J1301

Australia Bicentennial

Koala & Bald Eagle

Collins Cover Announcement 

U.S.A./AUSTRALIA JOINT ISSUE 

An eagle wearing a red, white and blue vest and holding aloft a like-colored Uncle Sam top-hat is arm in arm with a koala bear attired in a green and yellow (Australia's national colors) vest and waving a wide-brimmed Aussie bush hat. These colorful figures are displayed against a lavendar background resulting in a snappy stamp design. The U.S. version says "Happy Bicentennial Australia 1788-1988". The Australian stamp (about 50% larger than its U.S. counterpart) says "Happy Bicentennial Joint Stamp Issue with U.S.A."

Both countries provided a pictorial cancel for their respective stamps. The Australia First Day of Issue postmark shows a koala bear which has become the lovable symbol of the "Land Down Under". The United States cancel has the eagle proclaiming "Happy Bicentennial Australia!" It should be noted that the date portion of the U.S. cancel is positioned on the upper body of a large kangaroo which dominates the center of the cover and in effect bisects it. A joey (baby kangaroo) pokes its head shyly out of its mother's pouch. Two Australian scenes complete the hand-painted COLLINS cachet. An "outback station" shows the rugged terrain and cultivated fields while an undersea reef gives a glimpse of colorful coral and vivid tropical fish.

All in all a most interesting FDC with the "hands" of the Kangaroo reaching across the cover from the U.S. to the Australian stamps just as the hands of both nations have long been joined in friendship. Item #J1301 - $8.00