Australia Post has celebrated Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee with two new stamps marking her 70th year on the throne.
The stamps depict the queen’s portrait in 1952 and 2019, respectively, emphasizing the longevity of her reign. The designs also emphasize the colour platinum and include a rendition of St. Edward’s Crown, which is part of the queen’s cypher.
Australia Post Group Philatelic Manager Michael Zsolt said the new royal stamps are an incredibly important element of the Australia Post stamp program and form part of a long-standing tradition.
“Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the most featured person on Australian stamps, and we were the first postal authority in the Commonwealth to produce a stamp for the queen’s birthday each year,” said Zsolt. “We’re delighted to be celebrating another of Her Majesty’s important milestones with these new stamps, which I am sure will be a welcome sight on any letter and an exciting addition to collections across the world.”
Sonia Young, of the Australia Post Design Studio, designed the new issues.
Australia Post previously released stamps to commemorate the queen’s golden and diamond jubilee.
1952 DESIGN
The domestic-rate stamp features a photograph of the queen taken on April 15, 1952, by Dorothy Wilding, the first woman appointed as an official royal photographer.
The portrait forms part of the collection of the National Portrait Gallery in London, England. Portraits from this photoshoot helped to create the queen’s likeness on new coins, banknotes and stamps, including in Australia and Canada.
A $3.50 international-rate stamp features a 2019 photograph.
2019 DESIGN
The international-rate stamp features a photograph by Max Mumby of Indigo/Getty Images showing the queen at an event marking the British Airways centenary in 2019.
The stamps and associated collectibles, including a first-day cover, stamp pack and set of maxicards, are on sale as of April 5 online at auspost.com.au/stamps.