Emergency Printing of 30c Counter Printed Stamps in Adelaide 2016

saphilatelist · Post by **saphilatelist** » 18 Jan 2016 02:14

It seems Adelaide Distributor of Stamps ran out of 30c stamps early in the week when the letter rate increased to $1 on 4 January 2016. To alleviate the shortfall the Adelaide GPO printed up an unknown quantity of 30c Counter-Printed Stamps with 'Adelaide 2016' literal.

These were distributed to Adelaide metropolitan corporate post shops that reordered 30c stamps that week and these Corporates also re-distributed supplies to LPOs in their immediate area.

I first saw them at my local post office but the postal manager would only let me buy three sets due to the shortage.

I put two sets on cover to mark the issue and kept a set mint.

I am advised by the Postal Manager at Adelaide GPO that this issue is deemed to be a retail product, and NOT a philatelic product, and therefore No FDI covers have, or will be, produced.

He also advises that distribution began on 5th January to 'a limited number of outlets' so earliest potential sale date is 6th January as offices received and started selling their stock.

Supplies of 30c stamps were back in the stocks of the Adelaide Distributor by Friday 8th January, and no more counter-printed stamps will be produced.

To reinforce the treatment as retail products the stamps were distributed in packs of 100 stamps usually made up of strips of five as they are easier to count.

Adelaide GPO had them in strips of five or ten and the more collectable strips of six could only be sourced from those strips of ten. As distribution was only to offices that ran out of 30c stamps during a four day period only they will be worth chasing.

It will be worthwhile recording where stamps have appeared. I saw them at Torrensville, and the Adelaide GPO. I visited Gawler PO on Saturday 9th to be told they had them but had sold out.

One of the local club members did a 'post office crawl' through the western and southern suburbs of Adelaide but the story was much the same. They either never got them, or had sold out.

Other offices known to have received supplies are Salisbury, Brighton, Glenelg, Hove, Oaklands Park, Pasadena, Burnside, West Lakes and Port Adelaide and all have sold out.

For those of you lucky enough to deal with kiloware and office mail please keep an eye out for these stamps and try to retain them on original cover. After my tip-off one of the local collectors did just that and returned a very few used examples - the earliest of which was postmarked on the 6th January. I would regard this as the earliest possible date of use.

I can confirm that the 'Adelaide 2016' literal has not been produced in any other denominations .... yet.

Who says modern issues are boring?!

Martin

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 18 Jan 2016 02:43

Be about the only POSITIVE thing to come about from an obscene 40% hike in mail rates.

I luckily secured a few sets last week, and not many originals will exist is my guess.

PNG did something along those lines as an 'emergency' issue, and they still get $100s a set -

http://www.glenstephens.com/overprints.html

MargoZ · Post by **MargoZ** » 18 Jan 2016 14:26

This is fascinating, Martin.

Almost unbelievable that in a Commonwealth institution, like Australia Post, individual states would have the autonomy to do this.

Maybe we will see a return to States issuing their own stamps?

Bring back the South Australia 'Long Toms' - LOL

BigSaint · Post by **BigSaint** » 18 Jan 2016 14:34

Martin

Thank you for the heads up.

Brad

jaywalker · Post by **jaywalker** » 18 Jan 2016 16:56

Received my auction catalogue from Hallmark today - no matter how many times I look, I did not get a 30c CPS stamp

But I'll keep looking...

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 18 Jan 2016 17:05

Crikey! Very Interesting, thought these things were phased out years ago.

I got a bunch of 45c ones mint recently and used them for mailing to give customers something nice VFU that isn't easy to find.

Thank you for sharing.

brissypete · Post by **brissypete** » 18 Jan 2016 19:00

Adelaide GPO is the only location where a CPS machine was retained and is usually only used for producing special literals for local stamp shows and events. It is amazing they still have supplies of the stamps and that the machine is still functional.

The most recent show issues were October last year for the Congress and Salisbury events.

A nice change to see it being used for non philatelic usage.

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 19 Jan 2016 12:23

Adelaide GPO luckily still had the 22 year old Counter Printed Stamp ("CPS") machine in storage somewhere, that they have used for decades at some smaller stamp shows in the Adelaide region, and used that. (ACSC page 9/1122 etc.).

No other state seems to have bothered using that machine anywhere as long as SA did, and it must have still functioned, although at what speed the mind boggles, as it was designed for lowwww volume use I understand, and was slow.

I urge anyone reading this, to track this set of 6 Emergency issue of 30c make-up value stamps down NOW, as they will be a hot set, very fast is my feeling -

With 3 of the set depicting different Kangaroo stamps, the global demand will be super high.

As they were freely on sale at face value over many Post Office counters, and used widely in the commercial mail, I have no doubt they will be listed and priced in the Stanley Gibbons, and Scott, and ACSC, and other catalogues etc.

Our first ever true "Emergency" stamp issue in this country that I can recall, and 101% Official, due to a PO rate increase emergency, and no collector supply was made.

They were postally used for a few days in Adelaide this month at several Adelaide POs as can be seen above, and ARE about in Kiloware as you can see. So keep your eyes peeled!

Probably a $500 stamp right there, on a correct dated piece like this! Indeed as this is apparently first day of sale, may be a 4 figure item especially if on cover, and is not snipped off?

This First recorded usage on cover of the new 50c "Priority" Label, despite being 100% Philatelic, sold here for $A200 -

https://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=67472

I phoned Adelaide's leading dealer today and he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about, so news travels slowly down there, and his office is not terribly far from the Torrensville PO where SAPhilatelist cover above is cancelled.

Rod Perry · Post by **Rod Perry** » 19 Jan 2016 12:55

Agree with Glen; modern rarity which occurred right under our noses.

My picks?:

1. Commercial use on intact cover January 6, 2016 (apparent First Day)

2. Commercial use on intact cover January 7-8, 2016 (Martin, in the introductory, states "Supplies of 30c stamps were back in the stocks of the Adelaide Distributor by Friday 8th January and no more counter-printed stamps will be produced." )

3. Obvious commercial use after January 8, 2016, but not after January 17, by which time "the cat was out of the bag"

Any reader with a "1" or "2", in particular, might like to list on this thread for "Best offer" (by a given date), so we can establish where the market for such items might be, at least in these early days of discovery?

Rod

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 19 Jan 2016 13:53

Yes I asked Martin if the used one he showed above was a full cover, or a kiloware piece.

Rod knows this area far better than me re prices, but I imagine 3 figure territory would be the starting point for it? I am guessing that one is not for sale, but others may well turn up in Kiloware when the news is out. As Rod points out, cancel date will be VERY important re value.

Th few mint sets I have here i was tempted to use on real Registered covers but chances of damage in mail or market pen cancels was too great, the way is run these days.

Agree this issue is a "a modern rarity which occurred right under our noses."

My sister lives in Adelaide so I asked her to drive a few PO's in her Southern Adelaide area (O'Halloran Hill) and asked if they had any of these 30c values, and just got this reply.

"Went to 5 post offices today, but none of them had any, and they didn't receive any of them. Sorry."

5 POs is hardly a large sample, but the large Marion Shopping Centre was one, a full AP Corporate office, as I understand it.

Hugh Jefferies MBE emailed me to say he is tidying up the next SG "Australia" right now and I'll mention this issue to him. I see no reason whatever that these would not get full SG and Scott listing and pricing.

Glen

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 19 Jan 2016 19:12

An overseas member has asked me exactly what a Counter Printed Stamps (CPS) stamp is.

In essence it is a pre-printed roll of labels with the stamp designs (6 of them) printed as perforated stamps on the roll sequentially, and the operator can added a face value at will on the machine key pad, and add the black wording along base at will - limited to a dozen or so characters.

The stamps are then peeled off the flat waxy backing paper, and affixed to mail, just like the 'peel and stick' stamps are, from booklets or coil rolls today etc.

As can be seen from the micro-print "1994" imprint on this stamp at lower right, each GPO was issued with these machines 22 years back, along with the boxes of peel and stick base printed rolls.

Adelaide was the only GPO who used these machines in recent decades, albeit only once or twice a year for small weekend stamp shows. The units from other states having long ago been scrapped.

Given the abject failure of HQ to pre-print enough 30c Crocodile stamps for the make up rate to $1, using the current 70c stamps, Adelaide was the only Distributor Of Stamps to essentially have on hand their own stamp printing equipment, for when the 30c values ran out.

I asked several large dealers today if they could think of ANY other instance since Federation in 1901 where a State Capital PO had printed their own perforated stamps, to cover a shortage of a needed value, and the answer was a universal "NO", so these might well be a lot more significant than some imagine, on a quick glance.

Officially printed by Australia Post, for a short term Emergency requirement, not per-announced to anyone, and no philatelic supplies whatever obtainable or made available. Collectors were only aware these existed, when one turned up on office mail in Adelaide.

Glen

stampingpaws · Post by **stampingpaws** » 20 Jan 2016 19:36

One MUH set on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111873380609

A$81.00 with 7 bidders, and with 4 days to go.

Already out of my league.

Best wishes

Post by **GlenStephens** » 21 Jan 2016 17:00

Typical of many/most ebay sellers, almost no relevant background detail, so surprised it got that high already.

stampchris · Post by **stampchris** » 22 Jan 2016 08:29

GlenStephens wrote:Hugh Jefferies MBE emailed me to say he is tidying up the next SG "Australia" right now and I'll mention this issue to him. I see no reason whatever that these would not get full SG and Scott listing and pricing.

Glen

Given SG give the Irish 'Stamps on a Roll' full catalogue status then they should list these. Like our CPS stamps these are pre-printed labels which can be overprinted with any value needed. However, they then open themselves up to having to list the previous counter printed stamps too. I think the key here is these were specifically pre-printed and sold over the counter by Australia Post as postage stamps, and hence deserve full status.

My concern is that Australia Post may decide to 'cash in' and reprint them and release them more widely.

davidedw64 · Post by **davidedw64** » 22 Jan 2016 09:29

Good catch Martin.

Rod Perry · Post by **Rod Perry** » 22 Jan 2016 09:30

stampchris wrote: My concern is that Australia Post may decide to 'cash in' and reprint them and release them more widely.

The stamps on dated commercial cover/card, and to a lesser extent contrived cover, will always be the optimal collecting unit.

Rod

stampchris · Post by **stampchris** » 22 Jan 2016 10:58

Rod Perry wrote:
stampchris wrote: My concern is that Australia Post may decide to 'cash in' and reprint them and release them more widely.
The stamps on dated commercial cover/card, and to a lesser extent contrived cover, will always be the optimal collecting unit.

Rod

Totally agree. It'll be interesting to see how many covers survive.

Night Watchman · Post by **Night Watchman** » 22 Jan 2016 11:30

I don't think Australia Post will do a reprint of this counter printed stamp.
It would be too much of a hassle.

The main aim was to get the basic letter rate to One Dollar from 4 January 16.
They have succeeded in that mission

Allanswood · Post by **Allanswood** » 22 Jan 2016 11:59

If the CPS machine at Adelaide has not been decommissioned and there are left over stocks of the CPS stamps, they why can't anyone, as normal, go in and buy a set for themselves today, the same would apply for whatever value you wanted on the stamps.

Or did they resurrect the whole thing just for these?

There weren't many to start with and was our version (basically) of the UK post-n-go system.

Maybe one day we'll return to nice labels, worth keeping instead of white stickers.

Post by **GlenStephens** » 22 Jan 2016 12:55

Allanswood wrote: ... why can't anyone, as normal, go in and buy a set for themselves today, the same would apply for whatever value you wanted on the stamps.

Greg, all State GPOs had a CPS machine, issued in 1994 - 22 years back.

The other states have many years ago, junked their machines I understand.

Adelaide however, has used theirs for the annual stamp shows there etc, and can change the wording down base to whatever they like, as long as it does not exceed a dozen or so characters - "St. Peters 2012" etc.

The machine is not sitting at any PO counter as you seem to think - it is now in the bowels of Adelaide GPO, as it has been for the past couple of weeks, accessible by authorised PO staff only. As it essentially "prints money" I imagine it is under secure lock and key, like sheets of mint stamps in the Distributor Of Stamps area etc.

Given we have a public holiday next week, and it is the weekend now, January will be over before we know it, and I can't imagine any more being sold in PO's. There is no operational need for more 30c "Emergency" stamps, as plenty of 30c Crocodiles are on hand, in sheets of 100.

Despite many phone calls I have made to leading dealers, including to Adelaide's largest stamp dealer, (who had no idea what I was talking about even when I double checked 10 mins ago!) no-one in the trade has seen even even ONE set of 6. Phone around yourselves and check!

I am pretty confident that what exists out there now, is all that will ever exist, and my instinct on these things is pretty well honed, after a few decades of watching similar things evolve. 8)

In such cases "you snooze you lose" is the usual motto. I sold sets of the PNG "Emergency" set 11 original for about $25 for those who acted fast, and it rose rapidly to 20 times that, as news spread globally. And has stayed very high.

I recall Max Stern buying 10 sets for $A3,500 off me on behalf of a German dealer, and moaning loudly about my asking price. I said "you are most welcome to source them somewhere else Max, as I am near sold out, and a set of 11 just got $A740 at a Stanley Gibbons auction" and Max just laughed and said - "I realise that, and I tried that already!".

https://www.glenstephens.com/overprints.html

Agree with Rod Perry, that dated on commercial cover use from very early January will be true Gems of the future. Several $100s apiece I have little doubt, in an auction venue.

As there are 6 stamps in the set, the per stamp price is low, and if only 100 or a few 100 mint sets 6 were assembled and kept, they are always going to be "RED HOT".

The way these things are printed - in odd looking fragile strips, on waxy paper backing, held together by just 2mm of paper at centre, they end up in singles most often. See below.

As the Distributor Of Stamps for a couple of days only, sent them to suburban POs who had run short, in strips of FIVE (there are 6 different in the set) I remain convinced full sets of SIX will prove highly elusive. Even mint singles will be very scarce.

As stampchris agrees above, there is no reason whatever why THESE do not qualify for catalogue listing, and if that occurs, hold onto your hats!

I secured just a few mint sets of these right from the get-go from a collector contact, and those are near all sold, mostly by word of mouth, so I will simply be a spectator on the roller coaster ride ahead of us. 8)

I hear the leading UK "Stamp Magazine" is running a story on these, (not from me) and so the jungle drums commence beating globally.

There is a piece on these in the "Stamp News" magazine out next week I understand, (not from me) and I will write on them in the following month, and also in overseas magazines.

In Martin Walker's prophetic words in post #1 - :Who says modern issues are boring?!"

saphilatelist wrote:
Who says modern issues are boring?!

Martin

DJCMH · Post by **DJCMH** » 22 Jan 2016 15:26

And just wait til the American collectors of Australia read about them when Linns picks up the story.

Almost no one here in the U.S. knows about these stamps (almost no one, a few do participate in this forum regularly), and with the US$ really strong currently I would wager that prices will zoom by mid-2016.

Australia is a very popular collecting area in the USA.

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 22 Jan 2016 17:11

Folks, I will take a commercially used cover if anyone has one for sale. Tim

norvic · Post by **norvic** » 22 Jan 2016 19:27

If only Australia Post had NVIs like rest of the civilised world this problem wouldn't have arisen - and philately would be the poorer for it.

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 22 Jan 2016 21:23

Glen, could you put a set aside for me please? I am in Cambodia and have not been able to contact you. Tim

Brit-Col · Post by **Brit-Col** » 23 Jan 2016 03:18

stampingpaws wrote:One MUH set on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111873380609

A$81.00 with 7 bidders, and with 4 days to go.

Already out of my league.

Best wishes

Now up to A$221 with 54 bids and 1 day, 17 hours to go.

You'd think the seller could at least pick up the postage!

BC

Wucky100 · Post by **Wucky100** » 23 Jan 2016 07:11

Brit-Col wrote:
stampingpaws wrote:One MUH set on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111873380609

Now up to A$221 with 54 bids and 1 day, 17 hours to go.

You'd think the seller could at least pick up the postage!

BC

They are offering free postage worldwide, but if it was me I would charge registered post so no eBay bunnies could claim not to have received it, after all who would want to refund or replace this set! and to be honest, if I was to purchases this set I would be happy to pay registered post, but that's me...........

Brit-Col · Post by **Brit-Col** » 23 Jan 2016 10:32

Wucky100 wrote:
Brit-Col wrote:
stampingpaws wrote:One MUH set on Ebay

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111873380609

Now up to A$221 with 54 bids and 1 day, 17 hours to go.

You'd think the seller could at least pick up the postage!

BC
They are offering free postage worldwide, but if it was me I would charge registered post so no eBay bunnies could claim not to have received it, after all who would want to refund or replace this set! and to be honest, if I was to purchases this set I would be happy to pay registered post, but that's me...........

Actually, I totally agree. I was just joking. I doubt the seller imagined it would go this high. If it were me buying I would INSIST on registered, insured, tracked, maybe even hand delivered!

BC

P.S. We must be looking at different listings. I see A$3.20. No matter though as I'm not bidding. Just curious how much someone will end up paying for A$1.80 of face value.

Wucky100 · Post by **Wucky100** » 23 Jan 2016 11:44

Sorry Brit-col, I was looking from eBay Australia, local free post, but $3.20 for US.

But I agree, insured post for me!

Peter

davidedw64 · Post by **davidedw64** » 23 Jan 2016 12:48

nightwatchman wrote:I don't think Australia Post will do a reprint of this counter printed stamp.
It would be too much of a hassle.

The main aim was to get the basic letter rate to One Dollar from 4 January 16.
They have succeeded in that mission

Might prove to be a bit of an embarrasment to Mr Fahour. 30-yo technology used by old style posties to achieve an outcome, not the modern highly-expensive but dodgy systems he's put in.

DJCMH · Post by **DJCMH** » 23 Jan 2016 13:34

So anyone wanna predict where they think the set up for auction at ebay listed above will end up?

Currently at Au$223.50

I'm gonna guess somewhere between Au$300.00 and Au$400.00

(maybe a mod or the original poster could make a poll??

)

Armarantine78 · Post by **Armarantine78** » 23 Jan 2016 13:47

Yep, I'm expecting to hit $300-400 too.

Great story for Australian stamp collectors. A genuine rarity is awesome to peak up people's interest.

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 23 Jan 2016 14:20

The few savvy members who contacted me privately very early on, and got sets of these at very low prices, will be smiling from ear to ear.

That was fair for all then. "You Snooze - You Lose" in life generally. Original seller did not ask a silly price, and indeed I paid him more than he asked, and in turn neither did I ask silly prices, as I like to move things on fast for a modest margin.

Things change. 8)

I just sourced a few more sets 6 from Adelaide, and offered literally about 20 times more than the first ones were offered to me at, but still a fair price for both of us, and as always pay cash transfer same day, before I see goods, and when these are gone, I suspect then the fun really will really begin.

I got a request today to send a set on Registered cover to Russia, addressed to a Russian Cosmonaut currently orbiting the globe in the ISS - International Space Station who collects and competitively Exhibits these kind of things. I kid you not. (He will not be back on earth for a few months yet - literally.) From a good German friend of his who will pay me direct. Word of these rare sets is starting to travel globally, as they say. And so far not a printed word has ever appeared, except for here.

I do not believe any other dealer in this country has a set, or has even seen a full set of 6, except me.

Glen

stampchris · Post by **stampchris** » 23 Jan 2016 18:05

Glen, can I ask you to put aside one set for me? Can't see it mentioned in the For Sale part of Stampboards. Happy to transfers money as soon as I am advised cost and registered post/packing.

fossick · Post by **fossick** » 23 Jan 2016 21:41

Glen

If you still have them, 2 sets for me please.

Thanks

John G

GregN · Post by **GregN** » 24 Jan 2016 02:48

Glen

One set for me please.

Thanks

Greg in Cape Town

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 24 Jan 2016 09:17

Mailed sets to those members above.

That makes 5 different countries so far these have gone too already.

Anyone wanting a JANUARY dated cover sent at correct letter rate from Adelaide, sent to themselves in the real mail or to a stamp buddy, with one of these stamps on the cover as part of the correct franking, please contact me FAST, as the month only has a few days left, and this needs to be set up with my contact there. And we have a National Public Holiday in between.

Glen

DJCMH · Post by **DJCMH** » 24 Jan 2016 09:47

The ebay auction is at Au$261.00 for the set with 40 bids and a bit over 11 hours to go.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/111873380609

Bet the sniping will be fast and furious the last 30 mins.

Either that or someone is gonna get a set for not a bad price.

BigSaint · Post by **BigSaint** » 24 Jan 2016 10:04

DJCMH wrote:Bet the sniping will be fast and furious the last 30 mins.

More likely the last 30 seconds or less

GregN · Post by **GregN** » 24 Jan 2016 13:35

Glen

Please set aside a January dated cover from Adelaide to yourself Glen, with this stamp

Thanks

Greg from Cape Town

Global Admin · Post by **Global Admin** » 24 Jan 2016 13:55

Thanks Greg .. no real need however, and I still am talking my Adelaide contact into processing these in the next couple days, as January cds dates from Adelaide area on Registered covers will be the absolute key for postally used covers bearing any of these Emergency 30c values for sure. NOT as good as earlier January dates, but still nice pieces.

I can however, add it in with your mint set, when I mail that Reg'd overseas. Will add zero to mail cost. OR if he addresses it to your name to my PO Box, I can still sign for it.

Or I can offer it during the year as a fundraiser for something on your behalf, as this one proved and raised $200 for Charity recently -

http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=67472

GregN · Post by **GregN** » 24 Jan 2016 19:40

Splendid idea Glen..

A good start for the new year and offer it up for a fundraiser for charity on my behalf

Greg CT

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 24 Jan 2016 20:47

That auction is now at $405

brissypete · Post by **brissypete** » 24 Jan 2016 21:04

Auction ended at $1,051!!!

And some people say modern stamps are worthless

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 24 Jan 2016 21:05

Wow. More than $1,000.

Tassie_Stamps · Post by **Tassie_Stamps** » 24 Jan 2016 21:05

AU $1,051.11

Are you kidding me?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Australia-2016-30c-counter-printe ... 1873380609

Post by **GlenStephens** » 24 Jan 2016 21:07

49 bids. Both high bidders have very high feedback, so I very much doubt they are nuisance bidders.

All I know is, that a lot of stampboarders are now delighted they took the plunge in the past week on these from me, at a tiny fraction of this price.

Glen

Didge · Post by **Didge** » 24 Jan 2016 21:11

Thanks for mine Glen.

alexproskurin · Post by **alexproskurin** » 24 Jan 2016 21:29

Yes! Thank you Very Much Glen.

DJCMH · Post by **DJCMH** » 24 Jan 2016 21:31

Holy ....

Over Au$1,000

DarrenK · Post by **DarrenK** » 24 Jan 2016 21:51

$1051.11. WOW!!!!