Christmas Island WWF 50 Years miniature sheet, 30 August 2011.

It can be noted that in each of the four miniature sheets, the arrangement of the stamps has been varied. This reflected, in part, the original sheet 0f 50 stamps, which retailed for $30, and from which all four miniature sheet variations could be selected.

Original sheet.

At the time of release, and for a RRP $12.95, Australia Post issued a folder which included a block of four stamps from the stamp sheet, plus the four miniature sheets.

The release program was therefore comprehensive. It ultimately included the following items:

• Stamps 4 x 60c
• First day cover (block of 4 stamps + 4 postmarks)
• Miniature sheets x 4
• First day covers (miniature sheets x 4)
• Stamp Pack (4 stamps)
• Joint Stamp Pack (4 stamps + miniature sheets x 4)
• Maxicards x 4
• Prestige cover with miniature sheet
• Australian Mammals WWF Stamp Portfolio - stamps x 4 + four first day covers (exclusive) + folder
• Gutter 10 x 60c with design

It is unclear whether the Portfolio was an official Australia Post product, though a leaflet for it was included with Stamp Bulletin #311 July-August 2011. Also, it is unclear what design was included with the gutter strip on offer, as the sheet illustrated above merely includes the normal colour dots in the gutter strip.

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Australia: Airmail 1931 | Australia in Space 2024 | Souvenir Covers 1970-1997 | Souvenirs Covers 1997+ | WWF 50 Years |

Papua New Guinea: 1934 3½d Pink | 1952 6½d | 1952 7½d | 2/6 Lakatois | FDCs | Forgeries | Hutt PNCs | Japan | Leaflets | OS Lakatois | Overprints | Peter & Horse | Philatelic Bureau | PSEs/PSPs/Aerogrammes | Rare | Revenue & Postage Due | Souvenir Covers |

Last updated: 28 March 2024

Michael Organ, Australia