Missing Colours / Colors on Stamps

One of the most frequent requests we have, at our site for Australia Stamps Steve Irwin Stamps, for help on identifying stamps is on potential missing colours /colors from stamps. The individual hopes they have found a new missing colour that has not yet been identified or catalogued. Unfortunately, we have to disillusion the individual most of the time.

The chances of finding an unidentified missing colour is remote. Colours can be lost through fading in the sun or chemical treatment. Chemical treatment on used stamps, where there is no gum is very difficult to detect, especially without specialist equipment. Colours can also be faded in the sun either deliberately or accidentally. Individuals are often misled because one colour appears to be missing while the other colours look the same as the original; colours ranges fade differently; the red/orange range will often fade when blues and greens are not affected. See the example below where the orange tone seems to be missing from the right-hand stamp, with the yellow and greens looking the same as the original on the left - this has happened as a result of fading.

Stamps where the colours that have been changed subsequent to being printed are known as "colour changelings".

To summarise, that stamp you think is missing a color is much more likely to be the result of treatment or fading. However, if you are not convinced by my arguments and you want to "prove" your missing colour, what should you do?

1. Look at the stamp under a UV lamp (if you don't have one take the stamp to a local dealer and ask them to look at it for you). Signs of fading usually show under UV, the stamp will look "duller" than an ordinary stamp in the same situation. However, even if it doesn’t it still doesn’t prove it is a genuine missing colour.

2. The next step would be to send it to be expertised by an expert committee. In the UK there are several bodies who do this including the Royal Philatelic Society who charge £30 for this service. In the States, committees include the American Philatelic Society, who charge an initial $25 for this service (but needs to go through a member) or The Philatelic Foundation with an initial fee of $27. You need to pay the fees whatever the outcome, so you are probably wasting your money - but don't say I didn't warn you!


Genuine missing colours can make a very attractive and interesting collecting area. Missing colours are listed in specialist stamp catologues or in Pierron's Book or website on Modern Great Britain & Commonwealth Missing Colour Errors. An example of a genuine Australian missing colour is the missing grey on the 1986 36c America's Cup Triumph - pretty spectacular!

Australia Maximum Cards

Australia produces maximum cards for all its main issues of stamps. For those unfamiliar with the term, maximum cards are postcards depicting a scene related to the stamp and usually postmarked on the first day of issue of the stamp. The stamp and postmark are usually placed on the picture side of the card to heighten the effect of the theme.

Australian maximum cards are great for thematic collectors as they effectively give a postcard size picture of the stamp theme. Australia maximum cards cover a large range of birds and animals as well as famous people, cars, trains boats etc.

Australia Stamp Reprints

Another question that comes up quite often is, what are the koalas and kangaroos on Australian stamp margins for?

These are referred to as Australia Stamp Reprints. The marginal emblems (koalas and/or kangaroos) were added to Australian stamps in 1988 and continue to today. These are put on to the stamp sheets by the printers to identify a reprinting of a current stamp. These usually occur in definitive sets which are in use over several years and may have several printing and also may have been printed by more than one printer. The first print has no marking, the second one koala emblem, the third two koalas and so on. The sixth printing is marked by a kangaroo, the seventh by a kangaroo and a koala, the eight a Kangaroo and two koalas. The current largest number of printing is nine with a kangaroo and three koalas found on the 20c 1997-98 Nature of Australia, Kakadu Wetlands series.

The emblems are very collectible. They occur either on the left or right side of the stamp and there are currently about 250 different stamp and emblem combinations avaiable.

Full list of reprints.

Australian Film Star Stamps

Australia have issued a series of stamps in their series 'Australian legends' celebrating the Australian Stars of the Screen. The set includes Nicole Kidman, Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchet and Geoffrey Rush portraits and stills from their most famous films. As well as the gummed stamps there are self-adhesive stamps and a set of prestige booklets which gives more information on each of the stars.

Russell Crowe is looking gorgeous as ever!

Australia Counter Printed Stamps

Someone asked me recently what this stamp was and why if its an Australian stamps, does it says Hong Kong on it?

This is what's called a counter printed stamp or CPS. These stamps had the value printed on the stamps at the Post Office counter depending on what postage was required for different parcel weights etc. The name - the literal - indicated where these were printed so come with Melbourne, Brisbane etc. CPSs were also issued at stamps shows thus the literal 'Hong Kong 97'. Unfortunately, the machines to print these stamps at the counter were extremely unreliable and after a while many states refused to use them. CPSs come in two designs, Threatened Species and Australian Wildlife (the cute Koala illustrated is from this set.)

Australian Stamp Identification

Have you inherited or have some stamps from Australia that you are not sure what they are? If so, we would be happy to have a go at identifying them for you and give advice about selling prices and how to sell your stamps.

If you would like an individual stamp or set or philatelic item from Australia identified please scan the item and e-mail the scan to Steve Irwin Stamps (small size scan and individual stamps only please) and we will do our best to identify it for you!