1927 Parliament House Opening

Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the seat of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on May 9, 1927 after Parliament's relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra.

Parliament House was officially opened by the Duke York (later to become King George VI), at the day of the opening, stamps were sold at Parliament House to commemorate the historic event.

The "Australian Capital Territory" (ACT) was formerly known as "The Territory for the Seat of Government" and, later, on January 1st 1911, exactly 10 years to the day after Federation Day (the event was also on May 9), the territory was renamed the "Federal Capital Territory" , this is evident on the cancellations shown (F.C.T.), New South Wales ceded 2,360 square kilometres of land including the seaport of Jervis Bay; and in 1938 it was renamed a final time, becoming the "Australian Capital Territory" (ACT) which it is known today.

The following stamps (C.T.O.) were all issued at Parliament House on Opening Day, May 9, 1927 and are quite scarce; the O.S. (Official Service) stamps were never issued to the public; the stamps were for Parliamentary use only.



Top: "O.S." large cancellation "PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA FCT - 9 MAY 1927" & "CANBERRA FCT" "9 MAY 1927" and an unused "O.S.". It is known that an "O.S". with a small Counter Date Stamp (CDS) exists

Midddle: Top left corner block of 10: Large cancellation "PARLIAMENT HOUSE CANBERRA FCT - 9 MAY 1927" with superb circular date cancellations.

Bottom: Block of 4: Large cancellation "CANBERRA FCT - 9 MAY 1927" & Block of 4: Small cancellation "CANBERRA FCT 9 MAY 1927".

The old Parliament House remained the seat of government until 1988, serving Australia for 61 years. Exactly 61 years to the day Queen Elizabeth II opened the new Parliament House effectively closing the chapter on Australia's first Federal Parliament House, it was also the Australian Bi-Centennial year.

I recall the first time I saw the "FCT" postmark, and thought it was an error.

Mutilated Parcel Post fragment.



Trading stamp from the FCT

Hi rod222

Those high value roos with the F.T.C. are quite interesting, I knew that other commercial stamps would bear the F.C.T. cancellation but I've never seen the F.C.T. cancellation on larger commercial issues such as your 1/- and 2/- stamps tied to the same cover, and the coupon, where did you find that little beauty?

Rob

Hi Rob,
I have no idea just in a junk lot a few years ago possibly.

Tony Mac on this forum, once advised to "always" try and keep
stamps and material as found, without soaking / separating etc & etc.

I took his advice, albeit sometimes having to bite my lip.

This horrible fragment is the result of his advice.

I was pondering what would have attracted such a high stamp impost, and whether it had originated from Govt House.

Hi Rod



The advice was wise. It seems that by the cancellation your tied stamps were post marked 15th February 1931, they were definitely sent by a politician or staff member for official business at the old Parliament House; the evidence is the O.S. perfin on each stamp.

You probably already know this - The O.S. (Official Service) perfin was added to prevent staff and the politicians from pilfering the stamps for private use.

What makes your 2 stamps interesting is the face value, normally low value stamps were used, and it is uncommon to see high value stamps, especially the 2 /- pair.

It is wise to keep the stamps attached to the paper as it gives more detail of the postal history and cancellation which adds more interest to the stamp(s) and of course a better chance of increasing collector monetary value.

It seems the stamps were adhered to an invoice and then attached to a parcel, documents or a box sent through official channels from Parliament House, it could have been sent by the Prime Minister himself, Stanley Melbourne Bruce (1st Viscount Bruce of Melbourne MC).

He won the Military Cross & Croix de Guerre avec Palme (with palm) during the First World War.

I still have no idea about your coupon, except that it was an early trading stamp from the Blue Coupon Co Ltd, I'm going to ask around.

Thanks Rob....interesting commentary.
Thanks Tony Mac




I'd suggest a parcel Label Rob.

Hi Rod

You have some nice postal history there; well at least I was close,.

Rob

Why should students refrain from soaking stamps off piece?

Rob's First Day of Issue Postmark, on "OS" puncture stamp .... Value?

On Cover $8,000

Thanks for showing that FDC Rod, I didn't know it existed, $8,000 is a fair enough price for such a rare, one-of-a-kind historical FDC. Wish I had it in my collection, it will fit in quite nice with the other first day of issue stamps celebrating the opening of Parliament House.

I wonder who the politician was it was addressed to on the envelope?

Hi Rod

Thanks for the closer scan, the handwriting is very difficult to read, all I can make of it is the person is a lady and she lived at Lindisfarne, Tasmania; I'll keep working on it.

The link you gave me is not working, it might be on my end, can you re-send it.

Rob

The link is working for me Rob,
If I re-send, it will be the same link.

The recipient is "Lady Gellibrand" Lindisfarne, Tasmania

She is mentioned in "The Australasian" Jan 14th 1922
along with a Miss Victoire Crowther.

https://www.myheritage.com/research..._google&trl=

To wit,
Lady Gellibrand and her daughters invited some young people to
meet the Misses Allardyce at a picnic near the picturesque bome across the river at Risdon, where Sir John and Lady Gellibrand art at present spending some time. Mr. Griffith Lloyd is comma over from Sydney almost at once, and -nis mother,who few been staying with Miss Ida Roberts at Beaumaris) will return with him before the end of'the month.

Wife of Sir John Gellibrand WW1

Buried at Yea cemetery Victoria

Thanks Rod, very good info; I'm going to find this and whatever else there is about the Gellibrands very interesting.

Rob