Western Australia. Swan With Imperial/Commissariat Puncture.

Does anyone know how and why the poor swan has been shot in the neck?!

Possibly a telegraph puncture.
just a guess, not based on any known information.
At the moment I cannot see any reference to them
in the western australian study group literature.

Any possible chance for a larger scan?
that is a very nice stamp.

BTW the proper verbiage would be a "Telegraph puncture"
not a perfin.

Thanks Rod, I have updated the post with a better resolution picture, and amended the title.
The cancelletion "GPO" is visible. Does that add to the evidence for a telegraph puncture?
It is a lovely stamp - a little rough around the edges, but aren't we all?
I have a soft spot for swans. We got married on a beach, and I joked that we had ordered a dolphin display for the reception. In actual fact, just after the ceremony, two swans swam up to the beach and hung around for a while, presenting a great photo opportunity. As swans mate for life, they are supposed to be a good omen for a long marriage

These are probably Commissariat punctures. They're discussed here: http://www.stampboards.com/viewtopi...f=10&t=15194

Thanks for the link Tony. I'd not seen that discussion before.

Yes, thanks tonymacg!
I will change my title to include commissariat.
Fascinating reading...

Yes, thanks Tony,
I have 6 pages of convict letter information,
nowhere are these punctures mentioned,
certainly commisariat is.

Subject futher advice, I'll regard them as official.

Stampgal,
we have solved it,

you may wish to alter your thread title again.

These are "Imperial Punctures"

The direction was made by the commissariat on 31st July 1861
by J W Bovell commissary general
regarding a direction on stamps supplied for Imperial service


One punctured stamp was used on convict correspondence
placed in error, and we have the letter of apology
from the clerk of courts.

I'll post chapter and verse when I have time

Thanks for a great thread! It was great to solve
and in no short effort by Tony who led me there.......

PS: The Commissary directed the hole to be "about one sixth of an inch in diameter"

Must admit feel a bit smug we cracked this one
(SCF Rules!)

Small hole approx 3mm large hole 4 mm

With great appreciation to the Western Australian Study Group
"Western Australia"
The Stamps and Postal History
ISBN 959647600

...and did I mention, A great stamp.

For the record, the puncture in this stamp is 3mm, just over 1/10 inch.
I particularily love the rich,deep colour of the stamp.
OK off to change the title AGAIN....

Thanks guys!

A first for SCF Stampgal!

A picture courtesy of stampcircuit.com showing telegraph punctures / holes on some Australian Roos. Just to illustrate why some are asking if the WA puncture was similar to telegraph punctures in this thread and the other board's thread.

Thanks Puzz.


Stampgal, I'd bet your cancellation is one
of the first duplex cancellers, there were 36 types
and yours looks like A1
The only peculiarity the "O" of GPO looks
smaller in relation with other letters.

Nice illustration, Puzzler, thankyou.
Think you've got it there, Rod, that's the one.
Thanks