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Australian Online Stamp Catalogue

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Numbering System

The number system is made up of three sets of numbers, separated by dashes (1-1-1) with different suffixes to identifythe type.

The first number denotes the stamp or group of stamps, the second number denotes a change in colour and/or amount or value, the third number can be a change in perforation, a different stamp in the same set or design, the same stamp with a printing error, making it different from the first issue, the difference between Lick & Stick or Peel & Stick.

A small letter is at times used to denote something odd (i.e. three Specimen stamps of different lettering or Font size, issued for the same stamp will have a suffix of a, b, c, etc. depending on the number of stamps involved).

The Prefixes are:

Commonwealth Issues = A, (although this prefix is not actively listed with in the catalogue).

The Colonial Issues are:

N = New South Wales;

Q = Queensland;

S = South Australia;

T = Tasmania;

V = Victoria;

W = Western Australia.

The suffixes are:

BK = Booklet Pane;

BK OP = Booklet Pane Overprinted for a Show, Expo or Special Event;

a BK = Booklet Cover;

a BK OP = Booklet Cover Overprinted for a Show, Expo or Special Event;

BX - Issued box of stamps (can be a 100 or 200 roll of stamps), generally Peel & Stick type;

C = Cinderella or stamps with No postal validity;

CB = Cheque Book (usually 20 Booklets, stapled together)

CP = Counter Printed stamps (Computer generated at the counter)

GS = Gutter Strip;

MS = Miniature Sheet;

MS OP = Miniature Sheet Overprinted (a miniature sheet overprinted for a Show, Expo or Special Event)

OF = BCOF or British Combined Occupational Forces, Japan;

OP = Overprint on an already issued Booklet, Miniature Sheet or Sheetlet;

OS = Large Punctured OS or Official Service;

PB = Prestige Booklet;

PC = Complete Normal Pane;

PCR = Complete Reverse Pane;

POS = Printed OS or Official Service;

SESS = Special Event Souvenir Sheetlet;

SH = Sheetlet of 5, 10 or 20 stamps;

SOS - Small Punctured OS or Official Service;

SP = Stamp Pack (an officially packed set or group of stamps)

SPEC = Specimen Overprint (all types);

SS = Se-tenant Pair, Block, Set or Strip;

TB = Tete-beche Pair, Block, Set or Strip;

VP = Vertical Pair or Strip (the same as SS except in vertical format).