1913 Kangaroo & Map
Designer: William Blamire Young - Engraver: Samuel Reading - Printer: J.B. Cooke
Except for the 1945-48, 2/- stamp, one die was used to print ALL Kangaroo & Map stamps, the value was simply changed by the insertion of value "plugs."
Perforation has been listed as 12 or 11½ x 12, the actual size is 11.7 x 11.8 closer to 11¾ or 15 holes per inch.
All stamps are listed in value order
Watermark 42 - Large Crown over letter "A",
this has been called the First Commonwealth Watermark.
Issued as shown in brackets, with perforation 11.7 x 11.8
1-1-1 ½d Green, (16 January);
1-2-1 1d Red, (2 January);
1-3-1 2d Grey, (11 January);
1-4-1 2½d Blue, (27 January);
1-5-1 3d Olive, (22 January);
1-6-1 4d Orange, (12 February);
1-7-1 5d Brown, (16 January);
1-8-1 6d Blue, (11 January)
1-9-1 9d Violet, (29 January);
1-10-1 1/- Green, (21 January);
1-11-1 2/- Brown, (25 January);
1-12-1 5/- Grey/Yellow, (20 March);
1-13-1 10/- Grey/Pink, (20 March);
1-14-1 £1 Brown/Blue, (20 March);
1-15-1 £2 Black/Red, (8 April)
Specimen Issues
this £1 stamp was issued with two different font types
1-13-1 SPEC 10/- Grey/Pink;
1-14-1 SPEC £1 Brown/Blue;
1-14-1a SPEC £1 Brown/Blue;
1-15-1 SPEC £2 Black/Red
The Kangaroo stamp was designed by William Blamire Young, from an idea by the Postmaster General, Mr Frazer, along with a stamp design competition entry called "Baldy" (the Kangaroo) by Edwin A. Arnold of London.
J. B. Cooke was the Commonwealth Note & Stamp printer from 1909 until May, 1918, when he retired, T. S. Harrison (printer & engraver) succeeded him as Australia's Note & Stamp printer, then upon Harrison's retirement, A. J. Mullett took control in February, 1926, until a replacement for Harrison could arrive from England, John Ash of Perth, Scotland, took control of Australian Note & Stamp printing in June, 1927, where he remained until April 19, 1940, when W. C. G. McCracken took control, he remained in charge until April, 1963.
The above Watermark Series was only issued in 1913, with the exception of a one pound (£1) Grey Kangaroo, which was never released with the normal issue, but instead, only punctured Official (see 1-18-1a SOS).
These were the first uniform Commonwealth stamps issued in Australia, replacing the Colonial (or State) issues, although the early design stamps (Colonial or State Issues) remained valid for postage until February 13th 1966 (at which time Decimal Currency came into effect in Australia). The "Kangaroo" issue was in use until 1950, being then replaced by the "Coat of Arms" issue for the high values and the King George VI issue for the lower values.
