stamp bulletin - Australia Post Shop

Silent Night
This commemorative issue of two stamps and a
miniature sheet is illustrated with nativity scenes
inspired by the Christmas carol, Silent Night.
In 1816 Joseph Mohr, a young Austrian priest,
wrote the words for the original carol. Two
years later, he asked his friend, Franz Gruber,
to write a melody and guitar accompaniment.
The congregation at midnight mass at St. Nicholas
Church in Oberndorf became the first to hear
the new carol ‘Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht!’
Since then it has been translated into more
than 140 languages.
The melody we most often hear in Australia
today differs from Gruber’s original score, having
been altered by travelling folk singers in the 1830s.
The version which appears on the stamps &
miniature sheet is the most familiar to Australians.
As one of the most popular Christmas carols
it continues to spread the joy of Christ’s arrival
and the message of Peace on earth through out
the world today.
The final artwork combines digital images –
including three dimensional landscapes and
photographs – with hand-rendered drawings.
The artist has substantially reworked the resulting
image to create a finished stamp design which
appears to have been created in a single medium.
Byron Bay
This stamp extends the International Range
released by Australia Post in July 2000. The range
was introduced to enable Australia Post to comply
with the then new Australian tax legislation.
Stamps in this range feature a distinctive
shape and carry International Post branding in
order to clearly distinguish international mail
from domestic mail. The shape is also ideal for
highlighting Australia’s unique natural beauty.
In Australia, Christmas means summer time,
so a magnificent beach scene was selected to be
our Christmas ambassador to the world.
The image is of Byron Bay on the north
coast of New South Wales. Cape Byron is the
most easterly point of the Australian mainland.
It boasts dramatic cliffs, beautiful views, protected
beaches and sheltered rainforest gullies.
Its mild climate, unspoilt hinterland and
relaxed lifestyle, has made Byron Bay a very
popular holiday destination.
Christmas in Australia
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