Australia on Queen's Birthday 1982

April 21, 1982

Australia on Queen’s Birthday 1982

A special postage stamp on the 56^th Birth Anniversary of Elizabeth II, Queen of the United Kingdom :

Issued by Australia

Issued on Apr 21, 1982

Issued for : A commemorative stamp is issued each year to coincide as nearly as possible with The Queen‘s actual birthday on 21 April. Her Majesty‘s official birthday is celebrated in most Australian states in June, and in Western Austral in October. The Queen‘s Birthday stamp depicts, in alternate years, a portrait of the Sovereign and a subject relating to Her Majesty as Queen of Australia.

Designer : Ray Honisett, Melbourne [Mr. Ray Honisett was born in Perth, Western Australia and studied art at the Perth Technical College. He moved to Melbourne in 1951 where he worked as an illustrator/designer before heading for London in 1955. Mr. Honisett’s first Australian stamp design was a 6c stamp issued in 1970. His 1971 Christmas aerogramme was awarded the 1972 San Gabriele International Prize for Philatelic Art, given annually to the nation which issues the best postal item on a religious subject. Since then he has designed more stamps for Australia Post than any other contemporary designer. His other portraits for Australian stamp designs include William Blamire Young for National Stamp Week 1976, Richard Byrd for the 50^th anniversary of the first flight over the South Pole, and Sir Douglas Mawson for the 1982 AAT commemorative stamp. Mr. Honisett is employed as a lecturer in illustration at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.]

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 27 Cents

Stamp size : 26 mm x 37.5 mm

Perforation : 13¾ x 13¼

Paper : APWH stamp paper

Sheet content : 100 (issued)

Printing process : photolithography on a five–colour Heidelberg Speedmaster press

Printer : Cambec Press, Melbourne

Name : Elizabeth Alexandra Mary

Born on Apr 21, 1926 at 17 Bruton Street, Mayfair, London, England, United Kingdom

About :

Portraits of Queen Elizabeth II have been featured on both definitive and commemorative Australian postage stamps. Buckingham Palace approval must be sought for all stamp designs incorporating portraits of or insignia connected with the Royal family. The Queen herself takes an interest in philately, and personally approves most of the designs submitted.
Definitive.
- The first portrayal of The Queen on Australian definitive postage stamps was a 1d stamp issued on 20 November 1947, the date of her marriage as HRH The Princess Elizabeth to HRH Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. The stamp design was based on a photograph obtained from the Dorothy Wilding studio.
- After her accession in 1952, stamps depicting Her Majesty‘s head in profile were prepared, again using photographs from the Dorothy Wilding studio. The date of issue for the first stamp in the series was 21 April 1953, The Queen‘s birthday. A separate design was used for the 1s ½d stamp, based on a bas-relief head of Her Majesty sculptured by W. L. Bowles and used for Australian bank notes.
- A new definitive stamp series was issued in 1959 to coincide with the opening of the Australian National Philatelic Exhibition. The portrait of The Queen depicted on the series was based on photographs by the Baron Studios. The final stamp in the series of six was a 2d issue on 21 March 1962.
- During the 1963 Melbourne International Philatelic Exhibition anew 5d definitive stamp was introduced. The Queen‘s portrait was based on the Anthony Buckley photographs used for the Royal visit commemorative stamps issued in 1963.
- The last definitive stamps depicting Her Majesty were again based on the Anthony Buckley photographs. The stamps were introduced as part of the 1966 decimal currency series, and continued to be issued until 1973. The era of definitive stamps depicting the monarch ended with this series.
Commemorative
- The stamp commemorating the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II depicted a portrait of Her Majesty based on the same Dorothy Wilding photographs used for the 1953/54 definitive series.
- New photographs of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were obtained from the Dorothy Wilding studio for the stamp design commemorating the extended Royal tour in 1954. Two designs were used: a head and shoulders portrait of the Royal couple, and a separate portrait of Her Majesty.
- A stamp commemorating the centenary of responsible government in New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania in 1956 included a portrait of Her Majesty corresponding with that on the contemporary 3½d stamp.
- For the Royal visit to Australia in 1963, two commemorative stamps were issued following the format introduced in 1954; a formal portrait of Her Majesty, and a separate portrait of The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. The designs for the stamps were based on photographs by Anthony Buckley, the court photographer.
- The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were again portrayed in profile for the commemorative issue marking the 1970 Royal visit. The stamp design was based on photographs supplied by Camera Press and Anthony Buckley.
- Two stamps were issued to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and stocks were made available during Her Majesty’s Silver Jubilee visit with the Duke of Edinburgh in March 1977. Australia Post’s Graphic Design Section used an informal photograph of The Queen and Prince Philip taken by Lord Lichfield as the basis for the design portraying the Royal couple; and a selection of photographs provided by The Australian Women’s Weekly for the portrait of The Queen.
- The recurring commemorative series introduced in 1980 to mark Her Majesty‘s birthday began with a portrait of The Queen wearing the insignia of the Order of Australia. The stamp was designed by Bruce Weatherhead. The 1981 Queen‘s Birthday stamp depicted Her Majesty‘s Personal Flag for Australia.
- Ray Honisett‘s portrait of Her Majesty for the 1982 Queen’s Birthday stamp was based on photographs supplied by the Central Office of Information in London. The Queen is portrayed in a manner designed to minimise the more formal aspects of her role as the Sovereign, and to emphasise personal qualities of friendliness and warmth.