Australia Commemorates Expeditions with Stamps

New stamps are to be issued in Australia to commemorate the anniversaries of two historical expeditions. The stamps feature John McDouall Stuart, who returned from his overland crossing of Australia 150 years ago (value $1.20 each) and Gregory Blaxland, William Lawson and William Charles Wentworth who crossed the Blue Mountains 200 years ago (value 60c each).

The collection of stamps, titled ‘Inland Explorers’ will  be released on 3 July. The stamps are presented in se-tenant pairs and in the minisheet as a block of four. The minisheet also features a map of the route of each expedition.

The design of the stamps are based on artist’s interpretations of the events. The se-tenant pair to commemorate the Blue
Mountain crossing is inspired by Emile Ulm’s ‘Blue Mountain Pioneers’ published in 1880. The overland crossing is based on George French Angas’ 1865 painting ‘Planting the Flag on the Shores of the Indian Ocean Coast’. All stamps are designed by Craig McGill.