Hello, while in a Sydney a few weeks ago I managed to get a few of the new 100th Anniversary King George V issue, this FDC included.  Being GV I couldn't resist given my interest in Downey Heads and most things GV.  Interesting stamp design and use of colour and a wonderful job they have done with the cancellation.

Australia Post wrote; A century ago, Australia’s stamp designs were “hot” political topics. Labor PostmasterGeneral, Charles Frazer developed the Kangaroo and Map design, but a few months later, his successor, the Liberal’s Agar Wynne, made plans to scrap it in favour of stamps featuring the monarch, King George V.

Together with the King’s profile, the new stamp design also featured a kangaroo, emu, sprig of wattle and the crown. Following earlier advice received from the British government about the depiction of the king on stamps, the Australian stamp would feature the same royal profile as depicted on Great Britain’s stamps.

The George V stamp was a 1d denomination for basic letter postage within Australia and to British Empire countries. With a view to making the stamp look impressive it was decided to use intaglio with an initial print quantity of only 1.2 million, when the stamp was first issued on 9 December 1913. A further supply of 1.1 million 1d stamps was released in March 1914.

The first release of the 1d letterpress George V stamp occurred at the general post offices of Sydney and Melbourne on 17 July 1914. Production of the 1d Kangaroo and Map stamp now ceased. Agar Wynne had issued a King’s head stamp for 1d basic letter postage.

I am back in Sydney in a few weeks and if you are ordering stamps from my Bidstart Store and would like me to use these stamps when I mail your order please write to me and I will, until my supply of them runs out. If the postage is high enough I will even try to use one of the Miniature Sheets on the mailing to you.  Worth filling a few gaps in your collection surely just to get these.

Have a great weekend .... Michael

www.cddstamps.com