Inverted swan stamp, 1855

Printing error makes stamp invaluable

Highly Collectable

This is one of the great stamp rarities and one of the first invert errors in the world. It is actually the frame which is inverted not the swan. However, when the term was first applied, the complicated process of producing these stamps by lithography, which led to the frame being inverted in some cases, was not understood.

Until 1913, each Australian State issued its own postage stamps. Western Australia issued its first stamps in 1854. The black swan, the emblem of that State, appeared on practically all of its stamps.

The stamp came to the Library as part of the H. L. White Postage Stamp Collection of pre-Federation stamps. Henry Luke White (1860–1927), of Belltrees, Scone, was a pastoralist, ornithologist and philanthropist as well as being a keen stamp collector from his youth. He was the uncle of Patrick White. The collection, which is extensive and especially notable for the pristine condition of the stamps, including many significant rarities, was presented to the Library in specially made cabinets of Queensland maple.
Display item Inverted swan stamp, 1855

 

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