Celebrating the bicentenary of Lachlan Macquarie's governorship of New South Wales (1810-1821), this issue celebrates his vision, enlightened policies and building programme, which helped improve the colony.

This is the not the first issue to celebrate Macquarie, with a booklet stamp in 1970. Macquarie Lighthouse (shown on a stamp in 1968), is also named after him.

 
Macquarie related stamps from 1970 and 1968

Issue Information
The four stamps are issued in a block of four.

Gummed Sheet Stamps
The sheet stamps will be issued in sheets of 50 stamps (2 panes of 25 (5 x 5) with a Sydney scene in the gutter).

Sheet stamps

Gummed Gutter Strips
The gutter strip shows a view of Sydney during Macquarie's governorship.

Gutter strip

Prestige Booklet Stamps (Normal Version - 16 February 2010)
Having examined many sheet stamps, and seven prestige booklets (both perforated and imperforated), I've noticed that three of the prestige booklet stamps are subtly different to the sheet stamps. Then looking under UV light, all four stamps from the prestige booklet have a duller reaction compared to the sheet stamps. Interestingly, the same differences exist between the sheet and prestige booklet stamps from 2009's Favourite Stamps issue (see the image below).

Sheet stamp	Booklet stamp	Differences
		Sheet stamp has more brown in background image. Macquarie's face and wavy lines top right are also darker on the sheet stamp.
		Sheet stamp has more brown in background image (particularly noticeable in the house bricks). Vertical strip is darker on sheet stamp.
		Sheet stamp has a brownish tint. Stables image is darker on sheet stamp. On sheet stamp solid colour behind 'AUSTRALIA' is brownish-grey; on booklet stamp solid colour is grey.
The difference in reaction under UV light is similar to the 2009 Favourite Stamps issue.

Gummed Booklet Panes (Normal Version - 16 February 2010)
The prestige booklet contains four panes, with each stamp in an individual block of four. The booklet issued on 16 February 2010 contains perforated stamps.

 

 
Prestige booklet panes (click on each pane for an enlargement)

Prestige Booklets (Normal Version - 16 February 2010)
The prestige booklet issued on 16 February 2010 contain four perforated panes of stamps.

Prestige booklet

Prestige Booklet Stamps (Canberra Show Version - 12 March 2010)
Limited to 250 booklets, and only sold at the Canberra Show, this prestige booklet will contain imperforate panes. More information is on my Canberra Stamp Show page.

   
Imperforate stamps

Gummed Booklet Panes (Canberra Show Version - 12 March 2010)
This limited edition prestige booklet contain the same four panes as the regular booklet, but containing imperforate stamps. More information is on my Canberra Stamp Show page

 

 
Prestige booklet panes (click on each pane for an enlargement)

Prestige Booklets (Canberra Show Version - 12 March 2010)
This limited edition prestige booklet issued on 12 March 2010 contains imperforated stamps. The booklet has the same barcode as the regular booklet, and was gold die-stamped with the show's logo and number. More information is on my Canberra Stamp Show page

Canberra Prestige Booklet

Gummed Miniature Sheet Stamps
The Governor Macquarie stamp was also issued in the Canberra Stamp Show miniature sheet. This stamp is distinctly different to the sheet and prestige booklet stamps, with more grey in the sky. The miniature sheet is printed by RA Printing.

Miniature sheet

Postal Stationery
Four maximum cards, each featuring one of the stamps and the scene on the stamp will be issued. Images will be posted here when available.

Maximum cards

Issue Summary
The table below summarises the above information. The cost of each item is given, along with a total for each section. In some cases the stamps are only available from self-adhesive booklets (sold at face value), or from prestige booklets, souvenir sheets or folders (sold above face value).

Item and Description	Cost
For the General Collector
Gummed sheet stamps Se-tenant block of 4 (4 x 55c)	$2.20
Total	$2.20
For the Specialised Collector
Stamps from Prestige Booklet 4 perforated stamps from prestige booklet (UV/shade differences) Stamp from Miniature Sheet Stamp from Canberra miniature sheet (shade difference) Stamps from Canberra Show Booklet 4 imperforated stamps from prestige booklet Gutter Strips Gutter strip of 10 (with Sydney scene) Blocks, pairs and strips Perforated blocks of 4 from prestige booklet panes Imperforated blocks of 4 from prestige booklet panes Booklet panes 4 panes from perforated prestige booklet 4 panes from imperforated prestige booklet Booklets Perforated (Regular) Prestige booklet Imperforated (Canberra Show) Prestige booklet Postal stationery Maximum cards	$10.95   $5.30   $60.00*   $5.50   $10.95 $60.00*   $10.95 $60.00*   $10.95 $60.00*   $5.20
Total	$319.80
Grand Total	$322.00
* As sales were limited to one per ticket, per day, it is unlikely that a collector could obtain four imperforate prestige booklets at their issue price.

References
Australia Post, Australian Stamp Bulletin, No. 302, January-February 2010

If you have more information, or spot an error, please e-mail me.