Training Stamps

[rob1956]

Training stamps are commercial stamps that have been hand cancelled with "CANCELLED SPECIMEN ONLY" & "SPECIMEN ONLY", they were used between 1967 and early 1968 to teach postal workers to understand the new decimal currency postal rate.

These overprints were added to the postage stamps by a coarsely made rubber stamp, the 30 cent Waratah stamp seems to have the overprint done in pen.

Although these stamps were never meant to see the light of day outside the post office, they have frequently found their way into the hands of collectors.

  
 
Queen Elizabeth II



Native Birds



Native Plants



Australian Marine Life

Even though I was told it is a nearly completed set, I have no idea what the remainder is, though all that needs to be done is to see which stamps are not included in this set from dealers that may have some.

Unfortunately, the stamp dealers in close proximity (Sydney CBD and Blacktown) do not stock any, and the stamp specialist I bought these from, said that was all he had, and these came as is from a collection he bought.

All stamps are mint unhinged, if you know of a stamp dealer who sells these type of stamps, please let me know.

[mourningdoves]

Are there any Australian stamps that are overprinted "specimen" and weren't used in this training session? If they were going to go to all the trouble to hand-stamp these, I would have thought they'd make up a bunch of rubber stamps that said "conversion" or "internal" or "knickers" or something. But then, what I don't know about Australian philately would fill the Indian Ocean and a couple of parking lots in Perth.

[rob1956]

Many specimens were issued that were not training stamps, but these particular stamps were never meant to be part of a collection and the hand stamp was used so they would not be pilfered by the staff, what remained behind were eventually destroyed. Soon I will upload all the KGVI and QEII specimens in my collection.