stamp bulletin stamp bulletin - Australia Post Shop
stamp bulletin stamp bulletin - Australia Post Shop
stamp bulletin stamp bulletin - Australia Post Shop
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Christmas Island Christmas<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Christmas Island<br />
First day cover<br />
2003<br />
45c<br />
AUSTRALIA<br />
Christmas Island<br />
<strong>Australia</strong> <strong>Post</strong> has been issuing <strong>stamp</strong>s<br />
for Christmas Island since 1993. It’s not<br />
surprising that Christmas Island’s Christmas<br />
<strong>stamp</strong>s have been popular with island<br />
residents and visitors, and thematic<br />
collectors throughout the world.<br />
Through the years designs have depicted<br />
tropical visions of Santa’s visit, incorporating<br />
island features into the designs.<br />
From 2003 <strong>Post</strong> will issue Christmas<br />
Island Christmas <strong>stamp</strong>s every second year,<br />
with designs available over two Christmas<br />
seasons. These designs are scheduled for<br />
withdrawal 31 December 2004.<br />
2003<br />
50c<br />
31 October 2003<br />
The issue<br />
There are two <strong>stamp</strong>s in the issue: a 45c<br />
greeting card concession rate <strong>stamp</strong> and a<br />
50c domestic base rate <strong>stamp</strong>. The issue also<br />
includes a fi rst day cover.<br />
These <strong>stamp</strong>s are by Melbourne based<br />
Bill Wood, whose previous <strong>stamp</strong> designs<br />
for <strong>Australia</strong> <strong>Post</strong> include Christmas Island<br />
Christmas 1995 and 2000. For 2003 he has<br />
created a fanciful depiction of Christmas<br />
festivities on Christmas Island.<br />
45c Santa arrives<br />
Santa is shown arriving at Christmas Island<br />
astride a friendly whaleshark and escorted by<br />
red-footed booby birds. The limestone cliffs of<br />
the island can be seen in the background.<br />
50c Santa distributes gifts<br />
Santa sits on a green turtle and distributes gifts.<br />
His red-footed booby bird escorts are now<br />
singing carols from a tree branch. On shore,<br />
Christmas Island’s ubiquitous red crabs receive<br />
their gifts.<br />
Technical details<br />
Issue date....................... 31 October 2003<br />
Denominations ............... One x 45c, one x 50c<br />
Designer ........................ Bill Wood, Melbourne<br />
Stamp size ..................... 30.55 x 30 mm<br />
Perforations.................... 14.40 x 14.0<br />
Printer............................ SNP Sprint<br />
Paper............................. Tullis Russell<br />
Printing process.............. Lithography<br />
Sheet layout.................... Sheets of twenty no gutter<br />
National postmark........... Christmas Island 6798 <strong>Australia</strong><br />
Mail order codes<br />
1399067 Stamps (one x 45c, one x 50c) ................ $0.95<br />
1399001 First day cover ....................................... $1.25<br />
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