The first in a series of four miniature sheets promoting Australia 2013 (see www.australia2013.com.au), this miniature sheet celebrates the stamps of Australia's six colonies.

Issue Information
The stamp and miniature sheet are printed on paper with a simulated 'CH' monogram. Australia Post will be using three printers with this issue - Energi Print, RA Printing and Kemwell Speciality Printing. This is the last stamp printed by Energi Print, and the first for New South Wales based Kemwell. Interestingly the last time a New South Wales based printer was used was in 1977!

Gummed Sheet Stamps
The sheet stamps are printed by Energi Print in sheets of 10.

Sheet stamp

Gummed Sheets
This issue is produced in small sheets of 10 stamps (5 x 2).

Sheet of 10 stamps

Gummed Miniature Sheet Stamps - Standard Issue
Australia Post has confirmed that the miniature sheet will be printed by RA Printing. This is RA Printing's first commemorative issue for Australia Post. Stamps from the miniature sheet can be easily distinguished by the thicker line art around the portrait.

Stamps	Differences
Sheet stamp Miniature sheet stamp	Line art around Queen Victoria's portrait is thicker on miniature sheet stamp.

Gummed Miniature Sheets - Standard Issue
The miniature sheet contains a 30 mm x 50 mm stamp featuring the Chalon head.

Miniature sheet

Gummed Miniature Sheets - First Day Cover Version
As with the Kokoda issue, miniature sheets had to be trimmed to allow for fixing onto first day covers. This time 2.5 mm was trimmed from the top and bottom of each sheet. This results in one less printed 'perforation hole' above and below the stamp.

First day cover

Gummed Miniature Sheet Stamps - Limited Edition Issue
To support Australia 2013, Australia Post will also release a limited edition version of the miniature sheet. Limited to 10 000, this miniature sheet will be sold in a pack for $15, with the stamp printed in both lithography and intaglio.

Limited edition miniature sheet

Gummed Miniature Sheets - Limited Edition
To support Australia 2013, Australia Post will also release a limited edition version of the miniature sheet. Limited to 10 000, this miniature sheet will be sold in a pack for $15, and will be printed in both lithography and intaglio.

Limited edition imperforate miniature sheet

Postal Stationery

Maximum Card

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 stamp Single value from sheets Miniature sheet Miniature sheet	$5.00   $5.00
Total	$10.00
For the Specialised Collector
Small sheets Small sheet of 10 gummed stamps Limited edition Miniature Sheet Imperforate stamp from miniature sheet Imperforate miniature sheet Postal stationery Maximum card	$50.00   $15.00 $15.00   $5.75
Total	$85.75
Grand Total	$95.75

References
Australia Post, Australian Stamp Bulletin, No. 304, May-June 2010

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