The TPS provides the following reference material for collectors

These articles and checklists are provided for research and study purposes

Tasmanian reference articles

Tasmanian Registered Mail

David McNamee has researched the postal history of registered mail services in Tasmania from pre-stamp times to 1912, including rates, markings and Postal stationary and forms. First published in The Congress Book 2006, Rosemont: The 72nd American Philatelic Congress, 2006, pp. 122-148 , this article is reproduced by kind permission of the Author

Embossed Platypus used as Postage

Tasmania's embossed Platypus is occasionaly found on wrappers used as a postage stamp. David McNamee documents known examples and traces the postal history surrounding these unusual items. This article is used with the kind permission of the author and the Society of Australasian Specialists

Tasmanian Revenue Stamps

This article by Bill Lloyd-Smith is an excellent and quite detailed description of the Tasmanian Revenues with 21 colour illustrations starting with the Newspaper duty stamp of 1827 throught until the last of the Tasmanian duties in the 1990s. Follow this link to view the article.

Tasmanian Beer Duties

Dingle Smith and Martin Walker have written a comprehensive draft article on beer duties. The Authors welcome any contributions.

A guide to the Stamps of Tasmania

This is an introductory article on the postage stamps of Tasmania. Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the stamp issues from 1853 until 1913. Visit this article on line or download the printable version

Australia-UK Mails – The Accountancy Period

This artilce by Colin Tabeart provides important information on ship mails and postal markings from the early Colonial Period, as well as 10 images of rare covers.

Paid All - Tasmania/US Postal Convention 1886

An illustrated article on the Postal Convention between the US and Tasmanian Colonial Government, 1886. View or download the PDF file

The ‘Macquarie Plains’ Handstamp used as a canceller

This article records the known examples of the ‘Macquarie Plains’ hand stamp. It is one of the more intriguing of the makeshift chancellors used in Tasmania during the first allocation period (1853-1861).

Tattersalls and the Post Office - Richard Breckon

Australia's most famous Lottery was located in Tasmanian from 1896 to 1954, and had an enormous impact on Postal History within Tasmanian and the whole Commonwealth. Reproduced from 'The Australian Philatelist' V2, No 2, Winter 1989, with kind permission of the Author.

 

Courier Articles

Tasmanian Hand Cancels 1913 - 88:An up-date in 2001 Courier #31, May 2001

Three volumes of work(1., 2. 3.) provide Tasmanian Postmark Collectors with a firm foundation for the Commonwealth Period Postmarks. This Article, from The Courier #31, by John Hardinge, Robbie McDonald and Vytas (Jack) Navickas, provides an up date to 2001, including new finds, new early and late dates and additional information.

THE WRECK OF THE TYNE 1861 - John Shepherd. Courier # 44, Dec 2007

The John Woolfe collection of ‘Maritime Wreck Covers of the World’ was auctioned by Spink on 6 December 2006. The collection contained a substantial number of Australian covers including a Tasmanian wreck cover which does not appear to have been previously recorded.

 

Rarity ratings, Classifications

Circular Date Stamps on Tasmanian Pictorial Stamps - Rarity Ratings

The rarity of the Circular date-stamps on Tasmanian Pictorials has been researched since at least 19504., further refined in 19625. and 1975 6.. While still arguably still a work in progress, the Rarity ratings provided here, from Lancaster, 19867, is the currently accepted reference. .( An excell version of this table is available to TPS members and is useful as an editable checklist. Contact the Webmaster )

A list of the most common CDS found on Pictorial Stamps

This list of the largest Post Offices in Tasmania 1906 provides a useful reference. Collectors should be able to easily and cheaply find these CDS on Pictorials. Non-rated cds NOT on this list are be definition the scarcer of the non-rated offices.

 

Other useful articles

Artists of Steel

By Richard Breckon, the story of the engraved stamps of Australia and the artists who crafted the designs. Includes an excellent description of the process of printing the classic stamps of Australia from the 1930s to the 1960s.

 

(1) Avery and J Hardinge (1993) Tasmanian Hand Cancellations 1913 - 88, Part 1: Offices A - L (Excluding Hobart and Launceston) . Magpie Publications

(2)Avery and J. Hardinge (1994), Tasmanian Hand Cancellations 1913 - 88, Part 2:Hobart, Launceston, Other Offices M - Z, Magpie Publications.

(3)A. E. Orchard (ed) (1996) The Post Offices of Tasmania, Second Edition: Openings and Closings 1812 t0 1995(With up-dates to Tasmanian Hand Cancellations 1913 - 88). Revised and up-dated by J Hardinge. Magpie Publications.

(4)J. R. W. Purves in conjunction with Keith Lancaster, The Town name and date cancellations found on the Pictorial stamps of Tasmania (1900 - 1912)Philately from Australia, Mar 1950

(5)H Campbell, J. Purves, L Viney, Tasmania: The postal history and Postal Markings royal Philatelic Society of Victoria, 1962

(6) J Avery, P Edwards, O Ingles, J Purves Tasmania: The postal History and Postal Markings Part II Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria 1975

(7 )K. E. Lancaster The pictorial Stamps of Tasmania 1899 - 1912 Royal Philatelic Society of Victoria 1986